The success of UKIP in last week’s European and local elections has prompted much soul-searching within the Labour party.

First of all, we have come to realise that we cannot dismiss concerns regarding immigration felt by the worst off in society. As the Searchlight Educational Trust revealed in their groundbreaking report ‘Fear and Hope’, there is a “clear correlation between economic pessimism and negative attitudes towards immigration.” This in turn leads to a fear of the ‘Other’, leading to the Islamophobia and racism that now run rampant on the continent in the guise of populist and far right parties like the Front National in France. Now this fear has reached our shores under UKIP’s purple and yellow banner.

Giving patients a say on how their healthcare is provided should be at the heart of Labour's health and care policy, but the party’s policy review consultation ‘Your Britain’ currently lacks focus in this area. 65 years ago, Labour won the moral argument with the British electorate for a National Health Service. Labour’s policy on ensuring the health service is truly accountable to, and owned by, the British people needs to be just as innovative if the ideals of the NHS are to survive in the 21st century. 

Recent peace talks between Israel and Palestine have come to an abrupt and disappointing end, leaving many supporters of the two-state solution despondent and pessimistic about the future.

YF Internationalism Launch Event

Over the past few years, international issues have taken a backseat to more pressing domestic issues. Even despite a strong tradition within the Party, the idea of internationalism as a key pillar of “One Nation Labour” is often met with mystified doubt.

This is why the Ideas Series project on Internationalism has the potential to be one of the more interesting explorations of the ideas and principles that underpin a Labour approach to governing in 2015. The launch of the project on April 30 aimed to explore some of the challenging issues that comprise internationalism and involve members in setting the direction of the project. Taking in a wide range of topics and perspectives, the event produced an impressive and lively debate amongst members.

David Cameron was once asked, “What’s your favourite joke?”

“Nick Clegg” came the reply.

That was a long time ago, before the 2010 election and before the “coalicious” government came to power. Now Nick and Dave are the best of friends.

As anyone who either is- or has a sibling- aged 15 or 16 will know, GCSE exams are on their way. But this isn’t a blog about the impending terror faced by the country’s school leavers. It’s about something that leapt out at me as I was helping my younger sister with her history revision: namely that demonising the poor and vulnerable at times of economic hardship has a far longer pedigree than many realise.

On May 22, England heads to the polls to elect councillors for 162 local authorities across the country. Thousands of Labour candidates are standing from Camden to Coventry, among them many young people hoping to make their mark in public service.

2014 marks two anniversaries of great importance for Europe. One is the centenary of the beginning of the First World War; the other, a quarter century since the fall of Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the eastern bloc.

The gulf between rich and poor in post-Thatcher Britain is shocking. Vast cuts to public services, runaway privatisation, relaxed financial regulation, and the cutting of the top income tax from 83% to 60% (later to 40%), have turned the UK into one of the most unequal nations in the western world.

Over the course of the last year the media rediscovered its fascination with feminism- a movement that is now going through its fourth wave. An unprecedented amount of articles tracking the progress women have made towards achieving genuine gender equality was published this International Women’s Day. The statistics they contained demonstrate why feminism is still very much needed in modern society. One in three women worldwide will be beaten or sexually abused in their lifetime. Two women a week are killed by an intimate partner in the UK, and only 1% of the world’s property is owned by women.

The Homeless Link 2013 report on youth homelessness has found that over half of all cases are caused by a breakdown with parents or close relatives. It also found that rough sleeping amongst young people has risen since 2010, increasing by 15% in London alone between 2012 and 2013.

Hadleigh Roberts is a candidate to the European Parliament for the South West of England and Gibraltar. A graduate from Bath University and possessing an MA in interpreting and translation, Roberts works as a professional translator (French/Spanish to English) with experience in French, Spanish, UK and European Union (EU) politics.

The Labour Party is losing the fight to save the welfare state. In railing against coalition cuts, Labour seeks to paint itself as a warrior against injustice, protecting the most vulnerable in society. However by assuming the role of valiant defender for the poor, the party risks undermining the very institutions it is looking protect. Put simply it’s time for Labour to bury the moral crusade and get on with politics.

On the weekend of March 22, I had my first experience of door-to-door campaigning for the local government elections. We were supporting John Howard, an excellent local council candidate in Aldborough Ward, Redbridge. Winning a council seat for John at this year’s local elections would be a first step towards winning back the crucial marginal constituency, Ilford North, in 2015. At present the Conservatives have a 5,000 strong majority here. 

Last Saturday saw the Young Fabians begin in earnest our campaigns programme, as we headed to Ilford North for some canvassing on behalf of Wes Streeting, the Labour candidate. For some of us, including myself, this was effectively an introduction to canvassing and an opportunity to experience the kind of door to door campaigning that is so crucial in winning votes and seats.

In September 2013 the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that due to funding cuts, they needed to reduce their workload and stop collecting certain statistics. They suggested that a good first step would be to stop collecting data on child mortality.

Ahead of the launch of the Young Fabians China Programme, Joel Mullan explains the rationale behind the programme and the importance of engaging with the world's new superpower. This article was first published on Fabian Review Online.

Labour are in trouble. The wave of post-Budget polls spelled bad news for the party, revealing its lead over the Conservatives to have tumbled to a single percentage point from a high of nine in early March.  

The next edition of Anticipations focuses on the Labour Party's relationship with the European Union, and explores the challenges and opportunities it faces in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in May and beyond. Young Fabians Member Oliver MacArthur asks what more Europe could do to end the scourge of youth unemployment.

The next edition of Anticipations focuses on the Labour Party's relationship with the European Union, and explores the challenges and opportunities it faces in the run-up to the parliamentary elections in May and beyond. London Labour MEP candidate Lucy Anderson lays out what's at stake when Europe next casts its vote.   

Received wisdom maintains that the UKIP vote is made up of disaffected, older Tories who are dissatisfied with Cameron’s socially liberal policies and relatively progressive stance on Europe. But look closer and you will see this is simply not the case. While UKIP does disproportionately draw support from Tory voters, polling has shown they can also boast substantial support from working-class Labour voters too.

The UK is in the midst of a housing crisis with demand dramatically outstripping supply. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, “Britain is heading for a property shortage of more than a million homes by 2022 unless the current rate of housebuilding is dramatically increased”.

Fabian leaflet 43 begins: “Vote! Vote!! Vote!!!” Its rallying cry against apathy reminds voters of the sacrifice of their forbears to win the franchise and asks them to “use what cost so much to win”. More than 100 years on and its message is no less important. Indeed, it has a renewed resonance at a time when political apathy, particularly amongst young people, seems to have become the norm.

This is a guestpost by Scarlet Standard blogger Emma Burnell as follow up to our writing workshop in February 

Why I started blogging

I felt that I had something to say that was missing from the debate. I wanted to be helpful and offer my advice and expertise to the Labour Party but no one was banging down my door. Because I am a little bit gobby, I decided to create my own space and hope something came of doing so.

The following is a guestpost by Left Foot Forward Editor James Bloodworth as follow up to the Young Fabian writing workshop in February

My top 10 tips for writing and pitching:

1) Find out the name of the person you want to pitch to. Not ‘Dear Editor’ or ‘To Whom it May Concern’. Emails which begin like that will (and should be) deleted.

John Robert (J.R.) Clynes, born in Oldham on the 27^th of March 1869, committed his life to trade unionism and politics, leading the Labour party during the breakthrough election of 1922, then becoming the Labour’s first Deputy Leader, and later Home Secretary. 

Once the sole domain of providers like the Co-Op, over the past decade, the concept of socially responsible investing (SRI) has come to the fore as investors of all sizes consider the ethical credentials of their portfolios. It then begs the question, what level of SRI do we want in our own pension funds, which for many are their only contact with the equities market? Can we afford the ‘luxury’ of meeting minimum ethical standards when we face an upcoming pensions crisis, or should the primary concern be yield at any cost to prevent the next generation living in poverty? Moreover, as stewards of what is effectively large sums of public money (although not in the literal sense) do the largest pension schemes have an implicit duty to bring about positive change?

The fierce debate around Ed Balls’ pledge to reintroduce the 50p tax rate is set to rage all the way up to the 2015 general election. Few policy announcements could match it for symbolic resonance among the party faithful, or- as recent polling indicates- the wider public. The tax rise sends out a clear message about Labour’s priority in government: ensuring those with the deepest pockets contribute most to restoring the public finances.

Istvan Reiner stares straight into the camera with his big, dark eyes- he looks happy, playing with card and a hole-punch. Not long after the photo was taken, he was deported to Auschwitz, and sent with his grandmother into the gas chambers and murdered. 

Deputy Leaders of the Labour Party have included some of the most important and interesting  figures in our movement's history. Throughout the year we will profile each of the 16 Deputy Leaders in separate blogposts. The first Deputy Leader was J.R. Clynes (1922-1932), a Fabian and Trade Unionist, who began working in a cotton mill when he was ten years old, helped form the Piercers' Union at seventeen years old, leading the Labour party in the 1922 elections before becoming Deputy Leader. In his final years as Deputy, Clynes shared the position with Scottish MP William Graham (1931-1932).

In this winter edition of Anticipations, Editor Louie Woodall interviews Shadow Minister for Housing. Emma Reynolds. See the magazine for the full version of the interview.

The shortage of safe, affordable homes is one of the most shameful failures of successive governments, both Labour and Conservative. The coalition’s single-minded commitment to austerity has only exacerbated the situation, and entering 2014 it is no exaggeration to say that Britain faces a housing crisis.

It is only right, therefore, that housing is a red-hot issue for Labour. The people’s party needs to demonstrate its commitment to providing appropriate shelter for all who live here, regardless of circumstances. It’s a tough ask. It needs someone just as tough to tackle it. Enter Emma Reynolds, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Housing and MP for Wolverhampton North East.

A policy of extensive, affordable childcare would have far-reaching benefits for working mothers and the economy.

The debate over welfare reform in the last few years in Britain has primarily focused on the cost and fairness of unemployment benefits. The Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition Government have primarily focused on punitive policies, punishing those out of work who they believe to be ‘scrounging’ off the benefits system. Instead, what the Government should be focusing on is welfare policies which actively support people into work. One of these policies would be the provision of childcare for all children aged between 1 and 4 years old. This would enable mothers, who are otherwise be constrained by the cost of childcare, to find work or increase their hours.

The next issue of Anticipations looks at the challenges facing young people and the wider population as we head into another winter of austerity under the Coalition Government. Young Fabian members will be treated to articles by Caroline Flint MP, Seema Malhotra MP, Sam Tarry of the TSSA, and Richard Angell of Progress, not to mention a special interview with Emma Reynolds MP.

Here, editor Louie Woodall sets out the theme for this issue.

Over the coming hours and days there will be countless tributes to Nelson Mandela from people better placed to honour him than I ever could. It would seem remiss though, for the Executive of the Young Fabians, to not mark the passing of a political giant who represented hope to so many people.