James Butler
LGBT History Month? Our struggle isn't a thing of the past
From Where I Stand — Queer people should remember the fight isn't over this LGBT History Month, writes James Butler. In fact, it's not yet even in the past.
Written by: James Butler
Free speech matters, but it's not students wielding a gag
From Where I Stand — There's hysteria running rampant: legislation must be introduced to stop students and academics silencing views they don't like. But from Tory MP Heaton-Harris's EU witch-hunt to the Prevent strategy, let's not lose sight of the real spectre threatening freedom of speech and thought, writes James Butler.
Written by: James Butler
Stop calling Jeremy Corbyn an IRA terrorist sympathiser, it's simply not true
From Where I Stand — Both Jeremy Corbyn’s opponents in politics and the media have long been desperate to use the Labour leader’s nuanced stance on the conflict in Ireland to paint him as an extremist with contempt for the British state. But Corbyn’s compassionate approach to negotiating peace and understanding has been consistent for decades, and was ultimately proved correct, argues James Butler.
Written by: James Butler
Just two unhinged egomaniacs stand between us and nuclear apocalypse
From Where I Stand — Reports say we might be on the brink of nuclear warfare, the restraint of two deluded narcissists - Trump and Kim Jong Un - is all we have to protect us from apocalyptic doom. Is it time to head to the bunkers? James Butler argues we should probably never have left.
Written by: James Butler
Does batshit Britain really want to declare war on Spain?
From Where I Stand — It took just four days from the triggering of Article 50 for ex-Tory leader Michael Howard - high on the fumes of toxic British self-importance - to almost declare war on Spain. It's just all so predictable from a mediocre nation desperate to return to past bloodthirsty heights. Viva Britannia!
Written by: James Butler
Scotland eyes independence: can nationalism deliver a progressive utopia?
From Where I Stand — When Scotland rejected independence in 2014, it was a national fear of instability that allowed unionism to prevail. Then Brexit happened, and another referendum on Scotland's future is on the cards. But is radically progressive Scottish nationalism a paradox? A Schrödinger's cat that means all things to all people?
Written by: James Butler
There is no secret motive: Trump is as shambolic and as racist as he seems
From Where I Stand — Ignore the conspiracy theorists and "experts" claiming Trump's Muslim ban and other far-right executive orders are a headfake and a plot to distract us, argues James Butler. His toxic administration is as shambolic and as racist as it seems.
Written by: James Butler
Welcome to Theresa-land: Brexit Britain getting pissed on from a height
From Where I Stand — In her long-awaited Brexit speech, many hoped Theresa May would lay out a roadmap for Britain finding its new place in the world. But James Butler argues the only direction we're heading in is towards Theresa-land: a shit, sunless, drizzling Cayman Islands, with Piers Morgan on daytime TV.
Written by: James Butler
People are buying Mein Kampf: Should we be panicking?
From Where I Stand — Hitler's hate-filled book Mein Kampf has sold far more copies in Germany since republication than expected. Forget about the sales figures says James Butler, a quick flick through the pages highlights alarming parallels with the rise of the far-right today.
Written by: James Butler
A post-Brexit spike in homophobic hate crime? It's a part of 'taking back control'
From Where I Stand — When reports surfaced earlier this week of a spike in homophobic hate crime after Brexit, to many the link made little sense. James Butler argues that in fact taking back control was never just about the European Union, but clawing back society to a distant, oppressive past.
Written by: James Butler
Corbyn's election is a victory, but now Labour needs a bold strategy to win
From Where I Stand — As expected, Jeremy Corbyn has once again swept to victory in the Labour leadership race. Despite the months of wasted time and resources, Corbyn, and the Labour Party must stop looking inwards if they've a chance of implementing a new progressive platform, James Butler here suggests what must happen next.
Written by: James Butler
Remaining in the EU isn't pleasant, but this right-wing Brexit is worse
From where I stand — From unaccountable leaders to enforced austerity, the European Union is far from a progressive institution. But the Brexit campaign has fuelled the British right, and leaving now would endorse xenophobia, prejudice and nationalism.
Written by: James Butler