New Francos

“The Labour Party is now a threat to our national security, our economic security and your family's security.” David Cameron. These words could have been said by General Franco – just replace 'Republicans' or 'Reds for The Labour Party. Even some Tories understand this – David Davis has attacked the trade union bill as being 'Franco-style'. Last night at the Jeremy Corbyn celebration at London's Forum Mark Steel said,  "What has happened is exciting. It's marvellous but it is also daunting because all of us have to do what we can do to protect Jeremy - not just Jeremy, but the ideas that he stands for ... there's been a movement building and it's been looking for someone, some thing, somewhere to attach it to. They found it a bit in Scotland and with Caroline Lucas and people like that - and now very much with Jeremy. It's a fantastic movement which we've got to protect." The last place this movement will affect will be in Parliament – just look at the glum faces and silence on the Labour benches yesterday. Never thought I'd say this, but join Mark Steel and join the Labour Party. Be a part of the Corbyn protection. Be active against the new Francos. 

Tom Morello for Stop the War in London

Here is a clip from another Stop the War gig I helped organise, June 2007 Tom Morello at the Scala in London.On the bill with him were Ed Harcourt, Frank Turner and MC Mark Steel.It was a great evening but not as exciting as 7 years earlier when Morello and Rage Against the Machine caused the doors of the NY Stock Exchange to be closed when they played outside  They and their fans stormed the building and it had to lock its doors during the middle of the trading day. Morello was quoted: "Our protest stopped trading at the stock exchange for the last two hours of the day. I guess we stopped downsizing for at least a couple of hours." Who says music can't change anything. And here's a Monday morning treat – Tom performing solo in Cuba