Thatcher did not save Britain from economic decline. In many respects her economic performance was poor, even with the irresponsible fire-sale of British assets. It is time her legacy reflected this.

The governments amended NHS regulations on compulsory competition appear highly similar to the original regulations that caused such outrage. The Lords scrutiny committee today issued a damaging report that seems to agree. The government simply can't - or won't - make its regulations match its promises.

Loach's new film, Spirit of '45, is an impassioned account of the unity that built the post-war welfare state, contrasted with the dismantling we are witnessing today. Oliver Huitson talks to him about the film, welfare, Thatcher, the unions and the modern Labour party. Can we recapture the spirit?

Updates and news on the Lewisham downgrade and judicial review; potential for NHS campaigning at the Eastleigh by-election; Ken Loach's new film, Spirit of '45, featuring Jacky Davis; talk of an April 1st action, mendacity from Hunt, and Unite derecognised by ambulance service.

This week we have launched OurNHS, a brand new section of openDemocracy dedicated to England's National Health Service (NHS). The Coalition's Health & Social Care Act 2012 formally ends the NHS as a free and comprehensive health service. OurNHS will be campaigning for its restoration. This introduction sets out what we are doing, with who, and why.

In the two years building up to the government’s NHS reform bill, the BBC appears to have categorically failed to uphold its remit of impartiality, parroting government spin as uncontested fact, whilst reporting only a narrow, shallow view of opposition to the bill. In addition, key news appears to have been censored. The following in-depth investigation provides a shocking testimony of the extent to which the BBC abandoned the NHS. Download the PDF of this article.

Ultimately, the size of debts accrued in the Eurozone has become too large for any credible rescue plan that does not include substantial write-offs far beyond Greece. The idea that Germany can hold together both the currency and the union whilst still protecting a mountain of sovereign and banking debts seems increasingly fantastical. To avoid decades of stagnation drastic action is needed - the first stage of which should be public audits of sovereign debt.