The mood is bleak on the Left of the Labour Party. Some messages from (I think) younger comrades saying the latest news from the NEC gives them reason to believe there is no point in staying around.
Bob Wareing's blatant de-selection in Liverpool West Derby ( whatever the rights and wrongs of it) looks like turning into another farrago and all around us voices are saying, friendly voices from comrades and frankly hostile ones from enemies, just pack it in. So why shouldn't we? Let's face it. 2007 has been a car crash for our hopes of serious change and the Labour Right would love nothing more than for all of us to quit and spend the rest of our political days on street corners selling Socialist Worker and boasting about how we got 200 votes in Parliamentary elections and how it's a "great step for socialism."
An even worse scenario is for the remaining Left MPs to quit the Party, stand as Independents and get roasted alive ( with one or two exceptions, like John McDonnell, who would probably survive ). The reality is that we have to carry on campaigning from within because if we don't then it's handed over for ever to the corporate sponsors, the money men, the neo-Tories and New Labour apparatchiks who are currently running the show. The ones who will be out in force at Bournemouth.
Last night, I watched bits of the Liberal Democrat conference and I have to say most of their policies are far more "left" than anything I've heard in years from this Govt.
More tax for the rich, asylum for illegal immigrants, anti Trident. Hey, they are even able to vote at their Conference. So why don't I just sod off, cut my losses and tear up my Party card?
Because, unlike the Liberal Democrats, Labour gets into power. It also has a federal structure and trade unions who affiliate, and a grassroots still largely remain committed to the socialist values which made me join the Labour Party.
Gordon Brown has spent a lifetime in the labour movement and believes utterly in the policies he is taking forward. I do not doubt his abilities or his intellect. But there are different voices in the Labour Party , voices less strident in defending capitalism, voices who would better defend the poor and vulnerable against the interests of the private equity fat cats and greedy mortgage lenders, voices who are for peace and against the obscenity of weapons of mass destruction. Voices who do not believe they have to be kept as some bogus "deterrent." Most of those voices are still in the Labour and trade union movement. At the moment, they are not being listened to. But that cannot last for ever.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
SHALL WE STAY OR SHALL WE GO?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
9 comments:
Susan,
As i have said elsewhere on some issues they (the L/D's) are very right wing indeed: for all their talk about poverty and inequality, the Orange Book Liberals, Laws and Clegg want to abolish all disability benefits and have just one 'in work' benefit' effectively meaning cuts for masses of vulnerable people. In some ways, this is even worse than N/L with its Welfare Reform Act, but as I have said, welfare issues seem to slip under the lefts radar.
The Lib Dems also want to start charging drunks for NHS treatment, and encourage people to go private.
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,,2168875,00.html
I don't think the Lib Dems are an alternative for centre-left/left wingers in Britain.
I wasn't really suggesting they were.. however their veneer is certainly more "left" than New Labour (NOT the Labour Party...)
Why won't you lot take the hint and get lost?
You claim in your post that the 'grassroots still largely remain committed to the socialist values' which is nonsense. If it was true then why was Harriet Harman elected as Deputy Leader?
I guess my words will fall on deaf ears and there are some determined to take us back to the dark days of the unelectable far left by constantly sniping at the most successful Labour leadership in the party's history. Some people are never happy.
This should be the last thing you hear as Labour members:
"Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
"You claim in your post that the 'grassroots still largely remain committed to the socialist values' which is nonsense. If it was true then why was Harriet Harman elected as Deputy Leader?"
If this wasn't true then why did Cruddas win the popular vote amongst party members? Perhaps not an out-and-out socialist, but certainly the most left-wing in the field.
Harruet Harman was elected for two reasons.
1.Cruddas had by far the biggest grassroots vote but second preference votes went to harman as he had endorsed her on TV
32 Some people pissed off Cruddas didn't nominate McDonnell voted for Benn .
3. People were terrified of Blears winning
And, sorry to disappoint the right yet again, but not going anywhere....
Susan,
its not Labour that gets into power, but the Labour Party leadership - the Tory Labour Party leadership.
agree with what dave said, but there's no real credible alternative to the labour party. if there was i'd jump ship, but there isn't, so i won't.
sorry to disappoint 'sensible and moderate' but after this evenings local labour party meeting - well attended, level of debate sky high - i've decided to stay in the labour party.
surely anyone really interested in the welfare of the party would be encouraging people to remain or join and not telling existing members to get lost?
Why do people who despise the Labour Party and everything it stands for (and do absolutely sod-all at election times by the way, even when their own MP is a Campaign Group member) insist on hanging round and poisoning the waters for those of us who do love our party?
Get thee behind me Satan.
Post a Comment