The Labour Leadership race has started, here is what I am looking for (in no particular order):
1) A commitment to a fairer distribution of wealth and opportunity – which means closing tax loopholes for the rich, tackling tax havens, Robin Hood tax, investment in early years, attacking unemployment, fairer system of benefits/tax/tax credits
2) A liberal attitude to society – less interference from state in personal affairs, no ID cards, no control over internet in favour of powerful vested interests, no detention without charge for more than a week, reappraisal of drug rules and a more effective and humane system for dealing with asylum claims
3) Commitment to public services – rejection of ‘private sector management philosophy’ replace with a strengthened public service ethic with a balance of consumer needs and professional skills of staff, reduction in target lead culture to one concentrating on outcomes rather than outputs (this is already starting). Front-line is meaningless ensure skilled staff have proper support and training.
4) Ditch Britain’s costly, pointless and immoral nuclear weapons. End to US led intervention abroad, army for national defence, UN and relief work.
5) Policies to tackle Britain’s housing problem – not enough houses in the right places, lack of social rented housing in South making prices unaffordable and many major cities, not enough effective regulation of private rented sector.
6) Move to carbon neutral economy with action to reduce energy usage and increase renewables. Nuclear power is not a green energy folks and should not be classed as green jobs either.
7) Recognition of the critical role of universities in developing high tech high skill economy.
8) Bonfire of the quangoes (spell checker suggest mangoes) with their expensive offices, senior management teams and annual reports. This can be achieved through a combination of nationalisation, localisation (passing responsibilities to individual or groups of local authorities) or provision through third sector.
9) Democratic renewal, review of national and local voting systems, fully elected second chamber, increase proportion of single tier authorities and expand number of elected mayors.
That’s all for now, sure others will occur to me after pressing “publish”
Good stuff. I wish you well in selling these principles within the Labour party.
Bang on Paul.
Yes! socialism! the 21st century way! I hope that the leadership elections will help to get more of this said, heard and openly supported. It’s OK to be a socialist again! Proud to have campaigned for you.
If the Labour party was to support that sort of agenda I’d vote for it. But to be honest it amounts to a 180 degree U-turn from the party of the past 13 years.
Also agree about burning the mangos, never did like mangos.
perhaps also a commitment to bring back clause 4, part 4
to secure for the workers by hand or by brain the full fruits of their industry and the most equitable distribution thereof that may be possible upon the basis of the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration and control of each industry or service.
How about serious recognition that business doesn’t just have to be motivated by capitalist concepts and shareholder profit….?
Of course, I am a member of the Co-operative Party as well as Labour Party
I totally agree that public services need a new ethos, but lets treat people as citizens and not passive consumers. I would like to see more on equality and anti-discrimination. The new Liberal Conservatives government do not reflect the diversity of Britain. Labour is the party who has done most to respect ethnic diversity and promote equality.
Only Liberal Socialism can deliver equality and social justice. Lets demand that Labour abandons its triangulation and political cross dressing and inspires both its heartland vote and reaches out to new voters, who have grown cynical and disappointed. Let a new leader reach out to build a true progressive consensus with equality and social justice at its heart, not the narrow ‘fairness’ which the LibToryCrats espouse.
And I hope that you stand again – we need people like you to expose the hypocracy of those who dress self interest up as rationality and reasonableness. It is going to be tough for Labour, which means we need a tough leader.
Solidarity !
Yes citizens is a far better description
I’m with you on everything but the nuclear power thing – from a science point of view, it’s the only way we can keep up with the growing energy demands until we develop fusion c2050-60.
There’s certainly a great big vacancy in this country for an economically anti-Thatcherite social democratic party.
Unfortunately all your boys in the running for the leadership are committed Thatcherites with a long track record in government.
It’s Blair-lite (Millbands) vs Brown-lite (Balls), which is just a choice of Thatcherism with one lot of bitchy office politics and spin doctors or the other.
The BristolBlogger is being a bit unfair to Ed Balls, whilst he embraced neo-liberalism for a social democrat purpose – i.e to cream off the wealth from city gains for worthy social aims. Given his more strident keynesianism in the later years, I think it is unfair to give him such a crude label. Lets see what he’s got to say before we pass judgement.
The buzz around Westminster today has David Milliband as a shoe in, which is depressing. Surely the unions are not going to make the same mistake twice? I don’t believe he is strong enough to stand up to Clegward and the rest of the ConDems. We need someone with some fire in their belly. 13 years of govenment has zapped the passion out of the younger generation. You are right that they are all too conservative.
I’m not personally convinced a death bed conversion to Keynes after years advising Brown, qualifies Balls as anything other than Blairite/Brownite.
We all now know that the difference between Blair/Brown was personal not ideological so I think Balls will be a hard sell as a new broom and champion of the left.
His public school/Oxbridge/political advisor insider background works against him too. There’s too many of these types cluttering up politics and Westminster.
Plus Balls lacks charm and charisma in spades. He’ll never get elected PM.
Agree on Milliband, he’s lightweight and ideologically opaque. Insiders and the media love him because he’s one of them but I think the country at large sees an overpromoted kid with a wonky grin. More charisma than Balls though.
Not that it’s any of my business – I’m not a Labour member – I’d like to see Cruddas or – whisper it! – Purnell.
Purnell’s at least demonstrated he’s got balls unlike, er, Balls and Milliband.
“I’m not a Labour member” and there was us thinking that you were…
I will be backing Cruddas as my first preference. I doubt he will get elected but want him in the mix to promote the debate we need and to get a strong vote to send a message to the Labour leadership.
On Miliband I assume you are talking about David. If it becomes a family choice I would prefer Ed over David. Interesting if Purnell stands he is one of the most human seeming ex cabinet minister but not sure of his political views.
Guys,
Hate to disappoint about Purnell, but he is NO LONGER AN MP, he stood down to work for DEMOS and the seat was won by Tory Jon Reynolds.
Bristol Blogger: As far as winning the marginals are concerned, I don’t think Ed Balls, public school background/oxbridge will stand against him. My point is that Balls is more likely to be bold in tackling inequalities. For me Balls is the least worst option, he is more of an old Labour right man, rather than a true Blairite. Balls is not against ‘Labourism’ in the same way as David Milliband. I fear Milliband will lead Labour in a centrist SDP type direction, which solely focusses on the concerns of the middle classes and middle britain.
Labour needs to rebuild a consensus between the working classes and the more radically inclined middle classes if it is to become a progressive party of social justice and sustainable economics.
I agree there aint much to choose from yet – which is wny I support Bristol West Paul ! I suppose we need a new Labour leader who will at least allow the possibility of new ideas from the left, rather than one who will seek to stifle debate and treat socialists as enemies.
I know Purnell’s no longer an MP but vacancies can be found …
I was referring to Miliband, D not E. I’d prefer Ed of the two too.
Even if we ignore Balls’ background, and accept he’s the face of modern Labour, he’ll still never get elected PM.
Labour could waste 5 years trying to get this dour, unphotogenic, unimaginative lump elected and won’t.
realised I got Purnell mixed up with Burnham. Purnell far too right wing for me
Burnham always appears like he’s stumbled in by mistake after taking the wrong turning on his way to his admin job at the call centre.
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