Below is a piece I've written in
today's Guardian.
As the prime minister leaves office, what could be more natural than Labour party supporters wanting a say in where the party should go next, especially after 10 years in power? Why then do Gordon Brown's supporters appear intent on avoiding a leadership election in which party members and trade unionists can participate? Perhaps it isn't the fear of losing that worries them but anxiety about what a leadership election could bring forth.
Labour leaders up to and including John Smith largely respected the broad church within the party. However, for more than a decade the Blair-Brown New Labour faction has discouraged the voicing of any alternative views. If, in a leadership election, there was a sizeable vote for an alternative vision for the future, Labour's broad church tradition would have been reasserted. Any leader wanting to unite and mobilise the party in the runup to the next general election would have to respect this re-emergence, both in policy formulation and in the construction of government.
In recent weeks I have been canvassing in Wales, Scotland and many local authority areas in England. There is a widespread expectation that the efforts of Labour Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly members and councillors will be overshadowed as voters cast their ballot on the basis of Westminster politics. Yet a vote for Labour on Thursday is a vote against the worst excesses of New Labour in Westminster.
Without even having revenue-raising powers, the Welsh assembly has forged ahead with policies on education and health, resisting the marketisation seen in England: league tables and Sats have been abolished, and there are no city academies or trust schools; there are no foundation hospitals, and prescription charges have been abolished. In Scotland, care charges for the elderly have been abolished and there are no student top-up fees. Many Labour councils have similarly proud achievements. These are policies backed by most Labour members - and on which I am standing.
If we are to prevent the Tories returning to power we need to understand not only how New Labour has failed to live up to the hopes of the country in 1997, but also why. The leadership debate is as much a challenge for the Labour left as it is for New Labour. It provides an opportunity not just to demonstrate that the left has an understanding of the 21st-century globalised economy but also that it has the imagination to excite and mobilise our communities around an alternative vision and set of policies.
New Labour's leaders have adapted enthusiastically to the changes corporate-driven globalisation has effected, bringing the ideas and practices of the market into everyday life. All too often socialists and progressives have ceded ground to New Labour by being too defensive, even backward-looking. We cannot turn the clock back, but that does not mean we should accept the global market economy as the last word.
We need a new approach that deepens the quality of democracy throughout society, while establishing social rights to affordable housing, a citizen's income, free education, childcare and healthcare, as well as care in older age - in essence a new constitutional settlement for the 21st century. Such a debate would re-engage all those who since 1997 have not voted, and many young people.
In deciding not only the next Labour leader but also the next prime minister, the forthcoming contest is an opportunity to re-engage the British public in genuine political debate. That can only happen if there is a contest - and that can only be good for democracy.
12 Comments:
I've accidentally wiped my blog by closing the window - never mind - looks like the Guardian has seen the light and you can explain why this country "could do better" from now to a much wider audience now tho Westminster hour did Meacher on you and his possible pact withut inviting you to speak tonight -bad. They keep saying on BBC Radio 4 that Brown will move smoothly into No. ten unless "major political upset" - I say well it is time for a major political upset then, no problem it can be arranged!
I have just posted on my own blog after a miserable couple of days looking for the labour vote.
It is clear that the Labour leadership election is going to be crucial if we are to beat the Tories at the next general election. Your intervention , John, is vital if we are to secure that victory.
The dwindling band of Blairites/Brownites dont seem to get it that unless Labour reconnect with its working class base with policies that centre on a massive re-distribution of wealth
we will be doomed to another long period of Tory mismanagement.
With such a high proportion of ministers, junior or otherwise (so many Treasury whips!), it's going to be difficult to get an unbiased nomination. Those that do go with their principles rather than protecting their job will gain our admiration and respect in the coming terms.
It's time the rules were changed so that those (and only those) with no personal "interest" were permitted to nominate - a truly democratic election.
One way of bringing about the major political upset mentioned above would be for Simpson & Woodley to back John.
Amicus & TGWU members in the new union keep up the pressure
on the title page, "21st socialism" should read "21st century socialism" and the capital A symbol that appears before the price must go!
I'm stuck on the details...
http://charliemarks.wordpress.com/
Seems that Brown is getting desperate. Heard in an Open Uni chatroom yesterday :-
"I had to ring back about a boiler grant query; and though it was a free number - I had to listen to a paeon of praise for Gordon Brown as chancellor- Was unaware that PFIs were allowed to campaign for a political person, and it was not welcome either."
Am trying to find out the number...
That's very sly! Find out which company it is if you can!
anyway, i was walking into the town centre of where i live today and there was a car doing the rounds in the streets with the PA on loud: 'VOTE LABOUR' - 'VOTE FOR xxxxxx xxxx and xxxx xxxx' and the two young men who were walking past me at the time shouted: ' F*** Labour, vote Liberal Democrats' ...
the point is that the Labour candidates have sent by far the most leaflets, have the most signs dotted along the roads (actually there are alot on quite a dangerous bend as it goes) and are the only people who have has their own personal mobile PA system yet two young lads, who i'll admit i judged at first glance did not seem the type to be interested in this kind of thing were VERY vocal in opposition - obviously it seems issues such as Iraq have hit across many boundries and i have a feeling the're going to lose these elections around here in spectacular fashion!!
Also, i've neraly joined to support this leadership bis on numerous occasions but i find it hard to justify supporting Labour, especially in its current form. I Don't believe any political party has made enough effort to make a more equal society etc and just fall inline with the city. So can someone please justify to me why i shoud join, as the against list is about 4 times as long!!
Jon
1. If you don't join, you can't change anything.
2. Blair will be gone within weeks.He announces that on Thursday May 10.
3. We need more members to help people like John and his comrades on the left of the Party regain ground in the months and years to come.
4.The so-called "left" parties like Respect and SWP have no real link to the trade union movement. Despite everything, Labour still does.
5.Things can only get better......
6. you can quit right after the leadership contest if things don't go your way...
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