Between Miliband’s speech last week and Cameron’s imminent one, there have been many pieces on Labour’s audacious, and slightly unexpected, pitch for the centre ground. It still has drawbacks: it does not deal with the state of the party organisation, and it does not deal with the deficit. But it is a good strategy, and… Continue reading Why One Nation is a great attack strategy for Labour, and why that is not enough
Author: robert.marchant
Labour, Venezuela, and the strange tale of “official observation”
This morning, news came in of Hugo Chávez’s not entirely unexpected win in Venezuela’s presidential election. Now, today is not the time to review the man’s record in office on areas such as the economy, human rights or foreign policy, although these things are important – but, from this election result hangs an illuminating tale of the… Continue reading Labour, Venezuela, and the strange tale of “official observation”
A pretty good conference Ed, but neglect your party at your peril
It’s been a pretty good conference. It started on Sunday with both Miliband and Balls saying sensible, pleasingly non-contradictory things on splitting the banks and a bottom-up spending review (if only Harriet Harman had got the memo). If we merely smile patiently at Len McCluskey’s “throw out the Blairites” sabre-rattling, and nod appreciatively at Miliband’s firmness… Continue reading A pretty good conference Ed, but neglect your party at your peril
Scottish independence – still looking like a no
A bit of late news: a couple of weeks ago the Centre Left reported that 1.5 million Catalans had decided to march for independence, in a region/nation (what you call it ususally depends on your politics) which contains 7.5 million. I said it could mean that a rethink of my view on Scotland – that… Continue reading Scottish independence – still looking like a no
Britain’s unions can be relevant again, but not by espousing fringe politics
As Peter Watt pointed out at the time of the TUC conference, its influence is declining for a number of reasons: the concentration of power in the hands of the leaders of three super-unions, declining membership in general and a political shift to the left. Together, this seems to have led to a focus on… Continue reading Britain’s unions can be relevant again, but not by espousing fringe politics
Respect: the case against allowing extremists into the Labour party
Last week there was much speculation about whether or not Salma Yaqoob, the former leader of Respect who understandably resigned rather than share a party with George Galloway, might join the Labour Party, should she so desire. Indeed, local Labour MP Richard Burden on Thursday extended the hand of friendship, saying she would “be an… Continue reading Respect: the case against allowing extremists into the Labour party
UK Unionists: don’t take your eye off the ball
Just to note that 1.5 MILLION people today demonstrated in Barcelona for Catalan independence. I have written before how I don’t think that either that or Scottish independence will happen any time soon, and continue to do so. But if they keep this up, I may have to revise my opinion. 1.5 million, is, I reckon,… Continue reading UK Unionists: don’t take your eye off the ball
Eight reasons why Labour should think twice about predistribution
Like many, I read Ed Miliband’s New Statesman interview with interest. Some parts of it pleased me greatly, like the seeming acceptance of not having money to spend. And the corollary to that, which is that we could not redistribute wealth which, well, we didn’t have. A sigh of relief was breathed, and I thought,… Continue reading Eight reasons why Labour should think twice about predistribution
Aspirational Britain lies waiting to be claimed
Who’d be David Cameron right now? Mired in political treacle, this week he is trying to divert attention away from his problems with a reshuffle, and wrest back the initiative by lots of serious-sounding pronouncements about economic growth which is proving highly elusive. The public doesn’t seem to be very impressed by him or his… Continue reading Aspirational Britain lies waiting to be claimed
Comment Is Free: eating the Guardian
Once upon a time, there was a left-wing newspaper. Its founder, C.P. Scott, clearly saw it as less of a paper and more of a social mission. My grandfather, a true Socialist all his life, religiously took the Guardian every day, and I would leaf through it as a teenager, mulling over its worthy appraisals… Continue reading Comment Is Free: eating the Guardian