There are four types of election result. Ones that are undeniably good. Ones that are undeniably bad. Ones that are on balance good, but look otherwise. And ones that are on balance bad, but look otherwise. The most dangerous ones, obviously, are the last. There is a risk that, like an alcoholic, you don’t notice,… Continue reading We must learn to make hard choices, or fail
Category: political strategy
So, farewell then, progressive majority
Feel a tad vindicated today. You may remember that back in January the Centre Left first blogged about the so-called “progressive majority” which Ed had made the centrepiece of a Guardian article and a speech to the Fabians. We had (somewhat controversially) asserted that it didn’t actually exist, and that we should concentrate our fire… Continue reading So, farewell then, progressive majority
That high risk economic policy again: ours
Recess. Time for us all to reflect on where we’re at before the elections are upon us. And what will people be wanting to hear on the doorstep this month? That the cuts are awful, and that we’re with them. Right? Probably. The idea that we might be taking a risk with this line seems… Continue reading That high risk economic policy again: ours
Demo good, media bad?
There is surely no need to add to the articles Saturday’s demo dissecting the actions of UK Uncut and the black bloc, although it seems uncertain whether these groups were not, in the end, a sideshow to the principal lessons from it all. Perhaps trickier to explain was the laying of any remaining blame, as… Continue reading Demo good, media bad?
The wrong demo: five reasons why
On Saturday Ed Miliband will be speaking, but not marching, at one of the biggest anti-government demonstrations for many years. Activist Luke Akehurst writes passionately and eloquently about the need for all of us involved in the Labour movement to march and, on the face of it, it is an obvious way to capitalise on… Continue reading The wrong demo: five reasons why
The Emperor’s new progressive majority
With his LSE lecture David Miliband is back. We should be delighted: not, one would hope, because there are too many partisan squabblers who wanted him to lead the Party and can’t accept that he lost, but because we are all grown-ups and he is a huge talent which we cannot afford to waste. But some of his… Continue reading The Emperor’s new progressive majority
Tax: it’s the politics, stupid
Not content with the questionable strategy – not to mention thoughtful gift to David Cameron – of our insisting on the extension of 50% tax band indefinitely, Ed Balls has now indicated in a Progress interview that he is thinking about implementing one of his leadership campaign planks as well, and lowering the threshold of the band. Now, I have no doubt… Continue reading Tax: it’s the politics, stupid
Labour must speak not only for organised labour
As predictable headlines follow Ed Miliband committing to speak at the TUC rally on March 26th, it’s useful to take a more detached look at how the relationships between Party, movement and workplace demographics interact. Let’s not be daft – no-one sensible is saying that Labour is “in the pocket of the unions”; however, it is not a particularly wild claim that… Continue reading Labour must speak not only for organised labour
Labour in Helmand: Operation Overreach?
Things like this make me wrestle with myself. My instinct as an activist is to be supportive and I feel like we all need cheering on. But I also need to understand why this trip was a good idea. I felt uncomfortable watching the footage of Labour’s Afghanistan trip and I have this uneasy feeling… Continue reading Labour in Helmand: Operation Overreach?
Can we please just ignore the Lib Dems?
While recent headlines may have all but obliterated from memory Ed’s recent Fabians speech, it is also worth lingering on his more prescriptive, post-Oldham Guardian article from the day before. If Ed did not go as far as Neal Lawson did and metaphorically throw open the gates of Victoria Street to Lib Dem members to… Continue reading Can we please just ignore the Lib Dems?