This is promising news to me, as I have felt that, in the last decade and a half, the Labour party had been largely usurped by Blair and his friends. Back in the 1990’s, faced with the realisation that Labour policies were not going to get them into power, they abandoned them for policies that would get them in, but had nothing to do with Labour values. In doing so, they left traditional Labour supporters with no-one to represent them.
I don’t begrudge Tony his time at number 10 – his people won the election(s), so he got into power. What I have always objected to is that he did it in the name of Labour.
Will things change now? I really don’t know – I cheered in Tony, and look where that got me; within 5 years of his leadership, I had abandoned my support of the party in disgust. But I really do feel that if you truly believe in something, it is better to keep to your beliefs, no matter how unpopular they might be, and continue to fight in opposition; than to cynically adopt a popular position, simply to gain power. In doing so, you have prostituted yourself, and your opinion no longer counts.
I think that general principle applies no matter what your political views might be – Labour, Conservative, or even Lib-Dem. Even if your politics are totally different from my own; if you stick to what you genuinely believe, you have my respect.
Hmm. If there are no plans for a “lurch to the left,” I wonder what the alleged death of New Labour actually signifies? (And the little voice inside my head at once pipes up “a lurch to the right”…)
Personally I’m not sure a Lurch on either side is an asset to a political party. A Gomez, now, or a Morticia…
“I wonder what the alleged death of New Labour actually signifies”
Hopefully, the death of political opportunism, a return to basic Labour principles, and an abandonment of allegience to whatever focus groups are in vogue at any particular moment in time. A return to cabinet politics instead of presidential, and an acceptance that dissent from within the party is a healthy sign of thinking minds, not an enemy to be disparaged or destroyed.
But then again, it might just be a handy soundbite.
That’s odd. The little voice inside my head pipes up “and a step to the ri-i-i-i-ight”.
That is not dead which can eternal lie.
Ooh, very aposite. =:o}
Blimey! You’ve really got to stop this. I am finding that you and I agree on more and more things.
It’s starting to get spooky, I tell you!
As for what you said – Abso-bloody-lutely!
What – you think it was just a handy soundbite too? 🙂