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| The choice for Labour: socialism or pledge-cards | The choice for Labour: socialism or pledge-cards |
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| Falkirk constituency has been put into special measures by Labour's NEC following "stitch up" claims (Report, 25 June). But the transparency of Unite's political crusade belies any intended malpractice: they have campaigned in good faith; their well-meaning socialist goals have been there for all to see. No, the issue at stake is the lack of strategic direction from Labour's leadership. Old Labour and New Labour are not compatible and never will be. Socialism is the very antithesis of capitalism and no end of relabelling will make old values electable. If this severe and visible rift persists, 20 years of rebuilding credibility will have been wasted. | Falkirk constituency has been put into special measures by Labour's NEC following "stitch up" claims (Report, 25 June). But the transparency of Unite's political crusade belies any intended malpractice: they have campaigned in good faith; their well-meaning socialist goals have been there for all to see. No, the issue at stake is the lack of strategic direction from Labour's leadership. Old Labour and New Labour are not compatible and never will be. Socialism is the very antithesis of capitalism and no end of relabelling will make old values electable. If this severe and visible rift persists, 20 years of rebuilding credibility will have been wasted. |
| Labour has already had its modern revolution. Blair won our arguments in the country, and those that mattered within the party. Remember, New Labour was conceived as a "programme for a new centre and centre-left politics" (see Labour's 1997 manifesto). The underlying assumption (then) of a Liberal coalition, in the event, gave birth to unexpected landslide Labour majorities and to what surely became the most successful and influential popular political movement in modern history. These populist New Labour principles are still as relevant as ever. Pendulum politics will now likely exclude extremes, and even more likely reward centrist coalitions. If the price of Labour's paymaster is to require us to withdraw into the ideological comfort zone of our core activists (in order to re-engage in our old internal battles), then Labour's generals will have perversely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory (well in keeping with our party's Old Labour traditions). A party with discipline, clarity and pledgecards wins elections. Not a party that follows the line of least resistance. Mike Allott Eastleigh, Hampshire | Labour has already had its modern revolution. Blair won our arguments in the country, and those that mattered within the party. Remember, New Labour was conceived as a "programme for a new centre and centre-left politics" (see Labour's 1997 manifesto). The underlying assumption (then) of a Liberal coalition, in the event, gave birth to unexpected landslide Labour majorities and to what surely became the most successful and influential popular political movement in modern history. These populist New Labour principles are still as relevant as ever. Pendulum politics will now likely exclude extremes, and even more likely reward centrist coalitions. If the price of Labour's paymaster is to require us to withdraw into the ideological comfort zone of our core activists (in order to re-engage in our old internal battles), then Labour's generals will have perversely snatched defeat from the jaws of victory (well in keeping with our party's Old Labour traditions). A party with discipline, clarity and pledgecards wins elections. Not a party that follows the line of least resistance. Mike Allott Eastleigh, Hampshire |
| • On Wednesday, George Osborne introduced proposals that will push desperate families into the arms of payday loan sharks and throw thousands more hard-working public servants on the scrapheap (The cuts that keep on coming, 27 June). Ed Balls's reaction to this was to score cheap political points. What else could he do? Labour has already said it won't be reversing any cuts planned up to 2015-16. This decision marks the final descent of the Labour party from a popular working-class movement to being just another middle-class conservative political party. | • On Wednesday, George Osborne introduced proposals that will push desperate families into the arms of payday loan sharks and throw thousands more hard-working public servants on the scrapheap (The cuts that keep on coming, 27 June). Ed Balls's reaction to this was to score cheap political points. What else could he do? Labour has already said it won't be reversing any cuts planned up to 2015-16. This decision marks the final descent of the Labour party from a popular working-class movement to being just another middle-class conservative political party. |
| As somebody who now feels completely disenfranchised by the main parties, I call on the trade union movement to withdraw funding from Labour as a party that no longer represents its interests. Instead, funding should be directed to a new party formed from the membership of the People's Assembly Against Austerity. This would be a party that seeks to improve the living standards of all people whether working or not. The shape of society is changing and full employment no longer a possibility. The unemployed should be encouraged to live stimulating lives and be valued rather than being scapegoated for economic problems created by reckless bankers. | As somebody who now feels completely disenfranchised by the main parties, I call on the trade union movement to withdraw funding from Labour as a party that no longer represents its interests. Instead, funding should be directed to a new party formed from the membership of the People's Assembly Against Austerity. This would be a party that seeks to improve the living standards of all people whether working or not. The shape of society is changing and full employment no longer a possibility. The unemployed should be encouraged to live stimulating lives and be valued rather than being scapegoated for economic problems created by reckless bankers. |
| The economy is said to be recovering when the rich are getting richer at the expense of a victimised underclass resorting to food banks. The way economic success is measured is seriously flawed. However obnoxious Ukip's policies, they have at least demonstrated an appetite in the electorate for real political alternatives. A genuine people's party should be formed without delay, to reverse the cuts and give the poor, the low-paid and the jobless a real political voice. Tim Matthews Luton, Bedfordshire | The economy is said to be recovering when the rich are getting richer at the expense of a victimised underclass resorting to food banks. The way economic success is measured is seriously flawed. However obnoxious Ukip's policies, they have at least demonstrated an appetite in the electorate for real political alternatives. A genuine people's party should be formed without delay, to reverse the cuts and give the poor, the low-paid and the jobless a real political voice. Tim Matthews Luton, Bedfordshire |
| • Cherry Weston asks why we should vote for Labour if they are keeping to the same spending limits as the government (Letters, 25 June). Having the same overall level of public spending doesn't mean sharing it out in the same way. You only have to read the Guardian or Private Eye to see how this government has squandered money through incompetence or ideology or a mixture of both. There is plenty of scope to shift spending priorities, as well as to raise more money through a determined crackdown on tax evasion. And some measures – such as tighter regulation of privatised utilities – don't require extra spending. John Bourn Gateshead, Tyne and Wear | • Cherry Weston asks why we should vote for Labour if they are keeping to the same spending limits as the government (Letters, 25 June). Having the same overall level of public spending doesn't mean sharing it out in the same way. You only have to read the Guardian or Private Eye to see how this government has squandered money through incompetence or ideology or a mixture of both. There is plenty of scope to shift spending priorities, as well as to raise more money through a determined crackdown on tax evasion. And some measures – such as tighter regulation of privatised utilities – don't require extra spending. John Bourn Gateshead, Tyne and Wear |
| • The prospects for jobs and services in local government look increasingly frightening. Not all Labour representative and affiliated unions such as Unison and Unite share the shadow chancellor's acceptance of these cuts. Many Labour councillors are torn between obligations to their communities and workforce and feeling obliged to back the policies of the leadership. But an increasing number of councillors are realising that it is not only morally wrong to carry through these devastating cuts but also politically suicidal for the party. The Councillors Against Cuts campaign calls on unions and Labour councillors to oppose together all cutbacks in local government expenditure. Only last week Unison, at its national local government conference, overwhelmingly agreed to work with us for this objective. Osborne's complacency that no one has fought back against him will have to be answered over the coming year. There must be a fight. Our campaign is working to ensure that there will be. Pete Radcliff Secretary, Councillors Against cuts, Cllrs Gill Kennett and Dean Kirk Hull City Council, Cllr Greg Marshall Broxtowe Borough Council, Jon Rogers Unison NEC (personal capacity), Marsha Jane Thompson Vice-chair, Labour Representation Committee | • The prospects for jobs and services in local government look increasingly frightening. Not all Labour representative and affiliated unions such as Unison and Unite share the shadow chancellor's acceptance of these cuts. Many Labour councillors are torn between obligations to their communities and workforce and feeling obliged to back the policies of the leadership. But an increasing number of councillors are realising that it is not only morally wrong to carry through these devastating cuts but also politically suicidal for the party. The Councillors Against Cuts campaign calls on unions and Labour councillors to oppose together all cutbacks in local government expenditure. Only last week Unison, at its national local government conference, overwhelmingly agreed to work with us for this objective. Osborne's complacency that no one has fought back against him will have to be answered over the coming year. There must be a fight. Our campaign is working to ensure that there will be. Pete Radcliff Secretary, Councillors Against cuts, Cllrs Gill Kennett and Dean Kirk Hull City Council, Cllr Greg Marshall Broxtowe Borough Council, Jon Rogers Unison NEC (personal capacity), Marsha Jane Thompson Vice-chair, Labour Representation Committee |
| • One can agree with everything Green MP Caroline Lucas says (Letters, June 25) but also have the need to add in what she did not say – which bears down very heavily on the politics of the case she is making. The People's Assembly was heavily sponsored by the trade unions. But we all know that, with a few honourable exceptions, come 2015 most of those unions will be spending money and deploying members to elect an, essentially, New Labour government that is now committed to everything they were attacking last Saturday. Time, I feel, for the unions to have a serious rethink about their Faustian pact with rewarmed Blair/Brownism. Simon Sedgwick-Jell Cambridge | • One can agree with everything Green MP Caroline Lucas says (Letters, June 25) but also have the need to add in what she did not say – which bears down very heavily on the politics of the case she is making. The People's Assembly was heavily sponsored by the trade unions. But we all know that, with a few honourable exceptions, come 2015 most of those unions will be spending money and deploying members to elect an, essentially, New Labour government that is now committed to everything they were attacking last Saturday. Time, I feel, for the unions to have a serious rethink about their Faustian pact with rewarmed Blair/Brownism. Simon Sedgwick-Jell Cambridge |
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