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The Lib Dems left me disillusioned. Labour has made me hopeful again The Lib Dems left me disillusioned. Labour has made me hopeful again
(2 days later)
A few months ago I decided not to renew my membership of the Liberal Democrats after 25 years in the party. In that time, I had been the party's director of policy, a speechwriter for Charles Kennedy, and a candidate at the last two general elections. The break was not an easy one to make, and I hadn't expected to join another party soon.A few months ago I decided not to renew my membership of the Liberal Democrats after 25 years in the party. In that time, I had been the party's director of policy, a speechwriter for Charles Kennedy, and a candidate at the last two general elections. The break was not an easy one to make, and I hadn't expected to join another party soon.
When I left the Lib Dems I was disillusioned with party politics. Yet time for reflection has brought me to the conclusion that this country's best hope in 2015 is the expulsion of the current government and the election of Labour, with Ed Miliband as prime minister – and I have shown a commitment to that by joining Labour. Why the rapid change?When I left the Lib Dems I was disillusioned with party politics. Yet time for reflection has brought me to the conclusion that this country's best hope in 2015 is the expulsion of the current government and the election of Labour, with Ed Miliband as prime minister – and I have shown a commitment to that by joining Labour. Why the rapid change?
Over the past few months, from the perspective of someone in no party, I've had time to view the arguments which Miliband and his colleagues have put forward. The leadership he has shown has been impressive on basic questions of power and standing up to vested interests. He did that early on with the Murdoch press, taking risks because it was the right to do. He's done it too on banks and bonuses, while Labour's actions on Syria stopped a rush to war. These actions alone show how much Labour has changed – something which could not be said three years ago when some disgruntled Liberal Democrats gave Labour half a glance.Over the past few months, from the perspective of someone in no party, I've had time to view the arguments which Miliband and his colleagues have put forward. The leadership he has shown has been impressive on basic questions of power and standing up to vested interests. He did that early on with the Murdoch press, taking risks because it was the right to do. He's done it too on banks and bonuses, while Labour's actions on Syria stopped a rush to war. These actions alone show how much Labour has changed – something which could not be said three years ago when some disgruntled Liberal Democrats gave Labour half a glance.
On values and the direction of policy, the crucial issue for me is that Labour recognises the need for fundamental change in the economy. The coalition seems to think that balancing the books and then getting back to business as usual is the way to go. That is as true for Lib Dem ministers as for Conservatives. In contrast, a very wide range of Labour figures are clear, as Jon Cruddas has said, that there needs to be a new structure of "responsibility, reciprocity and relationships". That approach has already resulted in specific policy proposals. When I hear Miliband talk about a living wage I know Britain has the chance to elect a prime minister who truly understands the lives of ordinary people.On values and the direction of policy, the crucial issue for me is that Labour recognises the need for fundamental change in the economy. The coalition seems to think that balancing the books and then getting back to business as usual is the way to go. That is as true for Lib Dem ministers as for Conservatives. In contrast, a very wide range of Labour figures are clear, as Jon Cruddas has said, that there needs to be a new structure of "responsibility, reciprocity and relationships". That approach has already resulted in specific policy proposals. When I hear Miliband talk about a living wage I know Britain has the chance to elect a prime minister who truly understands the lives of ordinary people.
Regarding wider social policy, I see a party grappling hard with the issues of how we can live in a more community-minded and responsible way. Labour is already coming up with innovative proposals on areas such as housing and energy, tied to a focus on living standards which will surely resonate at the next election.Regarding wider social policy, I see a party grappling hard with the issues of how we can live in a more community-minded and responsible way. Labour is already coming up with innovative proposals on areas such as housing and energy, tied to a focus on living standards which will surely resonate at the next election.
Having decided that I support Labour's basic approach, the immediate question was what to do about it. Does one simply read the newspapers, nod in agreement, click "like" on social media, and then turn up to vote at the ballot box? To answer that, the approach of Cory Booker, as he runs for the US Senate, has been interesting to observe over the summer. A friend from my student days, Cory has already been a very successful mayor of Newark, New Jersey. I visited him in 2009 to see how he made such a difference in a tough city. At the heart of his work has been a sense of civic activism, and he has regularly said in his Senate campaign and elsewhere that "democracy is not a spectator sport". Rather, it demands action.Having decided that I support Labour's basic approach, the immediate question was what to do about it. Does one simply read the newspapers, nod in agreement, click "like" on social media, and then turn up to vote at the ballot box? To answer that, the approach of Cory Booker, as he runs for the US Senate, has been interesting to observe over the summer. A friend from my student days, Cory has already been a very successful mayor of Newark, New Jersey. I visited him in 2009 to see how he made such a difference in a tough city. At the heart of his work has been a sense of civic activism, and he has regularly said in his Senate campaign and elsewhere that "democracy is not a spectator sport". Rather, it demands action.
Are political parties the best way to direct such action? Everyone involved in party politics has no doubt felt at some point that they might not be, and been tempted to make practical differences at local levels in other ways. Certainly I felt that a few months ago. But when one examines the mechanisms of power in the UK, and understands the power which parties in parliament have on huge issues such as policy on Syria, then the importance of national party politics, and the local parties on which it rests, becomes abundantly clear. Fundamentally, parties still matter, even if they are not all that matters in how we as a nation organise politics.Are political parties the best way to direct such action? Everyone involved in party politics has no doubt felt at some point that they might not be, and been tempted to make practical differences at local levels in other ways. Certainly I felt that a few months ago. But when one examines the mechanisms of power in the UK, and understands the power which parties in parliament have on huge issues such as policy on Syria, then the importance of national party politics, and the local parties on which it rests, becomes abundantly clear. Fundamentally, parties still matter, even if they are not all that matters in how we as a nation organise politics.
So for anyone with any political interests, there are some basic questions to answer about what they are for/against, and what they intend to do about that. Faced with such a realisation, and a growing belief that Labour is the only party offering the bold changes which Britain needs, not joining Labour was not an option. I will do whatever I can to see that Labour wins in 2015. There rests our best hope of building the good society I want to see.So for anyone with any political interests, there are some basic questions to answer about what they are for/against, and what they intend to do about that. Faced with such a realisation, and a growing belief that Labour is the only party offering the bold changes which Britain needs, not joining Labour was not an option. I will do whatever I can to see that Labour wins in 2015. There rests our best hope of building the good society I want to see.
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