So far Labour has had it easy, with the Condemed Coalition planning their spending cuts, including cuts to policing, cuts in education and cuts in benefits, and already announced the first steps towards dismantling of the NHS (something even Thatcher dared not to do). Labour have been able to lurk in the proverbial shadow and peak their heads out to hurl criticism at the Tories for being the same old nasty party and remind the electorate that Brown was right when it came to worries over the safety of the fuel allowance and pensioner free travel ( as far as im concerned its hardly a surprised, David Cameron signed a piece of paper promising a referendum on the lisbon treaty ( he might as well have proclaimed peace in our time while he was at it ) so its no surprise he is backing down from his guarantee over winter fuel allowance) and criticising the Liberals over their undemocratic decision to go against there voters (4 in 10 of which said they would not have entered the coalition). With Nick Clegg losing his composure with a former supporter , the Liberal Democrats truly seem to be struggling to justify their part in the cuts program. This is why at this moment the Labour party should not be hiding away and only poping up whenever there are major issues, regardless of the lack of leadership, Labour should step into the spotlight and oppose the coalition.
This is Labour's chance to make themselves truly electable once again. If under a new leader who is young, charismatic and has a true ideology, unlike "New labour" which stood hand in hand with the Tories on most issues, then they could start distancing themselves from the failures of their last administration and promote all that was good over the last 110 years. By reminding people who brought them the NHS in the first place and who truly developed the welfare state in this country and who have stood up for workers rights and even in the last administration, implemented pro rights legislation such as the constitutional reform act and the human rights act. Yes there have been mistakes but it is time for a new leadership to denounce the ways of old, to denounce blairism and while not embracing socialism per se but its better aspects, while the conservatives stand for cuts and draw parrallels between Britain and Greece, the Labour party need to reminds people that we have assets in the form of shares in banks and therefore are nothing like Greece and stand for a policy of protecting those things which are vital for the vunerable in perticular, stand against the cuts. Furthermore they can modernise and propose ideas such as change to AMS , the voting system which the Jenkins report, a report which Labour comissioned, suggested along with extension of the franchise, reform to parliamentry procedure (secret ballot within the commons? eletronic voting?) and a codified constitution.
They could also attempt to make amends for previous actions, by setting aside policy to repeal harmful anti rights legislation and taking a stance against military action in the middle east. This could do well to win support amongst the millions disilusioned by the illegal war in iraq and those who saw Labour regime as authoritarian and convince many "Old Labour" supporters that the party has rediscovered at least some of its old roots. Because if the cut program is not defeated soon we could easily see a return to the unemployment figures of the 90's and traumatised public services. While the world may be a different place compared with sixty years ago, when Labour really stood up to its name, but socialism still has its place in society, and Labour, the party with the rich heritage in this area, is still the party to be the voice of the people, and now during this period of opposition is their chance to show it, now is their time to stand.
This is Labour's chance to make themselves truly electable once again. If under a new leader who is young, charismatic and has a true ideology, unlike "New labour" which stood hand in hand with the Tories on most issues, then they could start distancing themselves from the failures of their last administration and promote all that was good over the last 110 years. By reminding people who brought them the NHS in the first place and who truly developed the welfare state in this country and who have stood up for workers rights and even in the last administration, implemented pro rights legislation such as the constitutional reform act and the human rights act. Yes there have been mistakes but it is time for a new leadership to denounce the ways of old, to denounce blairism and while not embracing socialism per se but its better aspects, while the conservatives stand for cuts and draw parrallels between Britain and Greece, the Labour party need to reminds people that we have assets in the form of shares in banks and therefore are nothing like Greece and stand for a policy of protecting those things which are vital for the vunerable in perticular, stand against the cuts. Furthermore they can modernise and propose ideas such as change to AMS , the voting system which the Jenkins report, a report which Labour comissioned, suggested along with extension of the franchise, reform to parliamentry procedure (secret ballot within the commons? eletronic voting?) and a codified constitution.
They could also attempt to make amends for previous actions, by setting aside policy to repeal harmful anti rights legislation and taking a stance against military action in the middle east. This could do well to win support amongst the millions disilusioned by the illegal war in iraq and those who saw Labour regime as authoritarian and convince many "Old Labour" supporters that the party has rediscovered at least some of its old roots. Because if the cut program is not defeated soon we could easily see a return to the unemployment figures of the 90's and traumatised public services. While the world may be a different place compared with sixty years ago, when Labour really stood up to its name, but socialism still has its place in society, and Labour, the party with the rich heritage in this area, is still the party to be the voice of the people, and now during this period of opposition is their chance to show it, now is their time to stand.
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