Let me say that I am a blood red socialist and I will make no apologies for it.
Is the Labour Party (UK) and its ideals dead?
Slavish devotion to the free market, a lack of social responsibility and almost constant attacks on the public sector meant that I abandoned the Labour Party shortly after Blair took the leadership back in the mid 1990s.
However it now seems that it has gone to the next level, using public money to prop up Financial Institutions that have failed whilst allowing manufacturing groups to go to the wall and the constant drive to bring in private companies (Who are motivated by nothing other than profit) to reform "Failing" public services mean that we have a Conservative government in the UK.
For me, the party is dead but it's ideals are not. In my oppinion, a genine left wing option could gain huge support in the UK. The Conservatives will win the next general election, not because the Public love that slimey git Cameron, but because they are just fed up with the situation (Just like Blair won in 2001 and 2005 - There is no one else who can seriously win) Whereas a united socialist movement could at least form a major bloc in Parliament.
Any thoughts?
Originally posted by InlandRevenueUKI think the time of death was somewhere there back in 1997-8 when, having been swept to power on an unprecedented surge of popularity and distinctly anti-Daily Mail sentiment, Labour proceeded to basically pitch itself to Daily Mail readers and used the gigantic mandate, not to serve the people who had given it to them for the reasons they had given it to them, but instead to try to shroud a virulent ideology in technocratic certainty and numbness and deeply dishonest "the days of ideology are gone" rhetoric.
Is the Labour Party (UK) and its ideals dead?
Any thoughts?
Some choice, isn't it? The blue Tories or the red Tories.
A good start towards greater socialist representation would be a severing of the Labour/Trade Union link. Labour placemen can hardly be expected to represent workers' best interests.
I think the main enabler would a move from FPTP to PR. Then people could vote with their conscience where they would have previously ignored no-hoper third parties. The two Tory parties won't have that though.
I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for the Labour party to return to its roots. Too many cosy personal career interests for that to happen. Having said that, there are a few self-proclaimed socialists still in the Labour party trying to draw blood from the stone. If they had any principles then they would have left years ago.
Personally, I can't see anything other than the red/blue cartel continuing to screw the people for eternity.
I too believe that trade unions should stop funding Labour - How can we honestly complain and strike in opposition to their policies (I striked 3 years ago and last year in protest at Civil Service cuts) yet gib=ve them money? I have also voted, without sucess, to end my union's political fund.
At least it would send a message to Labour that union support is not a given for Labour. It would also hit them in the pocket - 35% of Labour's total funding comes from trade union members.
Originally posted by sylvanderExactly.
Some choice, isn't it? The blue Tories or the red Tories.
A good start towards greater socialist representation would be a severing of the Labour/Trade Union link. Labour placemen can hardly be expected to represent workers' best interests.
I think the main enabler would a move from FPTP to PR. Then people could vote with their conscience where they ...[text shortened]... 't see anything other than the red/blue cartel continuing to screw the people for eternity.
Labour died years ago when all the values, integrity and leadership died. No different with the Tories. MPs are mostly money-grabbing, nest-feathering shysters and are systematically destroying Britain.
I blame us. We live in a democratic society with the power to vote - use it tactically to bring them down and weaken their power base. Vote for the Lib-Dems, not because they are Lib-Dems but because to weaken the Blue/Red grip we have to dilute the power base.
However if you insist on voting on policy alone, may I suggest a vote for UKIP. But please do not vote for the idiots who got us to where we are.