Both nationally and here in Cornwall the Labour party appear to have accepted the seemingly inevitable and addressed themselves to the prospect of defeat in next year's General Election. At Westminster their greatest ambition now looks to be preventing the Conservatives from achieving an overall majority, while closer to home there seems to be little evidence that the party exists at all. There are no Labour members of Cornwall Council, the party ran no candidates in North Cornwall, and they could only manage a meagre 66 votes (5% of the poll) after their non-campaign in the recent St Austell Bay by-election.Jude Robinson, the party's PPC for Camborne & Hayle, is usually an exception to Labour's Cornish anonymity rule, but even she has slipped into the trap of openly contemplating defeat by posting a hung parliament conspiracy theory on her website. The page includes the claim that the Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg, has offered a deal to support a minority Tory administration after the election. Aside from the fact that this is not actually true (you can read the real quote here) it strikes me that Labour and the Liberal Democrats should be trying to find some common ground nationally if they want to avoid another generation being lost to the Tories.
Yes, I know there's an election coming up and politicians of all parties have to get involved with a lot of pointless posturing between now and polling day, but I'm starting to form the impression that Labour (especially in Cornwall) has retreated so far into the bunker that it no longer has a clear view of the real world outside. Even with a punch-drunk Prime Minister, a supine media and Lord Ashcroft's millions to buy an election for them, the Tories are still struggling to climb above 40% in the opinion polls (Labour were registering nearer 50% in the run up to the 1997 election). There is still a natural majority of progressive, non-Tory voters out there, and if Labour and the Lib Dems are smart between now and March/May/June (i.e. not taking needless lumps out of each other) they may find themselves with the opportunity to deliver an electoral system which actually reflects the votes cast. This in turn will mean that any future government will have to govern by consensus - would that really be such a bad thing?
Well you can't have it both ways - Labour is fighting to win in Cornwall, unlike Nick Clegg. Local Liberal Democrats don't seem to have woken up yet to what their leader said. The only progressive and real alternative at the next election is Labour (by real, I mean able to form a government. Would have thought you might welcome the +4.5 per cent increase in Cornwall Council funding (and it's a three year settlement) http://falmouthlabour.com
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, the settlement is good news (although the Tories will use it as an excuse to electioneer with a lower Council Tax rise) and Labour has much to be proud of from the last twelve years (as well as much to be ashamed of). My criticism is the lack of heart and conviction. Policies are tailored to make life difficult for an incoming government because Labour doesn't think it can win in 2010.
ReplyDeleteBlair had a ten year golden opportunity to permanently move the centre of British politics but he was more interested in cosying up to Murdoch and trying not to upset Middle England. If your party really cared (and really was fighting to win) why were there no candidates knocking on doors in North Cornwall during the Council elections? MK were there with the Tories and the Lib Dems, as were UKIP and the BNP - what about Labour?
You are putting your spin on it - bigger revenue grant means there is no excuse for Councils to cut services. If the Tory led administration in Cornwall does, Cllr Jim Currie has already said that cuts are the reason for funding that is needed not being available - ie it's political. That's not an acceptable way to manage vital services. Labour is expecting there not to be big council tax increases given revenue grant.
ReplyDeleteNext year will be a big choice for the future, and Labour is the only progressive Party able to form a government - if you are still stuck on what happened last June, suggest you ask LP in North Cornwall.
Hi Cassandra,
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely love it if the Lib Dems took a constructive approach to progressive left politics and stopped needlessly taking lumps out of Labour.
While Lib Dems love being pictured with Labour government funded achievements in Cornwall, they have spent most of the last 12 years nitpicking and carping, often n pretty spurious grounds. As for the campaign against Candy Atherton - 8 years of attacks culminating in the most personally spiteful campaign I have ever witnessed.
If the Lib Dems want to be considered as a progressive party, they have to make up their minds that is what they are and go for it, rather than continue to face the other way when it suits.
You're wrong on one thing - I'm fighting to win Camborne & Redruth and we are fighting to win the next government, because it is really important not to go back to the Tories. But I still think people ought to know which way the Lib Dems would go. Love the blog and thanks for the link.