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Labour politicians support move back to the Left |
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Tuesday, 25 March 2008 |
The Labour Party must move beyond the “New Labour” tag and reconnect with leftwing principles, according to a statement signed by party members.
Independent left-of-centre pressure group Compass authored the
statement, which is being supported by Scottish MPs Michael Connarty
and Ian Davidson, as well as vice chair of the Scottish Labour Party
Dave Watson; Stephen Boyd and Dave Moxham of the STUC; and academics
David Purdy and Dr Eric Shaw, the latter of whom is the author of a
series of noted books on the Labour Party.
In the statement, published in this edition of Holyrood magazine,
Compass claims that Tony Blair and New Labour failed to deliver the
type of policies and politics that a predominantly social democratic
Scotland required.
According to Compass, the space left by New Labour in the left of
Scottish politics allowed the SNP to try and claim the social
democratic mantle for Scotland.
Willie Sullivan, Scottish convener and UK vice chair of Compass, said:
“Blair let down Labour and let down Scotland. He never took the really
hard decision, which was about building a progressive agenda to create
a good society, a society like Sweden or Denmark where there is real
equality. Under every Labour government except this one, the gap
between rich and poor has narrowed.
“[With] New Labour we were not even supposed to discuss inequality –
when inequality or the relative wealth of people is a vital determinant
on issues such as health and wellbeing and social cohesion.”
Sullivan added that Compass was concerned about a recent resurgence of
Blairites at a UK level. “There has been a weird resuscitation of a
politics that is ten years out of
date. The problem with New Labour is that they are not new and they are not Labour enough.”
He said the think tank was calling for Labour to use the Scottish
defeat as an opportunity “to try to make the political weather not just
find the best place to shelter from it”.
Readers have left 5 comments. 1. Labour politicians support move back to the Left
Robert, Unregistered I fear it's to late, the lice are at home within Labour the Purnells the Millibands the rots has set in. Brown can do nothing anymore he sold out with Blair's pals around him, weak ineffectual leaders come and go and New Labour it's hope will go, and go for a very long time, after to many years in Labour never again will I fall for the Labour party 2. Labour politicians support move back to the Left
Anonymous, Unregistered Too late now to remember those who gave them the power they abused, I shall never vote labour again.
For myself the SNP hold my socialist beliefs closest now 3. Labour politicians support move back to the Left
Anonymous, Unregistered I can only echo the above comments,but with a hell of a lot more sadness,I was a Labour party member for 23 years,an elected councillor,held branch positions etc
I certainly wont be voting for this grotesque parody of a Labour Party in any forthcoming election. 4. Labour politicians support move back to the Left
Tom MacFarlane, Unregistered The neoliberals have captured both main parties, and the Lib-Dems are now a joke apart from Vince Cable.
The TUC should pull the plug and start again. 5. Labour politicians support move back to the Left
Sigi Mercelot, Unregistered Labour moves back to the left? Wish it was true! First I would have to see a proper strategy from Labour's warmongers how they plan to withdraw our troops from Iraq, Afghanistan & indeed Northern Ireland. I would need to see Labour writing off nuclear power and massive investments in clean energy, let's not forget Trident,etc...
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 25 March 2008 )
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Holyrood magazine 
