Time to be bold

Posted on 21 March, 2008 by tommarley

Interesting debate here between Charles Clarke and Jon Trickett on what should be the future direction of the Labour Party.

Both seem to agree that the party needs to be bold though neither really get there in giving the reader a genuine narrative of Labour in government. Clarke lays down this gauntlet though and goes through the old rhetoric of public service reform, environmental stabilit31104.jpgy etc…

Trickett on the other hand makes a positive call for arms:

“It’s time to break with New Labour timidity. No longer will the modernising left sit quiet, hoping for a more progressive face to emerge from New Labour’s bunker. Our party wills the change that we are being denied. Our country needs it.”

In an Obama-esque turn of phrase he pays lip service to the change he doesn’t make time to describe. It is the job now of the progressive left to not just call for ‘change’ but demonstrate what the change should be.

My 5 questions for the party are this?
1. What should our response be to growing inequalities of wealth in this country?
2. How do you balance the creation of affluence with the need to ensure environmental sustainability?
3. After we have provided opportunities how do you create the necessary aspirations?
4. What is the role of public services in the 21st century and how do we respond to the demand of the users? 
5. How should the Labour Party respond to meet the challenges?

Over the next few weeks my blogs will address these issues.

Filed under: Labour Party, Left Wing Politics, National Politics

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3 Responses to “Time to be bold”

  1. Iraq - And What the Press HAVEN’T told you « Tony Blair, on March 21st, 2008 at 10:17 pm Said:

    [...] where it should be going. Following the recent debate between Charles Clarke & John Trickett on the way forward for Labour- (there would never have been a need for this discussion right now if … well, you [...]

  2. Praguetory, on March 29th, 2008 at 10:08 pm Said:

    1. What should our response be to growing inequalities of wealth in this country? Nothing. The housing market is crashing without any further effort needed from your party. The resulting redistribution from the old and rich to the poor and young will dwarf any of your failed inishutivs.
    2. How do you balance the creation of affluence with the need to ensure environmental sustainability? What have either of these goals to do with Labour?
    3. After we have provided opportunities how do you create the necessary aspirations? This question appears to be based on a false premise. Start by rewarding work and enterprise and stop infantilising people.
    4. What is the role of public services in the 21st century and how do we respond to the demand of the users? Their role should be to provide a safety net, not a hammock. Re demands of users, do the complete opposite of what you’ve done in your first 11 years : underpromise and overdeliver.
    5. How should the Labour Party respond to meet the challenges? Ruthlessly steal Conservative policies and hope you can hide the incompetence of your delivery from the public.

  3. tommarley, on March 30th, 2008 at 12:48 pm Said:

    I was going to write blogs about all those things but instead i’ve got essays so im going to have to go back to it later.

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