tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post6282185221216214180..comments2023-10-07T12:15:50.446+01:00Comments on The Centre Left: Labour’s Catch-22Rob Marchanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-38325488214044318452010-12-05T04:24:57.408+00:002010-12-05T04:24:57.408+00:00The reality is that at a parliamentary level, poli...The reality is that at a parliamentary level, policy will be decided by cabinet. This centralisation causes enough problems within the PLP, never mind the wider party. Having an outlet for policy which the cabinet can appropriate or politely ignore might benefit party unity - I'm thinking of the Lib-Dems recently and their party/leadership split on education policy.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443724356434212172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-75141783742327721522010-12-04T07:58:42.714+00:002010-12-04T07:58:42.714+00:00On Liam Byrne - yes, but the point is that no-one ...On Liam Byrne - yes, but the point is that no-one really believes the old policy is real any more, because we have been so clear about ditching the old agenda. We are likely to be eventually railroaded into defining policy to fill the vacuum, which puts us on the back foot.<br /><br />On James Purnell (careful now, you are starting to look like a Blairite! ;) just kidding) not a bad idea at all although, looking at some of the motions which come out of my GC, you would have to define it pretty well to get a useful result.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-16146168694152332612010-12-04T03:47:23.182+00:002010-12-04T03:47:23.182+00:00Liam Byrne explained this reasonably enough - Labo...Liam Byrne explained this reasonably enough - Labour's policy positions remain unchanged until they are, erm, changed.<br /><br />I can't see how it is that much of a conflict. If anything, as the sole opposition party at a UK level, it looks better that we are united and taking our time rather than divided and rushed like the incumbent government?<br /><br />On the whole policy thing, James Purnell's LSE lecture in February (I listened to the podcast of it) comes up with a pretty fitting solution (especially given the current leader's desire that we be the country's biggest community organisation): return to giving CLPs a stake in policymaking, but split this from the PLP, which would come up with its own policies.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11443724356434212172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-19702719239329009852010-12-03T15:38:04.005+00:002010-12-03T15:38:04.005+00:00Well after 44 years in labour god knows how many c...Well after 44 years in labour god knows how many conferences, god knows how many meetings rallies miners strikes marches, I wish you well within whats left of the Labour party.<br /><br />But I've seen what your calling reforms and it's labour that rolled back the welfare state not the Tories all they are doing is using the same apparatus labour put in place.<br /><br />The WCA medical labour used is nothing short of shocking. I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones I have an illness which means I will keep my benefits.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186557603493331701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-29448656753211419002010-12-03T14:56:09.244+00:002010-12-03T14:56:09.244+00:00Well "reform" is not the same as "d...Well "reform" is not the same as "destroy". I'd agree we didn't do enough to reform welfare. I mean, was the system as it was the ideal system? Probably not - so it needed reform. <br /><br />But what the Tories are trying to do is roll back the state and leave a minimalist welfare state. As always. I don't think Ed agrees with that at all, although we might argue about exactly how you might reform it.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-5145643663461959142010-12-03T09:08:34.541+00:002010-12-03T09:08:34.541+00:00Two days ago.....
Labour did not do "enough&...Two days ago.....<br /><br />Labour did not do "enough" when it was in power to reform the welfare system, party leader Ed Miliband has said.<br /><br />He told the BBC there was still a "minority" of able-bodied adults not in work, which "hacks people off".<br /><br />Tony Blair made welfare reform a top priority when he came to power in 1997.<br /><br />But many of the party's more radical ideas were shelved - and have only just resurfaced now as the coalition seeks to make work pay and shake-up what it says is a system in "crisis".<br /><br />Ditto............<br /><br />Did Labour go too far in attacking so-called ‘benefits cheats’?<br />“For the most part I don’t think we were too harsh. The more you can have a welfare state that has integrity, that people have faith in, the more you can make the case for a generous welfare state.”<br />“What we were doing on trying to help people back to work.”<br /><br />“We need to find a way so the middle classes have more of a stake in the benefits system. I’m quite interested in how you reconstruct the National Insurance principle to make them feel they have a stake, but that is a long term project.”<br /><br />“You have to got to say you believe in responsibility. You have to preach responsibility for the poor, but, and this is important, you also have to preach responsibility for the rich.”<br /><br />“That partly explains why there is a sense of alienation with aspects of the welfare system. People don’t feel that about the NHS or the pensions system because it helps them. I think it was [Richard] titmuss who said: ‘services for the poor are poor services’ – and it’s important to bear that in mind.”<br /><br /><br /><br />Sounds new labour to me......Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186557603493331701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-12375759101002239762010-12-02T23:21:13.864+00:002010-12-02T23:21:13.864+00:00Nah, I must admit I can't see a Labour-Tory pa...Nah, I must admit I can't see a Labour-Tory pact, ever. They are just ideologically incompatible. The last Labourite to try that was Ramsay McDonald, and he's been a hate figure ever since.<br /><br />Not sure Ed is agreeing with Cameron on welfare reforms, is he? I might have missed something but thought he was mostly challenging them.<br /><br />Btw, looking at your email address are you the treborc who used to post on Labourhome? I think I remember discussing some stuff with you on DLA. Interested to know what the current state of play is as the Tories were claiming to reverse Labour's proposal, don't know if they have.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-23290879234239454092010-12-02T22:18:04.000+00:002010-12-02T22:18:04.000+00:00Well we will see, I'm not holding my breath, ...Well we will see, I'm not holding my breath, I suspect in the future with more hung governments, I'd be surprised not to see Newer labour or future labour or what ever branding they end up with, doing a deal with the Tories to run this country......<br /><br />After all we already have agreement on the welfare reforms, cutting the detention, and with all the shouting about students fee's it was labour that brought them in, something they seem to have forgotten.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186557603493331701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-66299488341477905752010-12-02T19:24:48.710+00:002010-12-02T19:24:48.710+00:00Do you think things are moving to the right in the...Do you think things are moving to the right in the Party then? It seems to me the opposite, although to be fair it's quite early to tell.Rob Marchanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11534810369839848312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7741861999194728080.post-52078622064878231482010-12-02T19:12:43.040+00:002010-12-02T19:12:43.040+00:00It's like a game, New labour dead, long live N...It's like a game, New labour dead, long live Newer labour.<br /><br />Think I'll sit on the side lines for a while see where it goes.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05186557603493331701noreply@blogger.com