For the purpose of what follows I am assuming that Jeremy Corbyn (JC) will win the leadership contest, which now appears very likely, and that Labour does not split or collapse into a state of civil war, which is somewhat less likely but will hopefully be the case. Given the division within the party it […]
A reply to Paul Mason’s “The Sound of Blairite Silence”
Aug 22nd, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.Paul Mason has once again offered a solution to the conflict within the Labour Party which is worthy of serious consideration by anybody who wants to see the party successfully develop in a left wing direction, although some will baulk at its conclusions. Essentially Mason believes that on the assumption of a Corbyn win a […]
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The EU referendum
Jun 29th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.As someone who was strongly pro EU and had written several articles for Left Futures, as well, as participating in local activity on the issue, I feel a bit gutted, and like most people got it wrong. While things looked a bit desperate three weeks ago it appeared that the murder of Jo Cox […]
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The EU referendum – nine days to go
Jun 14th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.Is there anything new that can be said about the EU referendum? Probably not, but it is perhaps worth reflecting on a number of aspects of the campaign and its possible different outcomes, given that it is now apparent that there is a serious likelihood that either Brexit or Bremain win, but by a small […]
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The Cruddas Report and winning in 2020
Jun 1st, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.The independent inquiry by Jon Cruddas and others, ‘Why Labour lost in 2015 and how it can win again’ has just been published (late May 2016), although much of the material has already appeared. It does I think deserve another look, as there is fresh material, it is serious, as opposed to just being a […]
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The ‘Super Thursday’ elections and their significance for Labour
May 13th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.It would be foolhardy to suggest that Sadiq Khan’s enormous victory in the London mayoral elections meant that Labour would win in 2020, and no sensible commentator has done so, but Corbyn’s detractors have used selected information in a similar way to prove the opposite. They know they are being dishonest, but they don’t care […]
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The EU – a strong Labour ‘remain’ campaign would be decisive
Apr 7th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.The recent poll giving Leave a lead (Opinium, Observer, April 3rd), backed up by recent poll averages showing only a small two point lead for Remain, means that there is now a distinct possibility that Leave could carry the day, and Brexit could happen. This is accentuated by the poll also demonstrating that the younger, […]
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The Beckett report, polls and the Left
Feb 8th, 2016 by Peter Rowlands.On two related issues, the Beckett Report and Labour’s overall level of support, there has not been a sufficiently robust response from the left. On Beckett there would appear to be general agreement that the failure to even attempt to dispel the myth that Labour was responsible for the 2008 crash because of over expenditure rather […]
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The EU referendum and the pro-EU left
Nov 11th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.The GMB resolution at the Labour Party conference stressed defending employment and social rights and not aligning with the Tories, and was a welcome starting point for what should now be a major issue for Labour’s left, namely determining that Labour’s campaign is distinctively left wing and not indistinguishable from the general In campaign. The Labour No […]
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The case for Britain staying in the EU
Sep 18th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.It is now clear that a substantial section of the left in the Labour Party has come to the conclusion that the UK should leave the EU, a position enormously enhanced by the TUC statement this week that any deal involving a diminution in employment or social rights that Cameron won prior to the referendum […]
