Jeremy Corbyn (JC) has said that if elected he would want to see the Labour Party democratically develop policies rather than impose his own, and that perhaps means that the policies he has proposed during the leadership campaign are less significant than should be assumed. Nevertheless, because what he has said has helped to […]
Key Labour targets: raise support from over 65s, raise turnout of under 35s
Jun 26th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.Ipsos Mori have now published their findings on the recent election. However, it is I think worth highlighting some of these as they are of crucial importance in any consideration of Labour’s future electoral strategy. The information is broken down by gender, age, social class, housing tenure and ethnic group, by gender for age and social […]
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Labour is at a crossroads – socialism or austerity?
May 27th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.Labour must understand why it did so badly in the election, as it is unlikely to be able to mount a successful campaign in the future if it doesn’t. Much has been written already, although we await a full analysis in terms of voting patterns and movement by age, class, gender etc., but from what […]
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Will those fighting Labour’s ground war be consulted on who we work with after 7 May?
Apr 8th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.Following a local discussion recently I realised that not only had I not thought about or had any clear ideas as to whether or how the membership would be consulted in the event of a hung parliament, but that this was largely the position across the board, with few commentators or bloggers addressing the question, […]
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Labour can win if it’s bolder
Jan 8th, 2015 by Peter Rowlands.With only four months to go Labour can win, but only if two sets of conditions are fulfilled. Firstly, that there is internal discipline generating external unity, with the usual suspects forswearing any ‘advice’, at least until 7 May (Blair and Mandelson please note). This means Progress supporting the Miliband ‘ left’ line, which merely points in a […]
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Shaping Labour’s manifesto – have your say
Mar 17th, 2014 by Peter Rowlands.Although it has not been widely commented on, the publication of eight documents from Labour’s policy commissions marks a further step down the road to the manifesto. Amendments are invited, although the deadline for these of June 13 doesn’t give much time, partly because of the EU and local elections on May 22. The documents should […]
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Left Unity? No thanks, at least not yet
Aug 10th, 2013 by Peter Rowlands.The initiative by Left Unity (LU) to found a new party of the left (NPL) is the most serious attempt to do so for some years, and merits some consideration. I would like to argue that a NPL should not be formed, at least at least not now, as it is unlikely to succeed and […]
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The spending review capitulation could cost Labour the election
Jul 4th, 2013 by Peter Rowlands.Labour’s acceptance of Tory spending plans for for the first year of the next parliament is a watershed moment, not least in its potential to cost the party a majority, and keep the current coalition in place. Why did the Labour leadership decide on this stance? Presumably because of a perception that those who still […]
