Speaking at the Labour Representation Committee’s fringe at last year’s Trades Union Congress, Mark Serwotka assessed Ed Miliband as politically “schizophrenic”. It struck a chord. The Labour leader is a man of frustrating political and personal contradictions. The New Labour days were famous for sofa politics, spin, doublespeak, doublethink and policies made on the hoof. […]
It’s time to face up to Miliband’s contradictions – and sort them out
Jun 24th, 2014 by Thomas Butler.
Austerity, enforced privatisation: what sort of “social Europe” is this?
May 6th, 2014 by Thomas Butler.We often talk about the EU fantasies peddled by UKIP and the right – and we are right to do so. But sadly, organisations on the left are prone to investing in European myths that are in fact very dangerous. Most often, we hear of prospects for a “social Europe”. We hear that the EU […]
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Ignoring the debate on Europe does Labour no favours
May 3rd, 2014 by Thomas Butler.In three weeks time, voters go to the polls to elect their representatives to the European Parliament. Not surprisingly, Labour and a majority of the affiliated Trade unions have been very vocal on the need for a big push in the European elections to kick out the scourge of UKIP and BNP MEPs plus valiant […]
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Is the home ownership model outdated, and ready for the dustbin of history?
Feb 24th, 2014 by Thomas Butler.Let us set the scene. You’re a Labour government, it’s 2015, and you’re tasked with tackling economic instability, and health and social problems on a scale not seen in living memory. You need a grand idea, a pillar of policy that states your long term vision, that gives everything you do afterwards solid foundation, and […]
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Labour councils must offer more than cliques and cuts
Jan 21st, 2014 by Thomas Butler.There was once a great, enchanting, romantic dream of local government. And that’s a dream idealists are prompted to look back to when the reality becomes far too overwhelming. In 2014, that reality is staring at us full force in the face. The present model of local government has run its course. The town halls […]
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2014: the year Miliband’s Labour turns left?
Jan 4th, 2014 by Thomas Butler.In 2014, Ed Miliband and his colleagues need to understand once more the reasons The Labour Party came into fruition. And they need to articulate a clear, radical alternative to Tory Austerity with a vision of a post neo-liberal Britain that appeals to swing voters, but also many of those ‘don’t knows’ and stay at […]
