Is Labour doomed? Not if we end austerity

jon cruddas with question markTucked away in a barely-publicised corner of The Telegraph’s web edition is this piece forecasting Labour’s possible extinction. There isn’t much to the article, the paper quotes Jon Cruddas (who else?) speculating about the possibility of Labour’s death before moving on to attack Ed Miliband’s pledge to introduce compulsory profit-sharing schemes.

Let’s come back to Cruddas. In the context of a discussion about the situation in Greece and whether Labour might not exist a decade from now, he reportedly replied “There is no safe ground for any orthodox parties and the stakes could be high potentially. They could just disintegrate in real time. And I include in that the party that I represent.” Unfortunately, I agree with Cruddas. The passing of the Labour Party is an outside possibility. The same is true of the Tories too. The difference is the Conservatives appear hell bent on hastening their own destruction, while there are very small signs Labour has glimpsed the precipice it’s shuffling toward and is pondering whether to turn.  Continue reading

On the folly of yearning for the Pasokification of Labour

gr}pasokNot a few superannuated Bennites, and indeed anybody who prefers their social democracy served straight no chaser, will be entirely entranced by Greek politics right now. Here, for the first time in three decades, is a leftwing European government locked into a collision course with neoliberalism.

Circumstances specific to that country have enabled Syriza to win an election on a radical economic platform somewhere towards the outer limits of anything that could successfully be advanced anywhere in Europe. Continue reading

Remembering the last Greek government elected on a Bennite programme

Tony Benn

As PASOK suffers the worst defeat in its history, the one thing it still has in common with Syriza is that it too was once elected on a Bennite programme. We reflect on that with the help of Tony Benn.

Last night’s sweeping victory for Syriza is the first election of a genuinely radical Left government in the European Union (though you might argue the Socialist/ Communist government François Mitterand appointed in 1981 also had a radical economic programme). The importance of Syriza’s victory in challenging austerity in Europe is tremendous and across Europe we will all be affected by its success or otherwise in meeting that challenge.  Continue reading

Labour should look to the TUC agenda

As the labour movement prepares to take to the streets again this weekend, the message it is sending is more explicit than ever: austerity must go.

This year’s TUC Congress took place in a backdrop where governments across Europe have pursued policies attacking the living standards of the many for the sake of a small, powerful elite – including many made up of traditionally social democratic forces. In response, an alternative approach to the crisis has emerged – one that moves away from the tried and failed neo-liberal framework and instead moving towards building an economy based around the needs of the majority of society.

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The stark choice facing the Greek people

It is difficult to imagine the impact of austerity in Greecefrom here in the UK. Aside from the stark imagery of pensioners eating from bins, students forced into prostitution and children being abandoned in increasing numbers, the statistics make for uncomfortable reading. In February The Guardian reported that planned 15% wage cuts – on top of 30% already suffered – would still not be enough for EU officials. In recent days there have been reports that staff at the Finance Ministry itself have had a 60% cut in their total pay. Unemployment is currently at 22%, while for 15-24 year olds it stands at 54% with both figures still growing. GDP has contracted by 20% since 2008. Continue reading