Labour continues to send a signal to the public that it doesn't know what it believes in
The Conservative faithful continues its annual conference in Manchester today. Events so far have served only to highlight the hole in which the Labour Party now finds itself.
Let’s start with the issue of tax credits. According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies the government’s proposed living wage would offset just ’27 per cent of the drop in household incomes from the impact of net tax and benefit reforms.’
This should be natural Labour territory and we should be seeing the party leading the campaign against the tax credit reforms announced in the Budget. Yet it is opposition from within the Conservative Party which is proving more effective and which is most likely to lead to some sort of comprise arrangement.
Yes, it’s just one issue, but it shows a failure of the new Labour leadership to speak to the issues which voters that decide elections care about most.
Why has the party been so silent as George Osborne slowly but surely pinches so much of the Labour manifesto – a living wage, full devolution of business rates and the establishment of a National Infrastructure Commission?
The audacity of Osborne, who yesterday described the Conservative Party as the party of labour and stole Aneurin Bevan’s words – ‘we are the builders’ – has been possible only because Labour has seen its flag lowered over the cherished centre ground.
This is not to say that principles do not matter; but the reality that those around Jeremy Corbyn must grapple with is how to turn his left-wing rhetoric into an enticing ‘one nation’ programme for government – one that brings middle and lower earners together.
It is a programme that needs to speak to people’s aspirations and hopes, and properly address their fears that Labour can no longer be trusted to look after their taxes and provide proper national security.
Last night was a reminder of the problem Labour now faces. As the prime minister was in the conference bubble celebrating an election victory, Jeremy Corbyn was reduced, somewhat sadly, to addressing protests that will do nothing to change government policy.
To make matters worse, he did so alongside Terry Pullinger, deputy general secretary of Communication Workers’ Union, who argued that Corbynmania ‘almost makes you want to celebrate the fact Labour lost the election’.
Such words are profoundly depressing, and speak volumes about those for whom the comfort of opposition is somehow preferably to being able to do things in government.
We have rightly seen many Labour MPs tweeting about how depressing such words are, but it is time for Jeremy Corbyn to take a lead, to disassociate himself from such sentiments and make clear that for Labour to succeed the party must be in power. He needs to show a desire and eagerness to win which has so far been lacking.
To cite just one example: Labour now finds itself in the position where it either backs the renewal of the nuclear deterrent, putting Corbyn in a very difficult spot, or it decides to reject it, leading to mass resignations from the shadow cabinet. Tothe public thismust look farcical.
The reality is that Labour is currently a mess. It is failing to properly stand up for its legacy in government and it is failing to take the Tories to task on crucial policy issues.
We know that many in the PLP remain deeply unconvinced by the Corbyn leadership. The question now is how long will they wait until they move against it.
EdJacobs is a contributing editor at Left Foot Forward. Follow him on Twitter
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46 Responses to “Comment: The Tories are walking all over Labour – Corbyn must act”
leslie48
You got it the wrong way ISIS are beheading and massacring unbelievers and that includes Brits on the beach. The spread of ISIS is the greatest threat to stability along with massive exodus from Syria. ISIS is an army we cannot allow victory to: there is no real alternative.
Mike Stallard
Piss, bottie, wee wee, bum!
I suppose that is the kind of language which University Graduates use nowadays…
leslie says it all below.
PS. You have not advanced any convincing arguments and you do have to ask yourself whether that was the kind of remark that Mr Corbyn would have approved of.
Harold
Labour is a broad church and must remember this, winning elections at any level is what the Labour Party is for, if the intention is to protest fine but join a single issue group. It helps no one to cast the Party as aiming for the left or the centre, as the Tories have spotted you can do both. A wide range of policies which improve the lives of people will be supported they do not need labelling. The only people who win from the left/centre/right argument are the Tories, UKIP and the Lib Dems. I have always believed Governments lose elections not oppositions win them, the two main issues are also the Economy and the Economy. You could add voters do not support split parties.
It is not just having alternative policies it is the articulating of them to a large audience and engaging them, people need to be able to discuss what a Party intended to do and why. Which means other members of the Labour Party need to speak up not attacking other members but targeting the Tories every time.
I once lived in a safe Tory, predominately working class Tory, where there was a great need for an opposition the Tories held all positions of power, the Lib Dems were the official opposition but ineffective with people voting for them because they were not Tory. The Labour Party had lost all the seat they once held, regularly did not stand in by elections and when it did came last. The main reason was because they spent most of their time fighting each other, the local Council would inevitably make mistakes, one Tory Ward had 50% of the rented properties below the National minimum standard for habitation, these events were never challenged by the local Party, who were too busy fighting each other. Few people ever joined the local Party, elections went unchallenged and the people who needed active Labour support got none.
The first big test is the elections next year and the Party must start now setting out why voting and voting Labour does make a difference.
Chris Kitcher
After 5 years of Tory Nazism people will be begging for some good socialist policies. When Corbyn becomes PM we can all hold our heads high once again.
Chris Kitcher
A recession this time caused by the Tory Nazis? They have no idea how to manage the economy their only interest is in reducing the state and making money for their backers. Typical bloody Nazis.