Opinions from a loyal Labour Party member
Liberal Democrat
I warn you not to be ordinary…
Nov 29th
The Tory Liberal Democrat government’s brutal attack on public sector workers is an attack on us all. If we allow the Tories and Liberal Democrats to attack the public sector unopposed then Neil Kinnock’s vision of the future under Thatcher will become true under Cameron and Clegg.
My apocalyptic prediction on February 28, 2010 is becoming the horrifying reality.
If David Cameron is elected as prime minister this year, I warn you.
I warn you that you will have pain–when healing and relief depend upon payment.
I warn you that you will have ignorance–when talents are untended and wits are wasted, when learning is a privilege and not a right.
I warn you that you will have poverty–when pensions slip and benefits are whittled away by a government that won’t pay in an economy that can’t pay.
I warn you that you will be cold–when fuel charges are used as a tax system that the rich don’t notice and the poor can’t afford.
I warn you that you must not expect work–when many cannot spend, more will not be able to earn. When they don’t earn, they don’t spend. When they don’t spend, work dies.
I warn you not to go into the streets alone after dark or into the streets in large crowds of protest in the light.
I warn you that you will be quiet–when the curfew of fear and the gibbet of unemployment make you obedient.
I warn you that you will have defence of a sort–with a risk and at a price that passes all understanding.
I warn you that you will be home-bound–when fares and transport bills kill leisure and lock you up.
I warn you that you will borrow less–when credit, loans, mortgages and easy payments are refused to people on your melting income.
If David Cameron wins this year –
- I warn you not to be ordinary
- I warn you not to be young
- I warn you not to fall ill
- I warn you not to get old.
No more broken promises? NUS campaign video
Nov 10th
The National Union of Students’ has created this short video to remind everyone what the today’s demonstration was all about. The NUS organised a peaceful protest, it was the SWP scum who hijacked it for their own lefty ends.
Labour’s negotiating team with the Liberal Democrats – why Ed Balls?
May 11th
Labour’s team to negotiate with the Liberal Democrats isn’t exactly overwhelming.
Lord Mandelson I can understand. His cabinet position, his breadth of experience and the key role he has played in the last two years all mean he should be in the room.
Harriet Harman, not my favourite Labour politician, has earned the right to be at the table as she was elected to the role of Deputy Leader.
Lord Adonis as an ex Liberal Democrat who is now a senior Labour figure can provide a unique insight and help to find common ground.
Ed Miliband was the architect of Labour’s manifesto, so if we’re going to be negotiating changes is the obvious choice.
But why is Ed Balls on the team? I can’t think of a cabinet member less well qualified than Balls to be on the team. It can’t be his cabinet position, as education and families isn’t one of the huge areas of difference between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. It shouldn’t be that he’s a close confidant of Gordon Brown, as Ed Miliband can fulfil that role. What else could Ed be there for?
Can anyone enlighten me?
Cameron and Brown rejected by the people – what next?
May 7th
The nation has spoken. It is crying out for change, but not the change offered by Cameron’s Conservatives. The Tories have been clearly rejected with the overwhelming majority of the country saying no to its manifesto for change. The Tories can’t claim this as anything but a defeat.
But let’s be fair, Gordon Brown has also been rejected. Labour can’t claim this as anything but a defeat. The people haven’t rejected Labour, but neither have they given Brown a ringing endorsement.
Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrats are in a more of a mixed position. They’ve an overwhelming right to scream about the unfairness of the system. A massive six million plus votes and just over 50 seats just isn’t morally right.
Everyone is speculating as to what will happen next.
What is constitutionally correct? Gordon Brown continues as Prime Minister until May 25 and tries to form a Government with the support of minority parties, including the Lib Dems.
What is morally correct? The problem with what is constitutionally correct, is that it isn’t morally right. Neither Cameron or Brown have the moral right to govern.
What is politically possible? Who knows? Clegg doesn’t look likely to do a deal with Brown, but practically Labour needs weeks if not months to change it’s leader. Cameron might try to stage an electoral coup and attempt a minority government, even though the Tory manifesto has been resoundly rejected.
My solution? Gordon Brown should seize the moral high ground and do the following:
- Announce that he doesn’t have the moral right to govern.
- Ask Cameron to form a government…
- … on the condition that before the end of the year we have a referendum on electoral reform. Cameron can continue to oppose a more democratic voting system and cling to the status quo, but he’s got to give the people the opportunity to decide. Not him.
- And that on the new system (or old if that’s what people want) we have a new election before the end of June next year.
Cameron will then be faced with a choice. He can put Britain first, or he can put his party first. Brown will already have shown that he puts Britain first, can Cameron match him? I doubt it. That gives Brown the moral authority to remain as Prime Minister and do exactly what I’ve outlined – have a referendum and new election. He can then get on tackling sorting out the economy and the other important business of government.
Vote Labour – my personal plea
May 6th
I’ve campaigned for Labour in every election since 1987. But this time is different. In every other election I hoped that Labour would win, I was disappointed, shocked, gutted when we didn’t win in 1987 and 1992. But that’s as far as it went.
But this time it’s different. This time it’s far more emotional and personal. Because this time I’m responsible for people.
- I’ve got a daughter who’s almost three and I’m sick to the pit of my stomach with fear for her future if the Tories win. But my fear isn’t just for her, it’s for every other child in the country whose lives will be blighted by the Tories.
- I’ve got a team of brilliant young people that I employ and am responsible for. I’m terrified for their future if the Tories win. I’m terrified how Tory economic policies will devastate small businesses and force thousands of us out of business, just like in the 80s. I don’t want my young people to suffer that trauma.
- I’ve got a father-in-law living in a great care home. I’m terrified what will happen to him if the Tories win. From Tory and Tory/Lib Dem councils around the country we’ve already seen how they deliberately attack the most vulnerable in society by closing homes and viciously cutting home care services.
Quite simply I’m terrified of the Tories and how they’ll govern to benefit the few, while the rest of the country can go to hell.
Growing up in the 80s I’ve had personal experience of just how bad it is to suffer under the misery of a Tory government. I remember:
- being taught in schools with classrooms where the roof leaked, where classrooms were Portacabins in the playground, where we didn’t have enough teachers.
- people waiting over a year for hospital appointments, not just weeks.
- when people were scared of the police who the Tories were trying to turn into a political tool to attack the miners and working people.
- when Tory ministers celebrated the fact that a pregnant woman was handcuffed to her hospital bed
- when people were losing their homes and jobs, because of extortionate 15% interest rates.
It scares me that young people I talk to don’t know just how terrible the Tories really are. They never lived through the sheer misery of a government with the core principles of selfishness and greed.
And the truth is even if you believe in Compassionate Cameron, it’s still the same old nasty Tory Party that he leads. Tony Blair was a true leader and took on Labour Party members to reclaim it and take it back to its founding principles, rejecting the left-wing doctrines that had polluted Labour’s original philosophies.
Cameron hasn’t done this. There can only be three reasons:
- Cameron is lying and doesn’t really believe his compassionate Conservatism, it’s just a ruse to seize power. I used to believe Dave and think he had changed, just not his party. Now, I’m not so sure. Maybe I’ve been conned by Cameron.
- Cameron is too scared to take on his own members. He doesn’t have the courage for the job. You have to ask if he can’t lead a political party, how can he lead a country?
- Cameron isn’t capable of taking on his own members. He’s just not bright enough. You have to ask if he can’t lead a political party, how can he lead a country?
So I urge you, if you do one thing today then vote to stop the Tories plunging Britain into misery.
Vote to ensure that the UK gets true electoral reform as advocated by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, not the gerrymandering, vote-rigging proposed by Cameron.
UPDATE: A few typos helpfully corrected by @karenbruce, my lesson is more haste less speed!
