48 hours after the Glasgow East by-election debacle for Labour, and I remain of the same views:
1. Replacing Gordon Brown will serve no purpose whatsoever. We are a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential one;
2. Instead national Labour desperately needs to re-connect with its core vote, as I never stopped doing in my own small patch of the Isle of Wight. Unless we do we will be hammered at the next general election;
3. We are in the middle of a GLOBAL economic downturn, caused initially by the collapse of the sub-prime mortgage market in the USA last year. How this is managed from a UK point of view is better off in the hands of people who have real economic understanding, instead of the policy-free Tories;
4. The by-election was no triumph for the south of England Tories.
15 comments:
Geoff,
As a lifetime Labour supporter I am very sad at watching the New Labour experiment go so badly wrong.
Of course Labour needs to reconnect with its core vote, I can't see this being done by the present leaders who have done so much to hurt working people while subsidising the rich and big business.
I also think it's hypocritical for the former chancellor to have claimed personal success when the global climate was good, but now deny any culpability when the global outlook is bad.
We need a change at the top, even if this means a temporary loss of power. I'm very sorry to have to say this.
Yup, I agree commpletely Geoff.
Worst thing local Labour activists can do at the moment is go around whingeing that it's someone else's fault, 'cos in the end it's our party. Best thing we can and should do is keep do our local stuff, 'cos that's what counts.
Mind you, we should also spell correctly. Sorry.
Dear Geoff
Agreed. As a newly elected constituency section member of the National Executive Committee, I'm drawing up an outline plan to get the Party rebuilt and re-energised starting now.
Good result in Saxon Ward, Thetford, South West Norfolk - see my blog.
Commiserations to your fellow councillor about the NEC result - the CLGA did well.
As a Tory supporter I can tell you dumping Gordon won't get you anywhere. It's all those greedy uncaring arrogant Labour Mp's the public have had enough of, just like they diid the Tories 11 years ago.
Labour has had long enough, it's time for a change. My guess is Cameron and Co would rather Gordon and labour stayed in charge while this global downturn lasts. My guess is that'll be at least two years. Labour have overspent, just like they always do. What the British economy needs are some traditional Tory cuts. I think that's the only way we'll kickstart the economy. Admit it, Labour have created an army of non jobs and it all has to be paid for.
Connect with the 'core vote' - same old meaningless plattitudes. Labour were elected because (a) the Toreis were bust (b) Tony Blair din't frighten the horses and (c) they had an agenda that appealed to a broad cross section of society. Falling back to the 'core vote' bunker is simply a comfort zone that most voters don't share (and anyway, what it 'it' exactly).
The recent negotiations at Warrick seem like an attempt to return to the 1970's - same old labour solutions; if only we had the right to secondary picketing, the world would be OK. utter tosh.
Labour are on the ropes in Scotland because Alex S is a brilliant operator (albeit about as trustworthy as Calligula) and, rightly or wrongly, the Scots love what he is doing. That's why there was no election last November.
Gorden just can't do the job - he has no presentation skills and poor judgement (or those around him do). Blair knew this which is why he kept him away from the job for as long as he could.
He's a good man, but not an 'up-front' leader (and yes I know that it's a party, but the leader counts for something - ask IDS!).
Geoff is still trapped in the old politics and constucts. Labour has good policies and a proven track record of targeting help to the poorest sections of society as well as turning around the NHS. The man who made some of this possible is GB - Sadly he seems incapable of articulating a clear message or vison as Leader. It's sad, but sometimes it happens. Leadership is a skill which not everyone has.
Elect a new leader, call an election and take the fight to the tories - it's better than this slow, lingering death by incompetence. If you want to fight, let's do it with polices and public debate and show the Tories for what they are.
Removing my remark has shown me how petty you can be Councillor Lumley. Now I see that your blog is intended for your own little club.
Being better able to articulate your ideas than others does not make you a better person. Maybe I didn't add anything to the debate but I at least bothered to read your blog which is more than most people do.
Your 'old Labour' ideals probably mean a return to the days of union dominance, so thank goodness Labour appear to be finished (IMHO). All other things aside I do wish that local councillors would stop bringing party politics into local affairs so much. Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat are all the same. Is it ego or ambition (or both or other)that drives all this, because it certainly doesn't look like a genuine desire to do the best for the IOW from where I sit.
My apologies Councillor Lumley, my comment was at the end of your previous post and is still there. Well, that leaves me looking pretty silly then.
Last paragraph still stands though.
Not me guv ! I have not removed any comment. Pettiness is not my style. Oh, and quite a few do read the blog according to my hit counter......
we love your blog Geoff.. not many places as interesting.
GB is a poor leader and clearly lacks presentational skills. Sadly in the tv age a successful leader cannot operate the way he does. The hoi polloi need to be charmed.
Gordon is being removed! My guess is he'll be gone within weeks. Milliband has done for him. They're fighting likes rats in a sack.
Oh calm down anon 8.32. Like the Tories and Libs haven't got through their fair share in the last few years. Wanna count them since 1997....not enough fingers.
Take a deep breath and think up some policies to get elected on. Not so easy is it?
Milliband reminds me of David Pugh. Not a good sign eh Geoff?
Except that David Pugh hasn't got Miliband's education (he failed to finish his degree in two different universities), background and contacts.
And they have both been too ambitious too soon, leading to failure.
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