A nation for all the people

I am a great admirer of John Cruddas,I wish that he had got the deputy leadership of the Labour party for I am sure that he would have provided the impetus for them to go on and win a fourth term.

Instead his ideas remain in the inside pages of the newspapers.

This morning he writes a good piece in the Guardian in which he argues the case for a new socialism.

Within Westminster he says

a rather timid critique of the government has emerged, often from former ministers. Its essentials are now almost a cliche: a lack of narrative, too much "initiativitis", and a stalling of momentum as the "Brown Bounce" of 2008 falls away.

Labour he says

lost the language of generosity, kindness and community as it lost the tempo of the country. England's abiding culture was never socialist, but as we misunderstood its essential ethic of solidarity we lost our ability to build a politics beyond the market - to mould a radical hope for the country.

Instead he says maybe this should be the motto going forwards

"A nation for all the people, built by the people, where old divisions are cast out. A new spirit in the nation based on working together, unity, solidarity, partnership. That is the patriotism of the future. Where your child in distress is my child, your parent ill and in pain is my parent, your friend unemployed or homeless is my friend, your neighbour my neighbour. That is the true patriotism of a nation."

The author? a certain T.Blair

Read the article don't pontificate over its consequences

A rather unconventional approach to David Miliband’s Guardian commentary would be to discuss the argument which he actually makes. Those of us who would like more open debate in our politics might at least try to attempt that. A public debate about the Labour party’s future direction, and how to forge an effective response to the Conservatives, could prove both more important, and rather healthier, than the fevered anonymous briefings about possible plots

Good point with all the filibuster over the articles implications for leadership challenges the text of the article apart from the fact that is doesn't mention Gordon Brown has not been discussed.

Sunda Katwala,who is head of the British Fabians, takes a closer look at what the Foreign secretary actually said and argues that he addresses three issues.Firstly what progressive account of Britain in 2008 will voters recognise,What, after 11 years in power, is Labour’s case as to what it wants another term in office for and What distinctively Labour argument could yet challenge the Conservatives

For her

Labour must now define its own positive centre-left argument. It didn't do this in 1997 and the legacy is a growing weakness. This is not a matter of simply being more 'left-wing' in a shopping list of policies. Indeed, the temptation to become inward-looking is not a monopoly of the left.

And that is the point.If Labour wants a fourth term it is not about who is bast to lead it,it is about its vision and policies

Back to the 70's-Don't think so

Hats off to the unions who according to Patrick Wintour in this morning's Guardain are to table 130 demands on the government

The complete list, obtained by the Guardian, includes a right to take supportive strike action, scrapping NHS prescription charges, bringing all hospital cleaning back in-house, and a new agreement on public sector pay with the Treasury.

The price of relying on the unions for financial support,I here many cry.A return to the beer and sandwiches of the 70's will be another.

But if you look at the proposals,they are simply reflecting a social consciounce.

According to the paper,some will include

1.extending the adult minimum wage to 18- to 21-year-olds and apprentices

2.changes that would to allow councils to negotiate procurement contracts that include fair employment clauses.

3.the right to five days a year paid educational leave for all workers,

4.extend the "not-for-profit model" to passenger train operators as franchises expire

Things that a Labour government should have been doing all along.

A programme not to miss

A must watch tonight on Channel 4 as Andrew Rawnsley presents a documentary asking where it all went wrong for Gordon Brown.

Some of the gems that are going to come out in a programme in which many of his cabinet coleagues have been interviewed include.

1.Alistair Darling realising that there was a major problem with the 10p tax move when he first became Chancellor.

2.Home Secretary Jacqui Smith telling us that once Gordonhas made up his mind it is difficult to get hime to change.

3.How his trip to Iraq during the Tory conference and the stealing of the Tories inheritence tax policy broughtmuch criticism from his colleagues.

4.A cabinet divided over the plans for a snap election

A new manifesto from the Left

John McDonnell the Labour MP for Hayes is drumming up support for what he is calling the May 2008 manifesto.

McDonnell,you may recall tried unsucessfully to stand against Gordon Brown in last year's leadership husting,failing to get enough MP's to back him.

This is his new manifesto

"We believe that Labour can win back the support of our people by adopting a new 2008 May Manifesto, which should include:

1.Nailing the 10p tax mistake by the introduction of a fair tax system removing the low paid from taxation and ensuring the wealthiest and corporations pay their fair share

2.An increase in the basic state pension, immediately restoring the link with earnings, lifting people off means tested benefits and providing free care for the elderly

3.An immediate start on a large scale council house building programme and assistance for those facing repossession
Immediate end to programme of local Post Office closures and liberalisation of postal services

4.An end to the privatisation of our public services

5.A new pay deal for public sector workers to protect their living standards and tackle low pay

6.Abolishing tuition fees and restoring maintenance grants for all students

7.Scrapping ID cards and abandoning 42 days detention

8.Introduction of a trade union freedom bill and measures to protect temporary and agency workers

9.Rejecting the proposals to renew Trident

Another week,another battle begins

Gordon Brown is on the offensive this morning as MP's return to the Commons over the 42 day detention legislation.
Voting is due to take place next week and it may be a vote too far for the government.
All the indications are that this is going to set off another back bench battle.However it will surely be imposssible for Brwon to back down over this.

Instead he has gone on the attack.Writing in this morning's Times he says

“I will stick to the principles I have set out and do the right thing,” adding that even though he recognises that he is going against advice

But having considered all the arguments I conclude that it was the right way to protect national security.

Ed Balls being interviewed on today thismorning ostensibly about the new teenage drink legislation called the propoals

consistent with our parliamentary tradition.The important thing is to do the right thing by national security.

The Guardian brings another argument to the table reporting that

Europe's human rights commissioner is to write to Gordon Brown this week warning him that the proposal to detain terror suspects for up to 42 days without charge is an "excessive" measure that will put Britain "way out of line" with the rest of Europe and will prove counter-productive.

At the moment reports say that up to 50 MP's will vote against the government although there may well be some Tories who will go threw the division lobby with the government.

McGuire's tips for Gordon -chuck out all the unpopular policy

Kevin McGuire has some tips for Gordon Brown in todays Mirror.

Brown should slip on the rubber gloves, pick up a broom and sweep away the vote-losing clutter a government inevitably collects.

So according to Kevin he should thow out the 42 day legisaltion,the identity cards and the 2p on fuel an instead replace them with

a programme to give Labour an edge and people a reason to vote for the party at the general election.

• a minimum wage of £7 an hour
• free school meals
• abolishen of prescription charges
• free swimming pool charges

Which accoding to Kevin would include

A blueprint from Cruddas

One of the dark horses for the Labour stalking horse is John Cruddas.He probably ran one of the best campaigns in last year's deputy elections.Unfortunately his message was not New Labour enough for the party.How they may regret that now.

Today John writes a good piece in the Independent where he tries to address what the problems are for the party.

He seems to say that short term measures are not the solution but

The Labour Party should take this as a final wake-up call. The next
election is far from being decided two years out; voters haven't necessarily
given up on us. Yet, unless we change over the next six months, the election
defeats of the past few weeks could solidify into a durable anti-Labour voting
block

and reminds the party that

David Cameron has sought to fashion a modern Conservatism that recognises many of the problems of modern British society, even seeking to colonise some of the language of the centre-left – the notion of the "good society" or a "social recession".

So what should the Labour message be

• The Government needs to identify new forms of social solidarity to remedy
  today's uncertainties and insecurities. Where the Tories would rely on market
  forces to bring down living costs, Labour can enforce fairer prices.
  
• Where the Tories want more individualised (read privatised) care for the
  elderly, Labour can use revenue from fairer taxation to share the responsibility
  of caring for our people.
• Where the Tories will "exhort" corporations to be "socially responsible", Labour can provide a tough framework for balancing companies' desire for profits with the needs of ordinary people
• the Tories would empower bad employers, Labour can guarantee better rights for those who work hard on low wages.
• Where the Tories can only hope the private sector can solve Britain's housing crisis, Labour can let councils step in to provide decent homes.
  

This maybe is the clear blue water that the party must put between itself and Labour,recognising the real issues and concerns of the voters but showing Labour principles on how to address them.

This time Mr Cruddas,you must accept any invitations to come into the cabinet.

Return to the basics and listen

No shortage of advice amongst the commentators this morning for Labour and a return to basics is advised from a number of quarters.

John Kampfner in the Telegraph this morning is full of advice for the Labour party saying that they shouldtake a leaf out of Charles Clarke's mantra

Whereas Gordon Brown' media tour

stuck to certain mantras: he is getting on with the job, he will lead the country out of the dark economic times, he does not indulge in rumour and gossip.

,the party should move away fromwhat he describes as a "narrowness of vision" and start to focus on issues

such as equality, liberty and quality of life

and start

by abandoning legislation to extend pre-trial custody to 42 days, a Bill that serves no political or criminal justice purpose, and marks a further descent from a just society. He should, as Clarke urges him, abandon "dog whistle"
politics.

Cross to the Guardian and Polly Toynbee says that Gordon Brown must spread the pain fairly - not carry on squeezing the low-paid

What should the good government do when facing hard times? Make sure the pain falls as fairly as possible on everyone. It is plain wrong economics to claim that holding down public-sector pay is what has kept inflation down. An Incomes Data Services (IDS) report finds no such connection. Inflation now is caused by energy and food prices. Holding public-sector pay to 2.5% for what will be five years will have little effect - except to squeeze the low-paid, while private-sector pay rises twice as fast.

Ken gives his insight into Labour success

Ken Livingstone as far as I an aware makes his first public statement since his defeat last Friday in an article in this morning's Guardian.

Writing that Labour must learn from London,where its share of the vote held compared to the rest of the country,Livingstone says that

There are three tasks for a government:

1. to ensure the country and London are an economic success
2. to ensure everyone shares in that success
3. to ensure that success is sustainable in the long run through improving the environment.

The article is worth a read if only beacause Ken uses it to justify his 8 years at the helm of London.It misses though one point that he also failed on.Listening to waht the electorate really want.Yes Green issues are important but the're not when people are faced with economic hardship.

Both parties need to show new ideas

An interesting article over at the First Post.

The attention is going to be on the Tories and what their policies should be and Philip Blond argues that

If anything, the local elections represent a wholesale repudiation of the policies of Blair and Brown rather than any endorsement of the New Conservatives

In fact he goes further to say that

what the voters were really rejecting was the legacy of the last 30 years and its governing ideology

It's true and both for Labour and the Conservatives,maybe its time to look for that clear blue water.As Philip points out all Cameron has promised is another version of new Labour.He has locked their spending plans into those of the Labour party,

No shortage of advice for Labour to relaunch

Some words of advice from political commentators for Gordon.

In the Mirror,Kevin McGuire thinks that it is time to declare war and for a cause celeb he should look no further than the exploitation of workers.

The "intolerably poor working lives" uncovered by the TUC's Commission on
Vulnerable Employment were condemned as far back as Victorian times, yet they
persist in the 21st century.

and he adds

A Prime Minister who fails to help "twilight workers" - semi-legals in care homes, hotels, haulage firms, beauty salons, the security industry, hotels, restaurants, construction sites, hairdressers or wherever they toil, can kiss goodbye to any election.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett writing in the Sun says

NOTHING short of a dramatic shift in policy will restore the Government’s fortunes.

and that dramatic shift

why not a £3billion windfall levy on the huge profits of oil companies?
The money could be used not just to postpone this autumn’s 2p rise in fuel duties, but to make a dramatic cut until world oil prices stabilise.

But as with McGuire,he sees Labour's salvation as being the party to look after the less well off

why not give an even bigger uplift in child benefits — then tax it so the better-off neither gain nor lose out.
This could be linked to radical measures to get people off welfare and into work.

Alice Miles in the Times says forget bins but concentrate on more important issues

I bet the real Gordon Brown has, this week, been more concerned about the Burmese than about “bin bullies”, as the Tories call them

The problem for Brown being that last week's elections showed that voters have little time for the wider global issues when they are under attack on the domestic front.

Meanwhile in the same paper Simon Jenkins says

Brown's salvage effort looks stuck in a time warp. He'd do better to cheer up and seek a charisma implant

adding

He appeared besuited on a Sunday television sofa, looking like a wet afternoon and talking about "getting our message across" and telling "the truth about the Tories". His friends spoke of relaunches and policy revamps, of "reconnecting with core voters" and deriding people they called "toffs". This is not so much a repeat of John Major in the mid-90s as of Harold Macmillan in the early-60s, who just wished that the 20th century would go away. The Brownites clearly wish the same of the 21st.

The solution to his problems according to Simon lies in looking at Boris who

was camping it up in a policeman's hat at a Sikh festival in Trafalgar Square.