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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jul/18/forget-trident-labour-needs-to-focus-on-issues-that-matter
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| Forget Trident. Labour needs to focus on issues that matter | Forget Trident. Labour needs to focus on issues that matter |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Labour’s crisis is so profound that the party could cease to exist: a rump, a small cult, too far from power to count. The party in parliament elected by 9 million voters risks being crushed in a pincer movement from right and left. One flank is threatened by the loss of blue-collar voters to Brexit, while its left is attacked by a takeover from new members light years from the views of ordinary voters who Labour needs if it is to win power. | Labour’s crisis is so profound that the party could cease to exist: a rump, a small cult, too far from power to count. The party in parliament elected by 9 million voters risks being crushed in a pincer movement from right and left. One flank is threatened by the loss of blue-collar voters to Brexit, while its left is attacked by a takeover from new members light years from the views of ordinary voters who Labour needs if it is to win power. |
| The threat from the right menaces not just Labour but the country itself. Some 70% of Labour MPs’ constituencies voted Brexit, in a rightward shift pollsters say was mostly due to fear of immigration, even in areas with virtually none. In those “heartland”, “safe”Labour seats working-class votes are easy meat for Ukip candidates, risking an epic rightward shift in the next parliament. With a tiny government majority, a general election might come soon, in Theresa May’s honeymoon. | The threat from the right menaces not just Labour but the country itself. Some 70% of Labour MPs’ constituencies voted Brexit, in a rightward shift pollsters say was mostly due to fear of immigration, even in areas with virtually none. In those “heartland”, “safe”Labour seats working-class votes are easy meat for Ukip candidates, risking an epic rightward shift in the next parliament. With a tiny government majority, a general election might come soon, in Theresa May’s honeymoon. |
| A serious Labour leadership would be organising hard in those Brexit-voting seats to bring back Labour voters. The Tolpuddle festival, from where Jeremy Corbyn gave his interviews at the weekend, is a delight – but why so many rallies of the like-minded, never facing other voters Labour needs to win over, as fearlessly as Neil Kinnock did? | A serious Labour leadership would be organising hard in those Brexit-voting seats to bring back Labour voters. The Tolpuddle festival, from where Jeremy Corbyn gave his interviews at the weekend, is a delight – but why so many rallies of the like-minded, never facing other voters Labour needs to win over, as fearlessly as Neil Kinnock did? |
| The field is wide open for a Labour campaign warning that opting for Brexit was an act of self-harm, damaging to jobs and livelihoods. Already there are hopeful signs of Regrexit, as the effect of the vote dawns on those who were lied to by a disgraceful leave campaign. An ITV poll of Wales shows a 6% swing already: the Welsh would vote remain now, as they see the EU support they risk losing. Who thinks a Tory government will distribute as much to hard-pressed areas, from Penzance to Tredegar, Sunderland to Great Yarmouth? They all may regret. | The field is wide open for a Labour campaign warning that opting for Brexit was an act of self-harm, damaging to jobs and livelihoods. Already there are hopeful signs of Regrexit, as the effect of the vote dawns on those who were lied to by a disgraceful leave campaign. An ITV poll of Wales shows a 6% swing already: the Welsh would vote remain now, as they see the EU support they risk losing. Who thinks a Tory government will distribute as much to hard-pressed areas, from Penzance to Tredegar, Sunderland to Great Yarmouth? They all may regret. |
| Greenpeace has taken the leave campaign bus, with its shameless £350m a week NHS pledge, and parked it outside parliament, lest we forget. It’s not “patronising” or “undemocratic” to persuade Brexiters: they will find out the hard way. The SNP didn’t pack it in after losing the Scottish referendum, but went on to win stronger support. | Greenpeace has taken the leave campaign bus, with its shameless £350m a week NHS pledge, and parked it outside parliament, lest we forget. It’s not “patronising” or “undemocratic” to persuade Brexiters: they will find out the hard way. The SNP didn’t pack it in after losing the Scottish referendum, but went on to win stronger support. |
| Labour bridges pro-EU urban graduates with working class voters who may disagree. But they are bonded by determination to reverse monstrous inequality, where birth is destiny; redistribution, education and strong public services are the bedrock values. | Labour bridges pro-EU urban graduates with working class voters who may disagree. But they are bonded by determination to reverse monstrous inequality, where birth is destiny; redistribution, education and strong public services are the bedrock values. |
| When new Tory leaders borrow the language of “opportunity”, Labour people know they lie. Every Tory government favours the rich: there will be 300,000 more children in poverty by 2020, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Labour left a million fewer poor pensioners and a million fewer poor children, a minimum wage, civil partnerships, the NHS at its best, schools vastly improved, nurseries and sure starts for the first time. Enough? No, never enough for Labour people, because life on the left means always reaching for better. Never forget that all real social progress came from Labour’s brief episodes in power. Never again? | When new Tory leaders borrow the language of “opportunity”, Labour people know they lie. Every Tory government favours the rich: there will be 300,000 more children in poverty by 2020, says the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Labour left a million fewer poor pensioners and a million fewer poor children, a minimum wage, civil partnerships, the NHS at its best, schools vastly improved, nurseries and sure starts for the first time. Enough? No, never enough for Labour people, because life on the left means always reaching for better. Never forget that all real social progress came from Labour’s brief episodes in power. Never again? |
| A surge of enthusiasts joining Labour should be a strength. But the incomers, sincere believers, are fronted by a small handful of wreckers armed with political knuckle-dusters, relishing turning Labour meetings into a fight club. Meetings became so nasty that they have been suspended. It’s a heartbreaking repeat of the early 1980s when those who couldn’t bear long warfare in evening meetings gave up or split – which turned out badly. | A surge of enthusiasts joining Labour should be a strength. But the incomers, sincere believers, are fronted by a small handful of wreckers armed with political knuckle-dusters, relishing turning Labour meetings into a fight club. Meetings became so nasty that they have been suspended. It’s a heartbreaking repeat of the early 1980s when those who couldn’t bear long warfare in evening meetings gave up or split – which turned out badly. |
| I’ve spent these Tory years speaking at local Labour events or festivals about the books I’ve written with David Walker, chronicling the damage the Cameron regime has done to the social fabric, with evidence of Tory destruction of the public realm. Even in the heart of Torydom – Chipping Norton for one – beleaguered Labour supporters came together against a common foe. In winnable marginals, Labour members know how people need convincing with policies on issues that affect them. (Scrapping Trident, however useless, is not on that list.) But old solidarity vanishes when a new breed of Labour warriors wants to fight regular members instead. | I’ve spent these Tory years speaking at local Labour events or festivals about the books I’ve written with David Walker, chronicling the damage the Cameron regime has done to the social fabric, with evidence of Tory destruction of the public realm. Even in the heart of Torydom – Chipping Norton for one – beleaguered Labour supporters came together against a common foe. In winnable marginals, Labour members know how people need convincing with policies on issues that affect them. (Scrapping Trident, however useless, is not on that list.) But old solidarity vanishes when a new breed of Labour warriors wants to fight regular members instead. |
| For many new joiners, Corbyn is a symbol, a totem of belief. Professor Tim Bales’s survey shows 78% are middle class, with a south-east weighting – where not many seats can be won. Too few went canvassing for council or referendum votes. The real fight is not between shades of party purity – but to convince ordinary voters to choose Labour at a time when, according to the latest ComRes polling, only 19% see Corbyn as the best prime minister and only 13% say he’s a “strong leader”. People hear voters talk of him not singing the national anthem, abandoning a deterrent they believe in and refusing to shoot armed terrorists. Yes, I’d like the monarchy abolished, but not if it jeopardises Labour’s chances. | For many new joiners, Corbyn is a symbol, a totem of belief. Professor Tim Bales’s survey shows 78% are middle class, with a south-east weighting – where not many seats can be won. Too few went canvassing for council or referendum votes. The real fight is not between shades of party purity – but to convince ordinary voters to choose Labour at a time when, according to the latest ComRes polling, only 19% see Corbyn as the best prime minister and only 13% say he’s a “strong leader”. People hear voters talk of him not singing the national anthem, abandoning a deterrent they believe in and refusing to shoot armed terrorists. Yes, I’d like the monarchy abolished, but not if it jeopardises Labour’s chances. |
| Unmarked by such brushes with reality, new idealists invest in a Corbyn cult without knowing much about him, or why his arrival from decades of protest has brought in aggressive supporters. By his friends we know him. Read the experiences of MPs who tried hard to work with him, such as Thangham Debonnaire and Lilian Greenwood, to understand how it was incompetence – not ideology – that finally caused MPs to rebel. Most agree on austerity, borrowing to invest or taking back the railways. | Unmarked by such brushes with reality, new idealists invest in a Corbyn cult without knowing much about him, or why his arrival from decades of protest has brought in aggressive supporters. By his friends we know him. Read the experiences of MPs who tried hard to work with him, such as Thangham Debonnaire and Lilian Greenwood, to understand how it was incompetence – not ideology – that finally caused MPs to rebel. Most agree on austerity, borrowing to invest or taking back the railways. |
| After today’s leadership hustings, let’s hope Labour MPs have chosen one challenger to Corbyn. Both Owen Smith and Angela Eagle are credible candidates – and brave. Anyone can vote as a registered supporter for £25 by signing up before 5pm on Wednesday, through www.SavingLabour.com. | After today’s leadership hustings, let’s hope Labour MPs have chosen one challenger to Corbyn. Both Owen Smith and Angela Eagle are credible candidates – and brave. Anyone can vote as a registered supporter for £25 by signing up before 5pm on Wednesday, through www.SavingLabour.com. |
| Back in the real world Brexit fallout looks worse by the day, and Labour needs to be out there as the party closest to Europe, standing for the 48% who can’t trust anti-EU ideologues Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis to negotiate well for Britain. Corbyn’s refusal to seize the pro-EU cause during or after the referendum triggered this revolt. On 24 June he sent his MPs emails praising the two main Labour leave campaigners, Gisela Stuart and Kate Hoey, claiming he was the voice of the leave voter and calling for article 50 to be triggered immediately. They think that’s the result he wanted. | Back in the real world Brexit fallout looks worse by the day, and Labour needs to be out there as the party closest to Europe, standing for the 48% who can’t trust anti-EU ideologues Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis to negotiate well for Britain. Corbyn’s refusal to seize the pro-EU cause during or after the referendum triggered this revolt. On 24 June he sent his MPs emails praising the two main Labour leave campaigners, Gisela Stuart and Kate Hoey, claiming he was the voice of the leave voter and calling for article 50 to be triggered immediately. They think that’s the result he wanted. |
| Meanwhile, the EY Item Club, a forecasting group that uses Treasury modelling, is the latest to warn of a “short, sharp shock” with the pound sliding 15%, worse next year. Every forecast is grim – and Labour is nowhere. | Meanwhile, the EY Item Club, a forecasting group that uses Treasury modelling, is the latest to warn of a “short, sharp shock” with the pound sliding 15%, worse next year. Every forecast is grim – and Labour is nowhere. |