We don't have to imagine how awful the Tories would be in power - just look at Boris

By Simon Fletcher

It is not a foregone conclusion – in fact it’s going to be very tough indeed - but the Tories are now beatable after enjoying twelve months from the 2007 conference season being feted as the government in waiting. The reason is clear: because the underlying ideology of free market capitalism that guides them has been ripped up by the economic crisis. To stop them winning we have to build up real alliances across political divides in order to maximize the impact of the great majority of voters who have no interest or desire in seeing a return to Tory government.

Thinking Tories are quite open about their problem in private. What do you do as a party based on the unfettered free market when the international global financial system goes haywire? The sheer scale of global situation means only the massive role of the state can prevent a full-scale slump and protect the public from the worst. The biggest nationalizations in US history – indeed in the history of any of the liberal democracies – have had to be pushed through.

Confronted with this earthquake the Tories initially backed into a do-nothing comfort zone. But stung by the do-nothing accusation, the extent to which they would now do something would only make things worse. Polly Toynbee puts it perfectly – Cameron has sought refuge in Margaret Thatcher’s handbag.

The complete uselessness of the Tories’ response to the economic crisis has done them enormous harm in the polls but defeating them means mobilizing the great majority of those who do not want a Tory government. It is therefore time for a debate on the left and across the broadest possible progressive alliance on how to keep the Tories from winning and how to continue to take us forward.

There could not be a clearer example of why such alliances are necessary than what is happening in London. Progressive ideas have set the agenda in London for decades. Yet in the few short months since his victory – and building on the actions of right wing Tory councils like Hammersmith and Fulham - Boris Johnson is trying to drive back those improvements.  He should not be allowed to do so.

Johnson has been throwing money away by abandoning higher charges on the most polluting cars and removing Kensington and Chelsea, the richest borough in Britain, from the congestion charge zone, whilst making millions of ordinary Londoners who use public transport pay for these policies with unnecessary fare increases. This month fares rose six per cent overall, with an eleven per cent rise in the price of a single bus journey. At the same time he has ended work on planned improvements in the transport system worth millions of pounds, including many that would benefit outer London. He intends to make Londoners pay over the odds for a vanity ‘new Routemaster’ scheme.

Under a Tory mayor big cuts to the budgets promoting London to tourists were imposed at exactly the time efforts to encourage visitors were vital. He is the most senior Tory opposing the new top rate of tax and stridently defending the bankers. Incompetent appointments have led to the loss of two deputy mayors, a deputy chief of staff and his adviser on the Olympics. The policy that fifty per cent of new homes should be cheap homes to rent or buy is being dumped and he is trying to remove the pressure for more socially rented housing. His cuts in real terms to the Met’s budget will harm policing in London.

The Mayor’s propaganda may be warm and fuzzy but the right wing reality of his administration, and the attempt to drive the politics of London backwards, is of interest beyond London. Ken Livingstone has initiated Progressive London as a forum that aims to unite the broad progressive majority in London against the attempt by the Tories and right wing media to carry through a cultural counter-revolution in London.

It holds its first conference on 24 January at the TUC.  It is a cross-party event because Londoners who want to see the city continue to move forward and who reject City Hall’s right wing agenda are not limited to one party.  It will bring together ministers and members of the Cabinet, London Members of Parliament and the London Assembly, local councillors, community representatives, artists and trade unionists from across the political spectrum. More than twenty sessions will cover many of the most important issues for Londoners, from the meaning of the economic crisis, to transport, the environment, good community relations, social justice and young people speaking out.

It will also examine the lessons of Barack Obama’s election victory; a session on the new media will hear from the leading websites holding Boris Johnson to account; there will be contributions from academics, economists and peace campaigners on the most important issues in the world today; and a Question Time-style session will address whether the forward march of Cameron has been halted.

No one claims unity will come easily: it requires discussion and debate. The aim is to unite where we agree, and where we don't to continue an open discussion. The trade unions, community groups, campaigns and the new media will be important forums where this discussion of progressive policy unfolds.

The objective is a comprehensive alternative to the right across the board in London, capable of winning arguments, waging campaigns and fighting for social justice.