By With just 90 days to go before a general election, it is clear that David Cameron has still has not sealed the deal with the electorate.
Labour still has every chance of winning. The Conservatives' support has diminished as the harsh Tory economic message has become clearer.
It is to Labour’s great advantage that it is still the party that most people identify with.
The key challenge, therefore, is to mobilise the millions of people who still identify with us but who we have not yet convinced that they should go out and vote. Economic policy will be central to this.
Labour can take advantage of Tory unpopularity on the economy if it does not cede ground on public service cuts – as some in our Party advocate – but instead mobilises Labour identifiers with a progressive economic policy that defends the vast majority of working people – whether middle class or working class.
Here is my presentation on how the Party might seek to do that:
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Again I don’t believe that Home office or Alan is a racist, which he is far from it. I agree with the idea that we had 12 yrs to fix and looking at these sorts of empty prejudice policies mean we have run out of mojo and Alan is or have not consulting real people who know and have the real problems with the immigration and migrations and whom got the real solutions for those real world we live in. I know that they have not come to me or some of community group who look at things in details. David Blunkett, Barbra Roche Hazel and John used to be very good Home office we have tried our best according to the given harsh circumstances around the world and movement of mass immigration around the world hitting in UK.
These sorts of ideas developing could be for several reasons; UK has very close ties to commonwealth countries and we have promoted our excellent education system and non speakers of English are always to happy to come to real England and learn real queen English, they pay good money for it.
However this is not a good move to control immigrations. This is not a long term solutions and Alan and his team again failed the UK citizens and the Immigrant and migrant whom are decent citizen really adore the UK education system. Very sad and unpopular step on these hard times we are facing with the lack of those green shoots. I see that again most of the ministries failed to communicate with each other clearly. Business and Education secretaries trying to cap spending in the universities and we have a huge budget deficit. International student are the cash cow right now to lure in to our way of education, our intellectual property right of English to be sold out to the emerging market trends. American got the dollar running around the world and we have English language and great universities and colleges who can and have us on the map of the world if we can deliver it. Most of you know UK reading and writing rate is very low compare to those countries and their citizens who want to come and study here. The three ministries have not got a coherent plan to minimise the abuse and increase the awareness of our educational institutions and raise our revenues, retain most of our lectures and skilled work face here. I do not know how this New Labour has lost it touch with the real people for he last 3yrs or so. I am afraid now I am not sure whether I want to defence these policies on the door steps. As you know most of the immigrant’s students whom are from commonwealth have the right to cast their vote on general elections so the yare the ones who will be choosing the party to run the country not the BNP supporters. Comparing the BNP membership and international students and their dependent in the country you will do the math if it is a BNP voter luring gimmicks or do those who advise home secretary on the statistics and probabilities and variables well again their educations system has failed those policy makers on their mathematical sense.
I have developed my social enterprise to deliver National and international student’s education. This will have substantial effect of many minority SME’s who set up their consultancy around the immigration and migrations. I am sure most of them are genuine and as usual, some of our leaders are listing to the far right view than balancing the real cases and materiel. As you all know most of the International Students are law abiding citizens and work hard the way and study here, then they go back. However this is just tackles, strategies act or move to win white BNP vote. As we all know we been there done that all, they do not come out unless you take there benefit away or say that BAME's and foreigners are taking over their jobs which they refuse to do either way. I am tired of these sorts of macho policy coming out of from our party. I wonder how Iraqis feel about our occupations and most of the world whom got British citizens says that they have to pay for visa, and they will be subject to visa restrictions’ if they want to visitor or study in other countries. I wish I had time to write a good article, without sending things from my Blackberry, people we need to get together and have policy conferences like we used to do so we know what people have to say to us face to face, have big questions at the door step and out side world away from Facebook, mirror and daily mail. I am so sad and shock that now we do not do the things we sued to pride yourself as Labour members.
The problem with telling people "how it is" normally is a one way ticket to electoral disaster. As I have found with my campaign people (including MPs) don't like facts - they like to feel good. This is why Obama has been a disaster - he over egged what he could achieved and raised expectations too much. so did Labour in 1997.
One problem the Tories have is that trying to frame a decent debate over reform is all but impossible with Labour in power. Labour have dumbed down the debate - driven by the emergence of 24 hour rolling news during the last decade. Whereas MPs used to have some time to respond to a point the media now hypes a story to such an extent that a hapless MP needs to make a response to story within half an hour of it breaking.
In an ideal world a politician would have a strong enough mandate to ride out a media frenzy, base his decision on evidence and then publish. Labour has created a monster (well actually Alistair did)
Now we have both parties having rebuttal units - how depressing.
For example this Chris Grayling thing - total hype by Labour and swallowed by the media (take a look at coroners reports to see that he is right)
And to make matters worse we have career public sector politicians that are over-promoted and just arent up to making significant enquiry - see the lead up to the iraq war as a classic.
Politics has never been so weak.
The only thing functioning in westminster currently is the malicious Brown cabel (this is widely reported). They will do anything - as we have seen by them briefing against Labour MPs. Shameful conduct.
In fact that was possibly the biggest ommision in my post below (thanks for publishing BTW) Labour should have got rid of Brown. I will never vote for Labour again until he is gone and from the rumours being circulated even if Labour lose (which they will) he is going to stay on.
We need a clean broom not brown.
I admire your perseverance especially as you have no love of Gordon. It must be tough out there but you may at least avoid the total distraction of the party. I don't want a hung parliament (wrong time) and I want Brown gone (if only the PLP had some spine) but I want to see a party that can truly oppose and one that can rebuild again. At the moment I see nothing but denial fuelled by a narrative by the press that you may get a hung parliament (you won't)
Well done fella, respect.
Actually, we won't just be asking them to thank us for it when you think about it, we'll run around the streets shouting from the roof tops what we did for them, make them feel even better about taking handouts.
How proud GB must be to have destroyed pride as well as hope for millions of people here in the UK. A fantastic legacy which makes you wonder why he's still searching round for something else that he'll be remembered for.
I did reply to your question- either you didn't let it through or the crap software on this place didn't work
Positive, and yet somehow not positive.
Only 9% of voters who voted Labour in 2005 want to vote Tory, and 9% Lib-Dem or Green, or was that 7%(from the same polling company) for Tories, UKIP, and BNP.
The clearest figure is that 25% of those who voted for a government with the lowest share of the popular vote on record, don't want to do this again.
That 25% needs something positive to vote for, and despite the analysis, I don't see any suggestions.
Without something positive to vote for, we have no chance to get these people to reconsider.
So far I've only seen the outlines of proposals that might appeal to the already committed.
We have endemic corruption in parliament, GB offers us minor electoral changes. We have a government whose dysfunction is openly being discussed by union reps for the civil service, we have a press spokesman saying there is no combustible material, let alone, smoke or flames. We have an electoral strategy lurching from class war to inclusiveness on a weekly basis, but there's no disagreement about tactics/strategy.
Forget about policies, there's some fundemental negatives, and various fiddlers, and deck chair attendants in the NEC/cabinet seem to be intent on setting fire to the Titanic vessel they've created.
There needs to be a thorough rethink, and practically no time before this election.
The people hate the professional political class who migrate from college to parliament via connections and nepotism, bypassing the need to gain rwal world jobs and experience.
The Tories are making the same mistake with their holiday home candidates in the safe rural seats.
If we can break this cycle, we could have something people would vote for. Real people, with real experience outside politics, and knowledge of the people and issues affecting the constituencies they seek to represent. People who are prepared to engage in a two way dialogue.
I sincerely hope the people who fit this bill win in the general election and those who don't get a very bloody nose at the same time. Regardless of party. Unfortunately in some seats, the options are limited and the minority parties are likely to benefit from share of vote, if not seats.
In Jim's case I hope he gets a slap on the wrist, has to repay it and its left at that. I know that is hypocritical and I realise I'll get some flak for it, but I don't think he's really gone for ripping off the taxpayer, I think he's done what he thought was the norm if that makes sense? Its stationary and cleaning, not a mortgage and as I say, makes me a hypocrite. I'll live with that, but Jim needs sacking and an explanation why not to follow the crowd.
Sorry to be blunt about this, but GB is a proven liar, Mandleson a disgraced unelected politician who gets dragged back in as a Lord to bypass having to have anyone vote for him and then we have the benefit cheats. Blears, Purnell, Morley, Straw, Hoon and even GB himself.
Immoral? Take a gander at some of the nice legislation that New Labour has put forward over the past couple of years. It's disgusting to think that a Labour government would put forward the manipulating crap they have, but that's exactly what they have done.
If you want to identify with the voters, do me a favour, drop the charts down the toilet, forget about the polls and concentrate on actually listening for once. Talk to people about what they want from their politicians, what they want from their government and bring something back that is sorely lacking - democracy. If I remember GB for one thing it will be his total disregard for democracy and his arrogance thinking he can bypass the will of the people.
All this focus on the Conservatives, I mean I don't particularly care if they dress in drag and dance the hula, what does it matter? What does matter is what Labour does because until they listen and more importantly act on the will of the people, we can discuss things all day long, it won't make Labour electable. Face the fact that the '97 win was because people were sick of the Conservatives, not because the people thought Labour had better ideas. Now the Conservatives get a pop at the title because Labour are disliked. Why not try making Labour likeable for having good solid ideas that people believe in and while you're at it, purge the Party of the liars, the cheats and the wannabes.
Reliable people in the right jobs with the right ideas, that's the election winner!
I think you'd get a lot of voters back by doing this. Concentrate on what the party can do for the people and move towards being honest and having some integrity.
An apology that "we made a mistake and this is how we will resolve it" would also be listened to under those circumstances.
Another "torys eat babies " piece" , why arnt we discussing our polices?
Alex , I hope you are not being a properganda for the leadership , The voters elect the mps not the whips .
danny
Long term? I hope so.
But whats long term? Certainly after Brown has gone. Certainly after they become an inclusive party that stands for something. Certainly after they stop spinning/lying.
I so want the feeling I had in 97 to come back. That was change I could believe in and I feel really let down. Brown was always the weak link for me - Blair should have had the guts to get rid of him.
I look at the party today and I so want it to be better. But at governmental level it simply isn't. What worries me is that I look at the suspects to replace Brown and I can't think of a decet replacement,
The party needs new blood. It needs to remember what made it electable.
Sorry
I'm one of the lost millions. I watched the program on MPs living in tower blocks and I was appalled that a someone who I thought was one of the Labour good guys came off as more of a toff that the Tories. So out of touch it was a joke.
I watched Mo and remembered politicians that had some backbone
Wil I return while brown is in chance? Not a chance. Its all been a waste. Today 5 labour figures were sewn up in the expenses scandal. My MP has taken 5 years to pay a invoice.
Things could have been SO good and it was all blown.
I feel gutted. Labour hasn't worked.
For me, Iain Duncan Smith's humility blows me away. As for the Labour sorts.. they look seriously out of their depth.
This is a new record. I agree with you here too.
What do you think, in the long term, Labour could do to win you and people like you back?
This frightens me - how could someone who was clearly not up to the job get in that position? He does not come across as the calibre that we expect of one of the 646 people that get to decide the laws of this country. Sorry if that sounds elitist, but seriously, the poor man does not understand what fraud is, so how could he make a rational choice about voting for a law on fraud?
Your party is full of Jim Devines and you are asking the electorate to re-elect them come May.
Long term? I hope so.
But whats long term? Certainly after Brown has gone. Certainly after they become an inclusive party that stands for something. Certainly after they stop spinning/lying.
I so want the feeling I had in 97 to come back. That was change I could believe in and I feel really let down. Brown was always the weak link for me - Blair should have had the guts to get rid of him.
I look at the party today and I so want it to be better. But at governmental level it simply isn't. What worries me is that I look at the suspects to replace Brown and I can't think of a decet replacement,
The party needs new blood.
Sorry
Thats a harder question to answer because you naturally go back to where things have gone wrong. Its also a "feeling" - hope we can believe in ring any bells?
Aspiration not social engineering - Drag people up and not down
Honesty in everything- not spin and lies
Fairness to ALL in society
Ethical foreign politics
Economic prudence
Enhancing liberty and freedom - not suppressing it under the cloak of terrorism
Environmental responsibility - not paying lip service to it.
Real Democratic reform - not this AV BS
BALANCE.
socialism not Socialism.
Now these are pretty vague notions - I just don't have the time or patience to write everything that I would like to see and it wouldn't serve much purpose anyway.
The truth is that a party cannot deliver everything I and most others would want. As I have said before its the "least worst" option. This last three years being involved at the fringes of politics (non partisan) has frankly been depressing. Westminster is totally out of touch and is used for private fiefdoms in many cases.
I'm used to making a decision based on evidence and then judging outcomes - government doesn't work like that and each year it gets worse.
So what will bring me back to Labour in all honesty?
When I can trust it again and when the next Tory government makes so many mistakes and becomes tired, lazy and corrupt that I can't forgive them.
No quick fixes thats for sure and thats why, boring as it may be, I constantly post on here that Labour needs to be planning now for opposition and how to reform itself. I REALLY worry that, assuming it survives financially, it will swing to the left and totally forget why it became electable in the first place. I also worry that it seems under the impression the Tories will only get one term and everything will be fine. It really won't.
When I look at the party at the moment I can't find a genuine rising star among the current MPs that isn't tainted by the current shambles. If it was me I would be getting back to the grass roots and nurturing people like Ralph.
Isn't that the whole point though, that is precisely why New Labour became electable, the last Conservative government was a shambles, making mistakes, being lazy and definitely being corrupt beyond the point that people would forgive them.
New Labour were given an opportunity and it started well. They quickly put in place the minimum wage and rapidly got rid of what we perceived as sleaze and corruption, but how long did it last? How long before John Prescott was caught with his pants around his ankles? I mean granted, John wasn't in a football shirt being whipped by French maid, but he was bonking the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time.
All the things that New Labour could have done, all the things they could have put right. Real changes to the way our Parliament works and lasting changes to the economy are just some of the missed opportunities, although with the latter is could be argued that New Labour have made lasting changes to the economy, just not for the better.
I disagree that there are no quick fixes, there are quick fixes its just that they are too much like hard work for the Party. Getting rid of the corrupt would be a good start and doing something the Conservatives will never do, peel back the layers of lies built up over the past 30 years. And there is the quickest fix of all. Tell the truth about Britain and treat the population with a certain degree of intelligence. Let us all know the true figures of everything, not just the things that win a vote here and there. Explain why things have gone so badly wrong and here's the kicker, the thing Labour can not do, apologise.
And no, I don't mean GB doing one of his little 'my Daddy taught me' speeches because they are about as sincere as Hazel Blears waving a cheque around her head. I mean a proper apology and explaining why they have wasted the good will of the Labour movement, why they've let down would-be Labour voters and a decent apology to the families of the soldiers who have died since Campbell mashed together some stuff he found on the internet and Jack Straw pretended to put on a gas mask just in case.
Sorry I do not mean a new ideology. I mean a more fundamental and essential articulation and realisation of our shared ideology.
It is beginning already.
I think. The foundations are not yet there, but people like Alex (by implication of past comments and editorial style), myself etc understand the importance of haveing a broad coalition and an inclusive attitude across the Party. But there are some things that cannot be part of this and labels are one of these things.
I am at the moment refining language for a new ideolgical line which is designed to modernise and unite the Labour Party as it should have been done back after 1997.
We need a long-standing sustainable ideology which is based upon sensible values that cannot be twisted or malformed or the Party moved into the Right and abused by corruption in the manner in which it has.
Historically the big problem lay between the militancy and the economic reality.
Today the situation has changed it lies in justifying and undertsanding the role of markets for what they are, then ensuring that existing and past principles are given practical form in policy.
Corruption has no place in our Party as it clearly states in our Constitution.
The "new" labour brand has been tarnished by corruption.
This is not repeating history it is about creating a mechanism that allows for an evolutionary approach that matches our radical makeup.
The importance of platform debate within our party is sadly lacking and Labourlist is awesome for this. We do need these platforms. I am going to a meeting in March to discuss the modernisation and applicability of the Unions. I believe they have a far greater and more constructive role to play in peoples lives and additionally want to see greater membership and participation.
On the other hand I could say the same for the Labour Membership.
This is going to happen.
LOL I thought this article was initially about MP's recaliming on the money they have been ordered to pay back then.
Erm not sure about this so I won't comment on it. I think we address the trust issue and still it has not happened.
I note that the Honourable MP's local newspaper, the Pontifract & Castleford Express, writes:
"Mr Grogan claimed £158,477 in total for staying away from home, travel, office, staff, stationery and postage costs as well as a Commons allowance, the highest of the four MPs" [in the district].
Oh well...
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