Interesting, if eminently annoying, to read Neal Lawson's excoriation of Gordon Brown in today's Independent. Clearly, he is Rip Van Winkle. Because let's face it we bloody told him a year ago this is precisely what would happen. Blair without the charisma. Same policies, same old New Labour voices.
On a human level, I actually feel sorry for Gordon Brown. I think his former allies ie Prescott, Levy, et al are bahaving appallingly and making all kinds of personal accusations which must be deeply hurtful. Cherie Blair is , welll, just nauseating. How greedy can it be to tout details of your sex life in the hope of extra spondoolics?
On a political level, though, Gordon Brown has brought most of this on himself. For an intelligent man, he listens to bad advice. Which is why New Labour is where it is. ie stuffed
But amid the horror I'm not going to listen to siren voices saying that the answer is for groups like the LRC to join up with less principled people on the so-called centre-left in the hope of some spurious, opportunist, alliance.
The LRC is not awash with money.It's growing slowly but steadily. And I have no illusions that hundreds of people are queuing up to re-join Labour. But, just in case anyone hadn't noticed, I've spent a long long time in PR and journalsim.
At the risk of sounding like a horrid spin doctor, the LRC "brand" is principles and integrity. Believe me, in the current climate, that''s a pretty good USP. And we don't need to conpromise or dilute our socialist values to win over many more people.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
LOOK BACK IN ANGER
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4 comments:
No, but as a member of both Compass and the LRC, I think there's plenty of common ground. Both have their faults: Compass is too arty-farty and has no grit, whilst the LRC is probably too ambitious for the short- to medium-term; I'd place myself as a Tribunite somewhere between the two. I see no reason why they can't work together - both oppose New Labour, in their own (however misguided) way, which is surely the correct basis for any alliance right now.
On an issue basis of course COMPASS and the LRC can work together but I don't agree the LRC is too ambitious. I think people are quite realistic. Tribune, whatever it might have been in its heyday, is surely COMPASS -oriented, and maybe even a bit to the right?
But, Susan, there are plenty of us who have left the party, and think about coming back, but are actually what I would call 'proper social democrats' who wouldn't have associated with the left at one time, but find new Labour absolutely shameful.
I sometimes think that its us who really do have nowhere to go.
I think the problem a lot of us have with Compass isn't to do with their (espoused) politics - I'm cool with that, they articulate an important thoughtful social-democratic worldview. The problem is Compass's actions, not their words - or rather their total lack of action. They still basically cling to the idea that if a few "decent chaps like us" have a friendly word in Gordon's ear, then he can somehow be won round to a more egalitarian and left programme. He can't and won't. Which is the absolute cut out and keep definition of ivory-towered naivete. And yet the LRC gets accused of not living in the real world! When Compass actually DOES politics, rather than talks it, then a broad-left alliance will go somewhere, which I sincerely hope it does. But at the moment, heads remain in the sand.
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