Lord Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader, is calling for the progressive forces in British politics not to retreat into post-election tribalism but to work together to try to agree a broad policy agenda for a future non-Tory government.
Ashdown is the most senior politician on the centre-left since the election to call for political cooperation among progressive forces, a move that would effectively end Nick Clegg’s policy of placing the Liberal Democrats politically equidistant between the main two parties.
Ashdown suggests the Lib Dems, Labour and the Greens, along with others interested in reform, should set up a convention to discuss a joint progressive agenda. He stressed Labour and the Lib Dems had to maintain their independence, and he was not in favour of electoral pacts on seats, or any kind of formal organisational cooperation.
Ashdown, who was appointed by Clegg to be the Liberal Democrats’ election co-ordinator, said: “I think there is a case for creating a framework before the European referendum where the progressive forces come together.”
He told the Guardian it was time to end the fractures on the left: “As we – all of us on the left and centre-left – survey the wreckage around us after the last election, we should ask ourselves this question: is this the moment for us to retreat into tribalism, as we always do? My answer to that question is ‘no’.
“There is much we disagree about, but there is more that we agree on. The environment, civil liberties, internationalism; how to build a strong economy within the context of a fair society; how to devolve power to our nations and communities in a way which preserves our national unity, not threatens it; the need to tackle the intolerable gap of inequality which will soon threaten our social cohesion as well as our economic success.
“Above all how, by working sensibly together where we are able to, we can save Britain from a government which, whatever David Cameron’s instincts, is now increasingly driven by its right wing who are hell bent on policies which will threaten our social cohesion, our national unity, our place in Europe and our standing in the wider world.”
Ashdown said he accepted Labour’s first instinct would be to return to tribalism, especially during the current leadership election “but they will soon realise that the old tribalism will not solve their problems”Will they now ? Hmm, why am I sceptical ?
Ashdown himself as Liberal Democrat leader in 1995 abandoned political equidistance, putting his party explicitly to the left, but then found his plan for deeper Labour-Liberal Democrat cooperation stalled when Tony Blair won an unexpectedly massive Commons majority in 1997.
There's the rub. Tony didn't need the Lib-Dems for power, and why would he share it ? Just as the Tories, who spent the last five years sharing government with Paddy's own party, suddenly want nothing to do with them now they can rule alone.
Because most politicians want power. Even if they enter politics with the best of intentions, they eventually find themselves tempted to water their principles down in the name of winning power -- just a little here, then a little there -- got to get inside the system if you want to effect real change after all...
Caroline Lucas and Ashdown appear to be talking about principles. They can afford to, with their parties so far removed from any possibility of actual power for a generation at least. But Labour's still talking about winning elections. About learning the lesson, of the electorate apparently not buying what they had on offer in the last bid. Because that's what it's all about: giving people what they want
The lesson Labour learnt from the last election is that the only way for the 'Labour' party to win is Tony's way: to be no kind of Labour Party at all. The brand's socialist roots are ingrained enough that they still feel they have to pretend...for a little longer anyway...In fact, I almost pity them them the way they have to bend this way and that to try to sell the majority of the country on at best a centre-right agenda whilst still trying to convince loyalists that they're of the left really.
Probably Paddy & Caroline's best bet is to just forget Labour as any kind of potential ally. Try to win over their left-leaning voters, sure. Establish a progressive coalition with other parties, sure. But Labour's done with the left. Once they're they finished with their leadership-campaign, with Corbyn there purely for the symbolism, purely to be publicly rejected, they'll not be looking back again. 'Red Ed' was likely their last bid at trying to win elections while retaining any shred of their roots.
If fact a generation from now, people may forget the reason they were ever called 'Labour' in the first place. Could be like the 'Liberal Party' in Australia. Just a label. Just a historical holdover. Can they transform themselves sufficiently in the next five years to win an election, can they sufficiently distance themselves from the 'Red' labels ? Doubt it. They have to own the right-wing agenda, have confidence in what they're selling. For now they still seem to think that they can con their traditional supporters that they're one thing, whilst actually being another entirely. For that, they need a professional liar as leader -- another Tony Blair in fact -- and they don't have one.
Anyway, who cares ? Get on with your progressive coalition and forget Labour. If you're in politics for the principles that is.
* Yes, I know I said I was going to shut up about Labour. And when I started to write this, I didn't intend to talk about them at all, other than historically vis-à-vis Tony. But then I got carried away...
No comments:
Post a Comment