Tag archive for ‘Labour’
Labour Needs New Synthesis of Practical Thinking and Idealistical Striving
Two possibilities face Labour’s new leader: Either the Coalition will succeed and Labour will be in Opposition for yet another generation, or it will implode and Labour will find itself back in office. I fear the first option and dread the second. The left is in danger of making the same political misjudgement it made [...]
A European Minimum Wage Policy for a More Sustainable Wage-Led Growth Model
Compressing the wage structure from the lower end would lead to a more egalitarian distribution of income and stabilise the wage share. This can be achieved by a European minimum wage target according to which, in every country, the minimum wage – determined either by law or by collective agreement – should be at least [...]
The Eye of the Euro-Storm
The European project is in deep crisis. Angela Merkel’s ban on the short selling of Eurobonds in Germany is symptomatic of the European political elite’s lack of a coherent response to the crisis, just as was the confused ‘shock and awe’ bailout ten days ago. Ironically, the financial markets have recognised this confusion by redoubling [...]
Who should be the next Labour Leader – The Result of our Online Poll
We recently asked you who you think should become the next leader of the British Labour Party and here are the top 5 of our online poll. The results are of course not representative and only reflect the mood amongst our readers: 1. David Miliband (31,86%) 2. Jon Cruddas (27,43%) 3. Ed Miliband (14,16%) 4. [...]
UK: The Strange Death of the Rainbow Coalition
In a few hours on Tuesday the 11th of May, the vision of a coalition between Labour and the LibDems appeared briefly and then evaporated. There are many different version of why it could not succeed; Clegg’s personal affinity with Cameron, the speed with which John Reid and other Labour tribalists denounced it and the [...]
The British Labour Party has a great Opportunity!
Ok, one day after a party was removed from office after 13 years it might not seem to be the time to talk about opportunities. But if you look at the fundamentals, the British Labour party has a great opportunity to regroup and go for office again in the near future. Social democratic parties have [...]
UK General Election – A Second Round is unavoidable…
… that’s at least what I think at the moment. As it looks now, even if Labour and the LibDems came to an agreement they would not have a parliamentary majority. The Conservatives and LibDems are too far apart in terms of economic policy and political reform to agree on a stable parliamentary majority for [...]
Ecosystems – Not an Election Issue
Sustainability questions have hardly featured at all in the course of the British general election campaign. Although many Conservative candidates deny the existence of climate change, no-one high-profile has spoken up for that view, and therefore climate has not been an issue in the campaign. However, climate is on the political agenda these days in [...]
After the General Election – Labour’s Place in the new Political Landscape
I’m writing this, as the Social Europe order of things dictates, in that awful interregnum between Britain almost going to the polls (in 48 hours) and knowing the result. I’m not a commentator but an activist who wants Labour to win, but knows, like everyone else, that an outright win in terms of seats or [...]
Gordon Brown’s Speech to Citizens UK – Finally the Passion is there!
Yesterday at a meeting of Citizens UK, an organisation bringing together a variety of church and community leaders, Gordon Brown delivered his most passionate speech of the UK election campaign yet. Arguing against inequality and in favour of a living wage, he really set the house on fire. Before Brown’s speech Tiari Sanchez, a young [...]
Inside-out: Goldman Scandal shows who the real Insiders are
The financial world has been rocked – just as it appeared to be recovering its poise – by the news that the US financial market regulator, the SEC, has accused Goldman Sachs, the most masterful of Wall Street’s masters of the universe, of fraud. Investigations into Goldman are being launched in Britain, Germany and other [...]
Decision Time: Can Labour Win?
For months opinion polls have been predicting a Conservative victory in the next general election. But is David Cameron certain to be the next prime minister or could Gordon Brown snatch victory from the jaws of defeat? Paul Whiteley forecasts the upcoming election – and comes up with some rather surprising results. The Conservative Party [...]
