Blue Labour

Although it has come in for a good deal of flak, the Blue Labour agenda has to be given a fair hearing. It is, after all, the first cogent and positive response to Labour's defeat in 2010 (and, in truth, its decline since 2001). Of course, its name must be changed. Any idea that this is a conservative faction could be disastrous. In many ways it is a 'new third way', but that looks clumsy and over-long. I have no other ideas for names unfortunately.

The problem with Blue Labour is that it looks like a compromise between offering pragmatic sops to right wing white working class emotions - on crime and immigration particularly - in an attempt to get them to turn out and vote again, and a genuine attempt to restore some traditional Labour values such as industrial democracy and community welfare. However, its fliration with the Big Society is a risk. Many commentators see Big Society as a doomed philosophy which will gradually fade away through lack of action and interest.

The main criticism I have with Blue Labour is its apparent rejection of state-led social reform (if you consider that important, of course). The really big questions Labour must address are inequality, poverty and lack of social mobility. These cannot be solved through local action. They are big problems requiring big answers.

If Labour is to win again it must not abandon its fundamental reasons to exist in an attempt merely to lead the next consensus. These inevitably will involve the central state. A programme of real constitutional reform may help to allay fears that the state is a malign force in society.

Conservatives and Liberal supporters do have a vested interest in a resurrection of Labour values. Without a realistic challenge, there is a danger that the coalition forces will simply drift towards an acceptance of the old 'management of economic decline' , which bedevilled British politics in the 1960s and 70s.

Blue Labour is a good start to restoring genuine political dialogue in Britain. Somebody needs to pick up the baton and run with it. (sorry about the cliche, I am in Olympic mode, £276 having just been removed from my bank account for tickets - a month to wait until I know what I got. Quite exciting really).





http://www.hoddereducation.co.uk/Colleges/Government---Politics.aspx?mRef=CNM01.