Who is this?
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NOTE: AN IMAGE OF JAMES PURNELL MP WAS SHOWN HERE
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For those not familiar, it's Jame Purnell, the new minister for work and pensions. He's quoted in the Observer today as saying:
Labour is 'ideologically neutral' between the three sectors - private, public and voluntary.
If that is his real opinion (and I can of course doubt that) this says one of three things: he doesn't think, he can't think, or he doesn't engage his brain before opening his mouth. None are attractive in a person holding cabinet office.
He might, of course, like most modern neoliberal politicians, wish it to appear that he is more concerned with process than outcomes. But even that is indication of an ideology, which is unquestioning acceptance of the neoliberal position that outcomes are inevitable and are what the market dictates.
But that is not true. If it were Northern Rock would be in liquidation. Many in the UK would be without healthcare. Most of our elderly would have no meaningful pension.
In a politician this claim is so far from tenable that it can only represent denial of responsibility. Maybe that is what modern politics is. But I don't like it, I don't accept it, and if I'm honest I don't much admire people who claim themselves without a moral compass. Because that is what he seems to be saying.
Please give me some conviction, not this blandness that seems only to hide the delivery of selfish capitalism. Because that's Purnell's real agenda, I am sure. And it's the last thing I want.
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He looks to me to be unburdened by intelligence…..
New labours idea of neutality between private, public and voluntary secterts works like this: The “labour” government removes socio-economic responsability for the citizens of its nation state to the private and voluntary sector.
I beleive its nothing more than social apathide for the State not to care for its citizens, especially those who (through no fault of their own) find themselves socio-economically inactive.
[…] shouldn’t expect a reasonable answer. James Purnell (a minister, no less) has called Labour an ideology free zone. And as Polly Toynbee put it on […]
Your comments are completely over the top, and grossly unfair and unreasonable/unreasoning.
I suspect that all that Mr Purnell meant to say was simply that it matters to be pragmatic, NOT overburdened with ideology.
Your demand for “conviction” merits only laughter, but of the sad sort.
We got that from Thatcher when she de-regulated Banks
and lauded the wonderful brains in the City of London.
Or have you managed to conveniently forget that fact?
You want more of that? – stuff it. I don’t.
James
I think you are very confused.
Conviction is critical.
Richard
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