Some will say today is a bad day for the left. I'm going to beg to differ.
Today is a good day for the left. Not for a long time has it been so clear what it has to do, and what the gain from doing it will be.
The SNP is a left of centre party and it has won outright in Scotland with a confident manifesto that confirms its commitment to the role of the state in the economy.
Labour in Wales has done better than it has ever done before in Assembly elections on the basis of a confident manifesto that confirms its commitment to the role of the state on the economy.
Labour did not do as well as it should have done in England. But that's because it failed to commit itself to a confident policy that supports the role of the state in the economy.
The Lib Dems abandoned their left of centre stance and were wiped out.
Sure the Tories have done better than I would have wished. But I have to accept that the right will always be with us. That's a fact.
And what's very obvious today is that confident left of centre parties can win but in the absence of such a party no one delivered in England.
The message is clear and unambiguous. If only Labour offered England the choice the Welsh and Scots have but which has been denied to the English for more at east 20 years, of a party that is confident enough to say that this country needs strong government by a party that believes in the role of the state because of the enormously beneficial role it can play in the economy and in people's lives then that party could walk to a landslide.
The SNP's win is not chance. It was choice. It's a choice the people of England want to make.
It's up to Labour to offer them that choice.
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I am left wondering if the bookmakers are offering odds on a Labour / SNP coalition government after the next UK general election. Might be worth a fiver?
David
Scotland and Wales are, broadly, centre-left countries. England is not.
The huge difference is that Scotland and Wales have much lower GDP per head than England. A left wing party is going to struggle to gain a majority in areas with wealthy, advanced service economies.
What an extraordinary opinion
Wealth makes you right wing
Being poor left wing
Relative wealth is ignored by you
As is the human capacity for empathy and compassion
Let alone the desire to live in community
And the fact that advanced service economies are built on the basis of trust – the thing the Tories are seeking to destroy
A couple of more years of public spending cuts and this (questionable) distinction will have probably vanished anyway.
Andrew
We’re thinking of claiming asylum in Scotland…
Income levels, general prosperity and private sector employment are all much lower in Scotland and Wales than in England. Mass immigration and social atomization are much more apparent in England. Consequential reasons of self-interest explain why electors in these countries vote as they do. Leftism by stealth is still the answer for England. Tony, Ed and Gordon were right about something.
“Leftism by stealth is still the answer for England. Tony, Ed and Gordon were right about something.”
First, there was very little “leftist” about Labour between 1997 and 2010. Income inequality grew, labour’s share of wealth declined, median wages stagnated. Aside from the minimum wage and improved public services, and some admirable moves against gender, race and sexulality discrimination, not much else to shout about?
Second, do anything “by stealth” instead of making the case for it and it will never succeed. The answer is actually is to get out there and confidently promote the idea of public goods being in the hands of the people rather than private interests, that only the state can enable people to succeed and that redistributive, progressive taxation policies and strong trade unions lead to happier, more successful societies. If no one makes the case for a decent, fair society how will we ever achieve one?
Well said
And agreed
@2 “Scotland and Wales are, broadly, centre-left countries. England is not”. True, but the “difference” has deep and complex origins – national histories, popular experience, perhaps even gene pools. Completely different national cultures, much more than different economic circumstances.
Richard – I share your take on the SNP’s electoral success – but if Salmond wants the power to set ‘competitive’ corporation taxation rates, then that’s something else, and you will no doubt be commenting?
its an interesting point, but I wonder how the AV refurendum result squares with it?