As the FT noted yesterday:
Four Labour MPs who were suspended from the parliamentary party last summer for voting against Sir Keir Starmer's welfare policies have been readmitted. But three others — including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell — remain suspended indefinitely, raising doubts over whether they will be Labour candidates at the next general election.
I think my reaction to this news is the obvious one. Why on earth did they want to go back? Rejoining a sinking ship does not make a lot of sense.
Surely, it is time for a new way of political thinking to emerge now? In whatever form it might have, and with all its inbuilt design failures, I cannot see how Labour can be the answer to any of the obvious political needs of this country.
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Yet another indicator that the British political system is a party system which does not take democracy seriously. How can you have a ‘broad church’ of a party when you do this?
What exactly is the difference between Labour doing this and the Tories and their 1922 Committee deciding who their leader is even after an election?
‘Democracy’ eh? Yeah, right……………………..
Perhaps they want to continue to support the struggle to get back control of the Party which has been hi-jacked?
The changes implemented by the “dear leader” and his acolytes (who would it seem despise him) this is quasi-impossible.
LINO delenda est.
(once DeForm are in power – this will come true – they will supress all other parties).
“When Deform get into power.” Depressing to hear, but I can’t imagine any other scenario. It appears to be the same money and groups backing Reform as in the US that backing Trump. And currently they feel unstoppable.
I saw Faiza Shaheen chairing a panel with Zarah Sultana on Tuesday evening. I think they knew this was coming but Zarah said she expected to hear the result from the media not from the party (she is one of the three not accepted back, presumably because she continues to speak out about government policy that she finds unacceptable, not least its support for Israel).
There was a question about the possibility of a new party of the left, now that Labour has been captured by corporate interests. I wonder what it would take for Labour to reinvent itself as that party. At some point that have to realise that chasing the Tories, who are chasing Reform, further to the right is not a winner.
Did you go to Faiza’s event? I did one. They are good.
Your second para is absolutely right
Yes.
https://www.lse.ac.uk/Events/2025/02/202502041830/class-inequality
Mike Savage had some troubling data about how the social mobility for those born in the 1960s had almost disappeared for those born in the 1980s.
People claim to want us to live in a country where people can “get on” according to their own talents, with a safety net for those who struggle. But the data suggests we are returning to the 1920s, with life chances very much determined by the wealth of your parents.
And on a parallel strand, the research seems to confirm that, despite lip service to fairness and equality, in practice across many countries tax systems are being altered to increase unfairness and inequality rather than the reverse (less progressive rates, lower taxes on wealth, more environmental and excise taxes that are regressive in impact, and more preferential regimes).
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5106942
Much to agree with
The problem with Labour is the coup has made it impossible to bring about change from below. The right have captured everything.
You can’t JOIN Labour without a clean protest free record, including social media and you can’t stay in it either, if you upset the leadership.
Your CLP can’t discuss anything contentious because their exec will be suspended if they do & the CLP taken over.
You can’t select any candidates who aren’t squeaky right-wing clean.
MPs can’t protest or they lose the whip.
Leader contest rules have changed to prevent wildcard candidates like Corbyn being nominated.
Change from where they are now is impossible unless you believe there are over 250 Labour MPs about to rebel simultaneously and force Starmer/Reeves to spend some money, sack BoE governor, McSweeney, MacFadden, Streeting etc and start governing for US istead of the very very rich.
So, why did they go back?
At least one of them because they need to retain the offices, contacts and services to do the job they’re supposed to do, I.e. serve their constituents. No idea about the other three.
Can LINO get any lower.
Who would want to rejoin a party like this.
https://bylinetimes.com/2025/02/04/keir-starmers-government-votes-to-block-un-plan-to-tackle-global-tax-avoidance/
The UN tax plan is utterly misplaced. The NGOs promoting it are irresponsible, in my opinion.
Can you say more?
I have in other comments.
What IS the Labour Party now? To South Dorset MP.
Hello Lloyd Hatton,
The party won’t support Proportional Representation – A majority of UK citizens want it.
It won’t tax the rich. A majority of UK citizens want it.
It is supporting OIL companies for Rosebank drilling. A majority of UK citizens DON’T want it.
It is investing in the unproven near-impossible Carbon Dioxide capture. Science and technology know the difficulties for it make it unachievable and uneconomic. It is lobbied by BIG Oil. Gov’t has caved.
It won’t re-nationalise water and waste. A majority of UK citizens want it.
It won’t renationalise rail. A majority of UK citizens want it.
It cannot see that State Services are INSIDE our economy. Growth there gives health, wealth, security, equality and happiness and keeps money circulating.
It is not making any real effort to equalise wealth. A thinking majority of UK citizens want it.
It won’t approach re-joining the EU or even at the single market A majority of UK citizens want it. That is the way to regain world respect and influence.
It won’t act to restore freedom of movement for young people . A majority of UK citizens want that.
It apparently wants to sell of NHS health to American interests A majority of UK citizens DO NOT want it, or any closer links with USA, or lousy American food.
It supports unregulated market-forces capitalism, which has failed. A thinking majority of UK citizens DON’T want it. Think MMT!
It refuses to take action against the diabetic-producing food producers. A thinking majority of UK citizens want that.
It is approving Heathrow and other airport expansion. That won’t give any growth within this parliament and this government won’t be in power after the next election. Any growth that it might finally increase is the wrong sort of growth. Only green growth is acceptable. Growth uses earth resources – that is why we have climate change.
For reform of the NHS, look at the way the French system works before selling our system off to the rip-off Americans.
For the diabetic crisis, investigate and regulate the American “restaurant” junk food producing franchises as well. We do NOT need any more lousy quality American food imports.
Concentrate on tidal and wind farm energy investment, and possibly small nuclear. UK is not ideally placed for photovoltaic generation – little is produced over a long winter, so leave scarce resources for those who can use them efficiently. (Or make and export them.)
The Labour Party leaders are listening (bribed even) by the wrong think tanks and lobbyists.
Seek to regulate the ownership/nationality/editorship of “British” newspapers. Why accept foreign influence/propaganda in Britain, without regulation.
Seek to grow happiness – not wealth for the elite.
The Party should act now to make real change while it has the power – it is unlikely to keep it.
A majority of Labour Member’s of Parliament must know that their constituents want lots of these items corrected. How is it possible that they are all allowing Party leaders to take opposite positions? Rebel!
How many MPs really understand economics and know where and how £s are made? No one in business “makes” money; if they did they should be locked up.
How can all this be called democratic?
Best wishes,
Norman Willcox
Let us know if you get a reply.
Do politicians not understand they have options regarding money creation, or do they willfully ignore it for ideological reasons? I’m really not sure. When Thatcher spelled out explicitly that our taxes pay for services, did she know she was lying?
They are in denial
Bankers require it of them