The Future of Labour

Who's the better leader here?

Last night saw the first of six leadership debates between current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and challenger Owen Smith. It was a frustrating night as no one appeared willing to listen and both sides became further entrenched in their own views. It was disappointing from a personal viewpoint because the debate and reaction to it proved to me all the flaws and issues with the probable winner, Corbyn.

Despite his 10 Pledges released yesterday, Corbyn still remains unbelievably light on content and substance. His simplistic responses and stuttering delivery of them seemed to go down well with the converted but will not connect with any uninitiated inside the party never mind outside of it. This cuts to the heart of the Smith challenge and is the answer to why he and others resigned, which seems to be hard for Corbyn to grasp. It was a dispiriting night which is why I wanted to write this blog and why I'll be attempting to care a little less in the coming weeks.

I apologise in advance for the length of this but I have tried to be as comprehensive as possible.

The Election Reaction

The reasons for defeat in May 2015 I believe are key to Corbyn's appeal. Many Labour folk decided that a shift further left was the medicine to our defeat and that Miliband wasn't left enough to win. This is too simplistic and ignores how any election ever has been won. The defeat in 2015 was down to not gaining credibility and trust in handling of the economy, it was down to the fear factor over SNP alliances and it was down to the Conservatives ruthlessly targeting these areas with repeated attacks which were not adequately responded to or fought. Labour lost on these issues and they are all areas where we can still be beaten, even more convincingly. No shift to the left has helped in these areas and no election has ever been won by a party appealing exclusively to one part of the electorate.

The Corbyn Appeal

Jeremy Corbyn's 10 pledges

I believe that Labour members saw Ed Miliband trying to appeal outside of Labour membership and losing. The train of thought followed that if we can't win doing that, then we might as well appoint someone who will give us what we want to hear. I also strongly believe that Corbyn offers the simple answer and allows members to avoid difficult questions about how Labour can win, the challenge we face and the powers versus principles discussion. Corbyn says we can win power by being anti austerity, it feels good so why question it, why look for the proof because it's what some members want to hear. The problem is that come election time media, experts, the opposition will question it and will inevitably find holes in it.

It is this simplistic, upbeat but hollow message which leads me to equate Corbyn to Trump. I believe both operate in the sphere of post truth politics. I believe both appeal using feelings rather than facts. Corbyn says he can bring inequality, he'll make an anti austerity economy that works for all, he'll win an election. Trump says he can make America great again. There's very little substance in any of these claims but it feels good to some who hear it so what is in it for them to question it. Their simplistic message is easy to get on board with and then you add in the 'fact' that the media and/or the establishment is against you which unites the support. Trump is without question far worse and far more dangerous but the similarities in their simplistic message and appeal is pretty obvious.

In the leadership debate alone I counted many times where Corbyn flat out lied. Labour have never been ahead in the polls, before or after the leadership challenge. Labour abstained on the welfare bill on the first reading, as parliamentary process often dictates, eventually universally opposing it and that was not because of his appointment. Labour is hugely untrusted on the economy unlike the feeling Jeremy wants to project. Jeremy did say he wanted article 50 invoked immediately on live TV. However facts don't matter when arguing with feelings like we appear to be, a truly post truth politician.

The Issue I have With Corbyn

There is no disagreement in being anti austerity or fighting inequality or investing in the country, literally who could argue against that? The issue for me is substance, believability and ability to practice what is preached. What I like about Owen Smith is that his policies, while similar to Corbyn's, have substance to them, they have been fully costed and planned and there are specific money raising strategies such as 50p top rate of tax, wealth tax, corporation tax to 20%. Despite the 10 Pledges yesterday I'm still waiting for this substance from the leader even after 10 months in charge. It is this substance which will convince people of Labour's economic credibility, an area Corbyn and McDonnell are already massively behind in polling.

Owen Smith's 20 policies for Labour's future

The response to the policies raised by Owen Smith has also been disappointing and does not inspire faith for a successful election campaign. Instead of looking objectively at the ideas, maybe pointing out flaws or any holes or even praising some, the response was childish. The claims came that they were all Corbyn policies. This playground 'he copied me' response is disappointing especially as if they had been Corbyn policies they would be widely known and advertised in Labour's messages or at least in Corbyn's messages especially, you would have thought, during a Leadership challenge. As someone with an avid interest in politics and a Labour supporter, you'd have thought I would have read or seen that these policies were Corbyn Labour's stances. Either they weren't his policies or Corbyn is an incredibly bad orator and communicator of his policies, whichever way you look at it it's not good.

On top of the lack of substance and empty words, my other issue is how he has led Labour. Since the leadership challenge was announced many Labour MP's have come out and explained how they have been hamstrung by Corbyn's lack of communication and leadership. Whether it is Heidi Alexander on the NHS, Lillian Greenwood on transport, Thangam Debbonaire on her shadow cabinet appointment, Corbyn himself on article 50 or even today on the honours list. There is a long list of strategy errors, miscommunication and lack of leadership which show that Labour fighting for an election win is hamstrung by its leader.

Labour MP's have been criticised as traitors and being disloyal for saying these things but is it really disloyal to serve your party the best you can, keeping these issues secret but eventually quit as you are not able to do the job to the best of your abilities. It is this kind of substance on life under Corbyn leadership which shows his inability to lead sustained attacks, continued messages on topics against the Tories. When you have 172 MP's vote against you, it shows that you are not inspiring faith in your ability to do your job.

Why Owen Smith?

As I have already mentioned I believe he has the substance and the ideas that can convince not only Labour voters but people who have lost faith in Labour. Those who didn't trust Labour on the economy can look at his fully funded rebalancing of corporation tax, top rate of tax, NHS spending, his new deal idea. Those in the country who don't want a coalition for a government can be reassured about that not being Labour's only way into power. Those who want to see sustained, effective attacks on Tory austerity, universal credits, honours awards can be reassured that they will be carried out professionally and with energy. Those who want to see a stronger Labour presence in the mainstream media will see their leader appearing more regularly and appealing to a much wider and broader audience.

Owen Smith has the substance in his ideas, the ability to lead attacks on the Tories, a positive stance with areas he believes in not just areas he opposes, he has the oratory skills and appearance that matter to those with a less intense interest in politics, crucially he is the one looking outside of the party. Owen Smith has a much stronger appeal to those outside of Labour, a bigger ability to convince Labour voters not just members. Owen also has the competence in economic stance which is so crucial in election campaigns.

Electing Jeremy Corbyn with his disastrous personal ratings, catastrophic party polling and limited electoral appeal will be the end of Labour as a democratic force. Whether the PLP splits or if it unites, election day will be a disaster because Corbyn has been framed to millions in the country and cannot be reframed.

It is that electoral demise which is so depressing to me. Seeing the BBC snap poll in May last year was crushing, I don't want to go through that again so soon but with Corbyn as leader I know what is coming, all the signs are there, all the attack points for the Tories are there, it will be brutal. If you want a Labour government in the next year or two, I urge you not to vote for Corbyn.

Politics in the Media

Under a week to go until the nation goes to the voting booth. I noted in my previous post what I feel the choice is facing people in this election and this hasn't changed. What has changed and built during the campaign is my disappointment with the media in this country.

Firstly you should understand I was once obsessed with the media, I wanted to work within it and found it a fascinating, powerful and interesting profession. I was taught that the media was the fourth estate, its very purpose was to represent the general public and hold its politicians, businesses and councillors to account. I felt it stood for an important part of a democracy. This has changed with the way the campaign has gone. I don't want to say that it undermines our democracy but we are simply not being given the facts.

Rupert Murdoch is the main antagonist in this story. Owner of almost half of the nations biggest newspapers, it used to be widely accepted that what he reported had a big say in how elections went, this is why we have seen consecutive Conservative and Labour governments pander to his wants. This has changed, or at least partially, given the outcome of the Leveson inquiry and social media. Mr. Murdoch is scared of losing his monopoly.

On the Cusp of Change

Now I say this has changed only partially because there is only one person in this election willing to see this change in the landscape. Ed Miliband is the first leading politician to stand up to this monopoly of the media and has earned so much respect from me for doing so. Ed has committed to fulfilling the Leveson recommendations and has said that plurality of ownership is vital, signalling to Murdoch his newspapers won't all last. Ed clearly also much sense that newspapers are losing their power and public sway to social media, in particular I feel to twitter, which has allowed Ed to have this chance to 'have a go' at Murdoch.

His actions have seen Ed become 'Red Ed' 'inept' 'backstabber' and 'irresponsible' because of this stance. The Tory party, who have courted Rebecca Brookes, Andy Coulson and Rupert himself, have benefitted and remain in the pocket of those rich media 'moguls'. David Cameron has unsurprisingly ignored the Leveson inquiry, employed the convicted phone tapper Andy Coulson and had numerous dinners with Rebecca Brookes, all so that he can remain the slick, well oiled, media luvvy.

The Treatment of Ed

This has consequently led to massively biased and basically falsified reports about policies or polls. It has led to the under-reporting of falsified letters of support from businesses, identity fraud by the Conservative chairman, Labour poll leads and the ridiculing of Labour policies no matter the support in public or in respected circles. It is massively skewing the public view of politics, not giving the public all the facts and I hesitate to say it but letting democracy down.

It is to Ed's credit that he has poll leads, despite fighting against this massive media bias. The debates have been massively successful, allowing the public to see the real person and not the media perception of him. I wonder whether the polls we see, might just be for the first time unreliable, given the importance of social media which might arguably be more representative of the nation that the newspapers. A sorry sentence to say.

The media used to be my dream job but this election has really shown, not just to me I must add, the flaws and disgraces of our media system. Only time will tell if we see real change in this issue and many others by electing a Labour government and a leader who stands up to people rather than uses them for selfish reasons.

To my right is a video from Newsnight when the Daily Mail claimed Ed Miliband's father HATED Britain. No better example of what I am talking about.



P.S. I am a huge fan of George The Poet, he is backing an idea of posting your own 15 second manifesto to show the most important issue or issues affecting you this election. I would love to hear what your views are.

Why I'm Voting Labour

The past five years have been an eventful few years. Politically I believe the last five years can be summed up with two words, competition and fear. I am convinced this is how the Conservative government have ruled and it cuts to heart of their vision for the country. This plays to the main reason I am voting Labour in just over two weeks and it is a stark choice in how the country should be built. Giving those at the bottom of society and working people a foundation, making the country work for them or making money for the top of society which we hope will trickle down to help the rest of us.

Competition

This government has introduced the bedroom tax, top down reorganisation of the NHS, a new curriculum in to schools, extreme cuts to most areas of government and of course a reduced top level of tax. What has all of this done to our country? It has promoted a sense of competition between colleagues, classes and professions. We were told of mythical benefit scroungers across the country while those at the top enjoyed a tax cut. The classes were pitted against each other.

In education a new curriculum was introduced which had a distinct lack of assessment, leaving schools and councils to figure that part out themselves or in essence encouraging competition between schools and councils. There was also a slow introduction of competitive pay for teachers, paying your best teachers more, once again competition was introduced between colleagues for the best pay based on grades and results. Incidentally results that have been basically left for schools to work out for themselves.

Finally we come to the NHS. A top down organisation was introduced which laid the foundations for competition, to allow services to be provided by other (for profit) companies, in the process breaking a promise made in the 2010 election. We already have outside companies running some NHS services and GP practices, competing with each other, competing with our lives in order to make money. Profit before patients.

Fear

As you can see competition has been steadily introduced to every part of life. This in turn brings fear, fear of losing your job through extreme cuts, fear of being paid less due to a bad set of results or fear that your money is being given to the undeserving. Immigration was another chance for the Conservatives and in particular UKIP to use fear to their advantage, I don't think I need to explain how.

We can see the fear tactic in play during the current election campaign. Conservatives praying on fear, claiming the chaos of anyone but them in government, claiming SNP demands could leave England in danger. The fear that a Labour government was responsible for a GLOBAL economic crash, forgetting the influence and irresponsibility of two major global banks. It is important we see through these fear strategies and aren't ruled by the tactics of a Putin-light. The video below illustrates these fear tactics in play..... 

Why Labour?

So this brings me to why I'm voting Labour. Repealing the health and social care act that brought in one element of competition, repealing the bedroom tax which set the course for class struggle and reducing the extreme regime of cuts. I listen to Ed Miliband and believe in the vision he has for the country, that works from the bottom up and reduces the gap from bottom to top, an economy built on growing expendable income of the majority, larger contributions from the elite to help rebuild a proper safety net with the NHS, increased minimum wage and less extreme welfare cuts.

I come back to my initial thought, my vote depends on how I believe this country should be run. We are a democracy that pays taxes to spend on public services and a safety net for the unluckiest of society. Those who earn more, contribute more simply because they can afford it and recognise their responsibility to society. This has not been happening for the past 5 years and it would not happen under a Conservative government, instead of spending on public services money has been cut, instead of the elite giving more they have built a cash reserve and don't intend to lose it.

I'm voting Labour because I believe Ed Miliband can produce this sort of country. A man who has already stood up to Rupert Murdoch, the energy companies and the USA over Syria, can level the playing field. I believe the mansion tax, increase in top rate of tax and bankers levies will produce extra funds better distributed by a Labour government. Call it socialist if you like but this is what I feel this country needs to not only clear the debt but become a fairer, more equal society.

I leave you with an, I believe, quite accurate video of what this government thinks.....