There has also been a welcome shift since the election in Labour policy towards the economy. While not a u-turn like Iraq yet, it's being described in some quarters as a leftward drift, though I would characterise it as going round in circles. I was in Milton Keynes this week and the Labour Party in their current state could be described as the town’s political equivalent, and not because of the roundabouts. They're a bit of Milton Friedman and bit of John Maynard Keynes, but not quite being one or the other.
They should clearly be saying cuts in vital jobs and services are wrong and will lead us into another recession and possibly depression. We have to invest in our economy to grow it and get the tax take up – the drop in which after all is what caused the deficit in the first place. Someone from the thinktank Demos was on the telly this week though warning Labour against opposing the coalition government’s plans as the public wouldn’t accept any alternative was possible or credible. This standpoint turns the most crucial issue of this parliament into a political consideration rather than one of right and wrong.
What this attitude also ignores is that the coalition have spent a year softening the public for what they’re about to do, from Nick Clegg’s initial clarion call for “savage cuts”, a stream of press conferences about “irresponsible spending that can’t go on”, and leaks about what may be for the chop. Labour similarly have got to get on the front foot with a message about the economy. If as it seems, the Tory-LibDem plans are going to end in misery, it is going to be of no use to have hitched your wagon to their plans.
Labour should not be afraid to campaign against cuts. There is plenty of public unease out there looking for expression. This after all is the party that took us to war in the face of public opinion, the intelligence and international law. Ed Miliband may apologise for the most catastrophic blunder of the last government, but the economy is going to be the biggest one this time around.
I would say they shouldn't get it wrong a second time, but that horse may have already bolted. Because of them, the coalition government look set to be ensconced for the next five years. Labour have already fluffed their lines by contributing to the Tory mood music with their pre-election promise of cuts “deeper and tougher” than Thatcher’s.
There may not be any change now other than if there's huge social unrest. In Scotland, it is easier and more direct. The massive cuts over the next five years can be avoided by taking control of our economy through independence, and there will be an opportunity to vote for this next year.
This post was continued from here.
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