I’ve always been jealous of people that got to hate Thatcher. I remember one of my university lecturers opening up his course with a rant about Thatcher reaching its crescendo with him saying he threw a party on the day of her demise. His main gripe with Thatcher was the poll tax, or as he referred to it, a tax on breathing. He didn’t pay in protest.You see my whole student experience was ruined by a government for whom I had a decent level of affection.
Really I should have been spending my time wearing Che Guevara t-shirts, listening to Rage against the Machine and not paying unfair taxes, just like my lecturer (one year I didn’t pay the TV license, but that wasn’t based on principle so probably doesn’t count).
Instead I was content with New Labour and merrily went about my business funded by, what I considered, a very reasonable student loan agreement. Damn you compliant establishment
Well now is my chance to make up on lost establishment-hating time. And besides Labour being cast into opposition doesn’t have to mean 18 years of hurt as it once did for many a lucky Labour supporting student.
Touching distance
Although most people probably wouldn’t admit it, part of me was quite surprised and even pleased with Labour’s performance in the election. With 258 seats, Labour are still in touching distance of the Tories.
A year ago I was convinced that Labour was heading for a catastrophe to 1997 proportions. Considering the party tried to implode through various coup attempts and cock-ups, they did pretty well considering the length of time they have been in office.
In 1997 the Conservatives knew it would be ten years before they could even start dreaming of power again. The same can definitely not be said for the Labour party. Even Ed Balls kept his seat!
A coalition bound to fail
As has been pointed out numerous times in the media, the Lib Dems and Conservative party have been at opposite ends of the mainstream British political spectrum for years. With opposite views on Europe, electoral reform and defence I can’t see how the government can sustain itself effectively for five years.
An interesting story in the Guardian today talked about how the communications machine alone is now going to be twice the size with its job to ensure that with each government announcement two sets of people with quite different political beliefs are satisfied.
This also leaves the space for there to be one mainstream opposition party instead of two, giving the Labour party a monopoly on the 'alternative option'.
Re-alignment of the one remaining progressive party
David Miliband is already chucking around this ‘Next Labour’ idea. Fair enough it needs a bit or work, but that’s the spirit Dave, let’s take a new approach and replace some of those old tired faces. A successful political party is as much about how it makes people feel as it is about substance, so some new vibrancy will go a long way to regaining favour with the public.
Although most people probably wouldn’t admit it, part of me was quite surprised and even pleased with Labour’s performance in the election. With 258 seats, Labour are still in touching distance of the Tories.
A year ago I was convinced that Labour was heading for a catastrophe to 1997 proportions. Considering the party tried to implode through various coup attempts and cock-ups, they did pretty well considering the length of time they have been in office.
In 1997 the Conservatives knew it would be ten years before they could even start dreaming of power again. The same can definitely not be said for the Labour party. Even Ed Balls kept his seat!
A coalition bound to fail
As has been pointed out numerous times in the media, the Lib Dems and Conservative party have been at opposite ends of the mainstream British political spectrum for years. With opposite views on Europe, electoral reform and defence I can’t see how the government can sustain itself effectively for five years.
An interesting story in the Guardian today talked about how the communications machine alone is now going to be twice the size with its job to ensure that with each government announcement two sets of people with quite different political beliefs are satisfied.
This also leaves the space for there to be one mainstream opposition party instead of two, giving the Labour party a monopoly on the 'alternative option'.
Re-alignment of the one remaining progressive party
David Miliband is already chucking around this ‘Next Labour’ idea. Fair enough it needs a bit or work, but that’s the spirit Dave, let’s take a new approach and replace some of those old tired faces. A successful political party is as much about how it makes people feel as it is about substance, so some new vibrancy will go a long way to regaining favour with the public.
Here are a few ideas I would like to throw into the pot (based on a trusty thesaurus)…
Newer Labour
Fresh Labour
Contemporary Labour
Brand new Labour
Spanking Labour
Pristine Labour
In mint condition Labour
Newer Labour
Fresh Labour
Contemporary Labour
Brand new Labour
Spanking Labour
Pristine Labour
In mint condition Labour
And my favourite three:
Newborn Labour
Enlightened Labour
Avant-garde Labour
Ed, if you’re reading, then they’re yours.
People voted for change as they inevitably will after 13 years of the same tired faces. But the change they have chosen doesn’t have to last for long. Here is to Spanking Labour – ready to govern within two years.
Newborn Labour
Enlightened Labour
Avant-garde Labour
Ed, if you’re reading, then they’re yours.
People voted for change as they inevitably will after 13 years of the same tired faces. But the change they have chosen doesn’t have to last for long. Here is to Spanking Labour – ready to govern within two years.
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