Labour Says Yes to Austerity & Cuts – But They’ll Be
Nice Cuts than the Tories
In last week’s Brighton Independent I had an article which
suggested that Miliband was determined to lose.
Of course he’d like to win but he refuses to break from the consensus
behind austerity. Instead of boldly
saying that austerity is the road to ruin and Labour is going to reverse the
welfare cuts, tax the rich at 80%, reverse major privatisations and pay no
compensation bar the price which was paid (minus profits taken), Miliband tries to present
himself as the safe alternative to the Tories.
suggested that Miliband was determined to lose.
Of course he’d like to win but he refuses to break from the consensus
behind austerity. Instead of boldly
saying that austerity is the road to ruin and Labour is going to reverse the
welfare cuts, tax the rich at 80%, reverse major privatisations and pay no
compensation bar the price which was paid (minus profits taken), Miliband tries to present
himself as the safe alternative to the Tories.
Labour is going to face a wipe-out in its Scottish bastion
because they are perceived as the ‘red Tories’.
Running a No to Independence campaign with the Tories has backfired on
them spectacularly. Labour in Scotland
has been a by-word in corruption and nepotism.
It’s not as if the Scottish National Party is a particularly radical
party. It has failed to even use the
power to increase income tax by 3p and has instituted its own cuts
programme. It has failed to increase
spending on the NHS in Scotland but compared to Labour it is seen as a radical,
socialist alternative.
because they are perceived as the ‘red Tories’.
Running a No to Independence campaign with the Tories has backfired on
them spectacularly. Labour in Scotland
has been a by-word in corruption and nepotism.
It’s not as if the Scottish National Party is a particularly radical
party. It has failed to even use the
power to increase income tax by 3p and has instituted its own cuts
programme. It has failed to increase
spending on the NHS in Scotland but compared to Labour it is seen as a radical,
socialist alternative.
 |
| Miliband – desperately seeking cover |
The Tories are, of course, attacking Miliband because he is
going to need their support to become Prime Minister. Instead of fighting back and saying that the
SNP have every right to have a say in the government of Britain (after all, isn’t
that what the union with Scotland is about?) he has run for cover. Even some Tories like Lord Forsyth and
Malcolm Rifkind have been bolder.
going to need their support to become Prime Minister. Instead of fighting back and saying that the
SNP have every right to have a say in the government of Britain (after all, isn’t
that what the union with Scotland is about?) he has run for cover. Even some Tories like Lord Forsyth and
Malcolm Rifkind have been bolder.
 |
| Nicola Sturgeon of SNP – set the cat among Labour’s pigeons |
Miliband’s latest pledge is a milk and water scheme to have
3 year secure tenancies and rents rising by no more than inflation. But although any reform would be welcome,
this is puny and pathetic. We used to
have permanent security of tenure
for people in furnished tenancies.
People were what they call sitting tenants. There used to be full rent control. That is the system we should go back to and
taking a leaf out of the Tories book, Labour could propose the right to buy for
private tenants and see what the Tory reaction to that is! Taking housing out of the market and treating
it in the same way as health. Adopting a
socialist policy that housing is a basic need and should not be subject to the
market and speculation is what is needed, not tampering at the edges.
3 year secure tenancies and rents rising by no more than inflation. But although any reform would be welcome,
this is puny and pathetic. We used to
have permanent security of tenure
for people in furnished tenancies.
People were what they call sitting tenants. There used to be full rent control. That is the system we should go back to and
taking a leaf out of the Tories book, Labour could propose the right to buy for
private tenants and see what the Tory reaction to that is! Taking housing out of the market and treating
it in the same way as health. Adopting a
socialist policy that housing is a basic need and should not be subject to the
market and speculation is what is needed, not tampering at the edges.
 |
| Bennett (Green), Clegg (opportunist LD), Farage (racist UKIP), Miliband, Leanne Wood (Plaid Cymru), Nicola Sturgeon (SNP) Cameron (Tory sell your grandmother party!) |
My prediction? The
Tories will be the largest party. Labour
plus the SNP should be within spitting distance of the magical 324 need for an
overall majority. Hopefully the
Lib-Dems, the most disgusting and unprincipled party of all will suffer heavy
losses. UKIP is unlikely to gain more
than 2-3 seats and the Greens will keep their one seat. Who forms a government? Miliband might unless he proves particularly
stupid.
Tony Greenstein
Posted in Blog
