Here’s a man I never met who changed my life: Derek Forster.
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The inside track since 2003
Here’s a man I never met who changed my life: Derek Forster.
Copyblogger theme design by Chris Pearson | Hosted by ENTANET
10 comments ↓
Its time to FIGHT! Strike back against these media weapons of mass distortion!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K50TS0UZE7w
THIS IS THE VIDEO THEY DONT WANT YOU TO SEE!
Mine too! Hope you are well Tom.
By the way, do you still think nationalisation of the commanding heights of the economy is a “quaint” notion to be scoffed at? How very long a week can be in politics.
Finally something the government has done that you’re proud of? Go on, break the habit of a lifetime and give praise to the Labour government.
Tom,
I’m very happy to support the complete nationalisation of the banking sector to secure proper socialist planning of the economy, long term investment and stability, get mortgages flowing again and to stop the casino mentality that has dominated for too long and turned crooks and spivs into multi-millionaires.
And of course, to support the minimum wage, attampts to deal with poverty (although we’re well short of where we should be on this), tax credits and all the other things where Labour have made progress.
I always want a Labour government; I’ve been in local government through 18 years of the alternative and I don’t want to go there again ever. But unlike you Tom, my support is not slavish and unconditional. I also reserve the right to question, Iraq, tuition fees, greater private intrusion into the NHS, floating off schools from LEA’s, the sleaze of honours sales, timidity of dealing with energy companies that will leave millions in fuel poverty again this winter, selling off nuclear power to the Fench, rebuilding Trident and so on.
Happy to restate again my list for Labour that would keep the Tories out of power on the first Thursday in May 2010 if we started to implement it immediately:-
*A windfall tax of £8 billion to be given directly back to those on benefits and in fuel poverty this winter; a 3% cap on any more rises in energy bills
*A clear plan to get the low paid out of tax completely in 12 months by increasing rates at the top, and on the rich from overseas who use this country as a tax haven
* A rapid start on a national social house-building programme
*A referendum on son-of-Trident to see if the people of this country would prefer a better use for that £28 billion
* An apology for the illegality of Iraq and a promise to bring our people back from there and Afganistan within 6 months, walking rather than in body bags
*A full public enquiry into the Iraq invasion
*Support for, rather than attacks upon, the living standards of public sector workers (inclucing the police)
*Restoration of the basic rights of people at work through mature discussions with the trade unions
*Funding to deliver a freeze on Council Tax next Spring
*An end to phoney-green taxes on cars that our people drive
*Scrapping TV licences and funding the BBC from general taxation
*An end to tuition fees with debts canelled
*An end to all prescription charges
*Grown up discussions with the SNP about a joint socialist programme for Scotland and the chance for people there to decide their own future in a referendum
*Frank discussions with Obama after November 4th about our future relationship with the USA designed to end the crookedness of the Bush/Blair era.
Which of these would you have a problem with?
John
Sounds like the 1983 manifesto, John. I believe Gerald Kaufman described it as “the longest suicide note in history” at the time.
So what items in the list wouldn’t be popular with traditional Labour voters Paul? And what’s your alternative for winning in 2010?
It’s not that the items on your list are unpopular with traditional Labour voters…they are unpopular with the wider electorate, John.
I think you must realise that Labour are unlikely to win a general election by simply appealing to traditional Labour voters alone. Of course, this is not to say we should ignore them either; something which i think the current Leader and Deputy Leader realise.
Ultimately, if the Labour Party aspire and wish to remain in government, then it needs to continue to appeal not only to its traditional supporters, but a wider audience.
Paul, The next obvious question has to be, which of the suggestions on the list would be unpopular with the wider, middle band of the electorate? John
Pretty much every one of them, John. I assume you would be in favour of tax increases to fund your manifesto for Government!
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