Are we Ready for New Political Ideas ?
May 7th, 2009 | 
Author: 
Rather oddly I thought, Alan Milburn re-surfaces today in the Independent with an article that described the “new political agenda” which appears to be exactly what the Conservatives or specifically, David Cameron have been talking about for quite a time now, at least the past two years but then again, the extremists were seeing Cameron as just “Blair Lite”.
Perhaps the most interesting thing is Milburn breaking cover in this way right now, perhaps we are seeing the opening salvoes of the battle for the soul of the Labour Party that will certainly follow an election defeat. He is restating the middle ground of the New Labour Project in order to fend off an extreme swing to the Left following the inevitable electoral defeat.
New Political Ideas
In today’s Independent leader was a plea for “New Politics” and considering that the “Indy” is normally read by highly intelligent people, the feedback was pretty pathetic and although likely that my contribution added little, for whatever reason with only minor modifications, my view:
“Although my politics are right of centre, most of the feedback I’ve seen from papers like the Independent, seems to come from people who are left of centre – this is not an accusation or a slur, just a comment. If so it would be understandable for those people to see the disintegration of the hopes of New Labour with great disappointment, even disillusionment and the imminent arrival of a Conservative Government as a total tragedy but, is it ?
Are we not just witnessing a natural cycle of events ? The hope of Spring, the glory of Summer, the fruitfulness and decay of Autumn and finally a deep cold Winter. This happened to the Tories under Major as it is happening to Labour under Brown.”
The Comparison
Blair moved into an economy that was set fair and at the start of a major global boom and early on started an experiment we all now know doesn’t work, hosing down the Public Sector with untold billions and getting little real return on the money and now because of a combination of events, the Country teeters on bankruptcy.
The Tories will move in on an economy that is in total disarray and even left leaning people will vote them in because we all know that we need to cut the State down to size in the same way that 30 years ago, we needed Thatcher to break the power of the Unions. Apart from reducing the size of the State and turning over some services to local communities to run on a voluntary basis because otherwise they will cease to exist, David Cameron will have little time, money or space to introduce any truly radical Tory policies.
They will get two terms easily but if a third, will only end up as Brown’s ragbag Government today, roughly 10 years seems to be the current cycle.”
A Truly Fresh Start ?
New political ideas wanted ? Yes but unfortunately all new major political ideas are generated by circumstances of deprivation, the need for emancipation of large groups of people and genuine injustice. However, within the UK via history and circumstances, that was all dealt with by previous generations, our Grand Parents or Great Grand Parents.
In comparison the pathetic void we seem to inhabit today is summed up by Parliament insisting that Catholic Adoption Agencies MUST place children with gay couples instead of referring them to the other and more numerous adoption agencies.
Well that has dealt with 4 cases a year and yet every week 2 women die due to domestic violence and yet Hannah with the Banner ignores them because…why ? Why is “Hattie Harmon” not concerned with this annual death toll and yet busies herself with…what ? If women deserve equal pay and opportunities then they must be equal in terms of ‘service’ to their employers.
Just what does it take for a fat and brain dead, under-achieving Deputy Leader of the Labour Party with the dress sense of a tramp to ‘interest’ herself in 100 women victims a year ?
Not Ready for Sure
I personally doubt that our society has sufficient engagement to grasp ‘New Political Ideas’ for now because amazingly there is absolutely no room for them because most people are fighting for financial survival and the vain hope of holding their “dreams” together.
Perhaps in 3-4 years time when the recession is passing and a Tory government has created a degree of stability plus, the unemployment figures have stabilised and are starting to fall. Maybe then might be a time to talk about the “NEW”, right now likely not.
Posted in Politics, The Media | 
Tags: British Interests, Personal Journey, Political Ideas, Political Parties, Politicians
“most people are fighting for financial survival and the vain hope of holding their “dreams” together”
Agreed but that so often means that people do not have time to learn the lessons of history, and just parrot what others are saying. We don’t have to be trapped in a “natural cycle” if only we would learn these lessons.
Sadly, I see little difference between Alan Milburn and David Cameron – both seem to want to produce the policies that they think will lead to election victory rather than bold policies for saving Britain.
(The Indy has been left leaning for sometime now, IMO.)
Dear Alfred
You are likely right, people do not learn from history and neither do they invest time in grasping the concept of history either but that has always been so. I am perhaps naively an optimist who tries to see the good in most situations true, often very hard.
However and on to distinct occasions when for all my efforts and thinking none were listening, I was to find out that they were and “gave voice” at the right moment in time which rather humbled me. It is an arrogance and a stupidity not to acknowledge that the “Bingo playing classes” have no less a desire for the best for these island Nations.
As to Milburn and Cameron, I do see a difference, the former seeks to justify and continue into the future with “Blairisim” , Cameron seeks the chance to ‘serve’.
Looked at logically, there is no single course of action that Cameron can take that Brown cannot match except one:
Just as Milburn seeks to justify his past actions, so too does Brown, neither is capable of being forward looking. There needs to be an acknowledgement of past mistakes before new growth can prosper.