Jun
4
Voting Labour with a heavy heart
Filed Under Labour politics | 4 Comments
Now I know what it’s like to vote Labour with a heavy heart but also why I will always vote Labour. The following is pretty self-indulgent actually, but as a fervent party loyalist for most of the last 14 years, I can’t quite believe that it’s come to this and want to record my thoughts – if only to have something to reflect on during the endless (forthcoming) debates of opposition years of how we get out of this mess.
I don’t support Gordon Brown’s leadership of the party. I didn’t want him to be leader and thought that he utterly discredited himself in the manner in which he rose to the job. However, there isn’t a compelling case for removing him as leader. Yes, it may be electorally advantageous, but so are lots of things in politics and that doesn’t make them right. Gordon Brown is basically exhibiting all the same faults that he did when he was Chancellor, it’s just that he doesn’t have anyone else to hide behind anymore. Yes, it’s disappointing that he hasn’t got any ideas of how to take the country forward, but it was Labour MPs who chose not to subject him to that scrutiny by denying the party a leadership election. But there are no big policy disagreements within the party and no obvious alternative candidates – just shades of grey.
I dislike a great deal about the European Union. The Common Agricultural Policy is a disgrace. Whilst there are many areas of policy where we need European cooperation (environment, trade) there are many where we don’t really (broadcasting). The European parliament is a gravy-train with a shocking lack of accountability – partly due to the regional list system. I’ve only once met a serving MEP and I know one of the other Labour candidates from my time in the trade union movement although Raj Jethwa is too low on the list to get a seat.
I am embarrassed by many of our Labour MPs. The self-indulgence of Hazel Blears’ resignation is shocking and a stab in the back for all the hardworking activists around the country who spent yesterday campaigning for a Labour victory. Then there’s the expenses scandal; Gordon Brown’s “apology on behalf of the political system” and the terrible excuses of MPs: “it was within the rules”.
But I voted Labour because elections are about choices. Labour remains the best choice on the ticket. Another Lib Dem MEP isn’t going to achieve anything, over and above a few headlines. I will never vote Tory. And a vote for a smaller party could just help the BNP (to the extent that I understand the bizzare electoral). And you don’t vote to ‘send a message’; you vote to elect leaders. A message is transient; an MEP lasts four years.
The leaders of our party are failing us. They will eventually pay the price by losing their jobs which will mean that millions of working people pay the price in the form of a Tory government.
I hate being on the sidelines, watching the Labour party do this. I dislike not being out on the doorstep (for the sake of family arrangements) to make a useful contribution. But voting Labour is the very least I can do.
Related posts:
- Why I’m voting for Luke Akehurst
- Should Labour bother with policymaking?
- A primary vote for Labour Party leader?
- Labour is also Ann Black
- Labour Party reform isn’t about GCs
Splendid, couldn’t agree with it more. Hazel’s resignation made my stomach turn – why on earth couldn’t she have waited until 10pm tonight to resign? It showed scant regard for Labour activists and candidates. Also, no one seems to have grasped that electing a new leader won’t make a jot of difference to the polls, particularly as, is possible, Harriet would win a contest rather than Johnson (no one seems to have picked up on the fact that the unions may not back Johnson and that Harriet is more popular with the rank and file). Brown has been an underwhelming leader but a change at the top won’t make a difference as Labour’s problems are much more fundamental, an outdated party system, a lack of political direction etc.
Brown has been a bully and an autocrat. the chickens are coming home to roost. The man has engineered the political oblivion of the labour party and had a huge influence on the economic mess the country is in. he has to go!
@roym That is true, but he always has been a bully and an autocrat. Those who pretended otherwise helped get us into this mess.
But would any other cabinet minister be that much better?
@jameshulme yes – the leadership issue is detracting from the structural issues: the long term decline of party politics and the short term issues around expenses and the economy.
The thought of Harriet Harman as leader is frightening when you consider how she has failed to deliver on her promises made in the deputy leadership race; and should be a significant deterrent to change.