Where should the Labour Party position itself? (Part 1)

The scale of the rift between Labour and the unions over Ed Miliband's decision to embrace austerity measures has been made clear as a senior leader warned of long-term implications over the "most serious mistake" the party could have made.
Unions affiliated to Labour have been fuming since shadow chancellor Ed Balls told a conference at the weekend that he would not reverse the Government's planned 1% public sector pay cap, which affects millions of workers.
Unite leader Len McCluskey warned that Mr Miliband was setting Labour on course for electoral "disaster" and undermining his own leadership by accepting Government cuts and the cap on public sector pay.
Mr Miliband hit back against his union critics, insisting that Mr McCluskey was "wrong" to attack his decision to embrace austerity measures.
It has emerged that the leader of the GMB has written to the union's senior officials saying that the speech by Ed Balls may have a "profound impact" on its relationship with the Labour Party.
General secretary Paul Kenny said in the message: "I have spoken to Ed Milliband and Ed Balls to ensure they were aware of how wrong I think the policy they are now following is. It is now time for careful consideration and thought before the wider discussions begin on the long-term implications this new stance by the party has on GMB affiliation.
"It will be a fundamental requirement that the CEC (executive) and Congress determine our way forward after proper debate. I will update everyone as events unfold but I have to say this is the most serious mistake they could have made and the Tories must be rubbing their hands with glee." The GMB declined to comment on the message but confirmed it had been sent.
Mr McCluskey said in an article in The Guardian: "Ed Balls' sudden weekend embrace of austerity and the Government's public sector pay squeeze represents a victory for discredited Blairism at the expense of the party's core supporters. It also challenges the whole course Ed Miliband has set for the party, and perhaps his leadership itself."
Mr Miliband responded in a statement: "Len McCluskey is entitled to his views but he is wrong. I am changing the Labour Party so we can deliver fairness even when there is less money around and that requires tough decisions."

tlttf wrote:Red, surely you don't think the Libor scandal began in 2010, this was an ongoing farce that had been carried on for years and was only found out in 2010.

Anyway, what is labours position on welfare, they are extremely timid about talking about the subject. Does everybody agree that child benefit should only be paid for the first 2 kids?

tlttf wrote:Child benefit was only paid for the second child Ivan, by 1979 all my siblings were over the age that could claim it. Please note Ivan that even though you try to twist my words to make out I'm some kind of an ogre, I have the same worries as everybody else. I just don't see labour as the way out of inequality. Note how all the senior (socalled socialists) within the labour party bail out to line their own pockets at the earliest convenience, yet still you worship the diatribe that drips out of their poisonous mouths. Why should I and other tax payers pay somebody to breed kids that they cannot afford, I don't mind a maximum of 2, there is no justification for more.

skwalker1964 wrote:I disagree with the entire premise. Cuts don't need to be made and the whole austerity proposition is arse-first foolishness. There is no shortage of money - it's just in the wrong places.

sickchip wrote:

skwalker1964 wrote:I disagree with the entire premise. Cuts don't need to be made and the whole austerity proposition is arse-first foolishness. There is no shortage of money - it's just in the wrong places.

The austerity proposition is simply a means of rebalancing power in favour of the few. It is about weakening and oppressing the general workforce and legislating for the removal of the rights of the masses. It is about control. It is an excuse to manipulate and abuse the shape of society.

sickchip wrote:Redflag,

Thanks......but I have little faith in the people of the UK picking up on this - they've been educated not to think, and do as they're told, for many years

blueturando wrote:Can I ask all the Labour supporters who agree that Labour would make cuts if in government give their opinion on where the cuts should be made

Labour was plunged into disarray over welfare yesterday, as its proposals for tough reforms unravelled – and Ed Miliband faced a growing mutiny over his soft approach.
With opinion polls revealing decisive public support for the Government’s benefit shake-up, Labour’s work and pensions spokesman Liam Byrne rushed out proposals designed to harden up its image on the issue.
The move

Rochdales Labour MP Simon Danczuk said Labour needed to talk about how it was going to reform the benefits system rather than just complaining about every cut.

He said. ‘We need to acknowledge some people choose not to work. We all know people who’ve chosen to live on benefits instead of getting a job.’
He went on: ‘Labour should now move from focusing on who loses out on benefits to how they’re going to get those who choose a life on dole into work.'

blueturando wrote:Red....The Labour Party does not have a manifesto and they dont have any ideas either, so I am not anxious at all.

I think they are worried about Welfare though and may put forward a few proposals of their own. I hope you critisise these as much as you do on the coalitions measures otherwise your arguments are baseless

Labour was plunged into disarray over welfare yesterday, as its proposals for tough reforms unravelled – and Ed Miliband faced a growing mutiny over his soft approach.
With opinion polls revealing decisive public support for the Government’s benefit shake-up, Labour’s work and pensions spokesman Liam Byrne rushed out proposals designed to harden up its image on the issue.
The move

Rochdales Labour MP Simon Danczuk said Labour needed to talk about how it was going to reform the benefits system rather than just complaining about every cut.

He said. ‘We need to acknowledge some people choose not to work. We all know people who’ve chosen to live on benefits instead of getting a job.’
He went on: ‘Labour should now move from focusing on who loses out on benefits to how they’re going to get those who choose a life on dole into work.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305549/Labour-disarray-welfare-shake-proposals-tough-reform-unravel.html

When did you become spokes person for the Labour party ?

blueturando wrote:

When did you become spokes person for the Labour party ?

The same time you became a spokesperson for the Tories, Red

oftenwrong wrote:Matters may become clearer after the Elections of May 2nd.
Elections will be held in 27 English County Councils, 7 Unitary Authorities and 1 Welsh Council.

The big yet-unknown is what will happen to the right-wing vote. Will Conservatives have to share that vote with UKIP, and in what proportion?

May they live in interesting times.

sickchip wrote:Where should the Labour party position itself?

Paying glowing tributes to Margaret Thatcher?

blueturando wrote:Red....The Labour Party does not have a manifesto and they dont have any ideas either, so I am not anxious at all.

Tosh wrote:The labour party must dump its old left wing policies in the trash can, or it will be in the trash can.

tlttf wrote:-
Child benefit was only paid for the second child Ivan

I just don't see labour as the way out of inequality.

Why should I and other tax payers pay somebody to breed kids that they cannot afford, I don't mind a maximum of 2, there is no justification for more.