"In addition to the arrogance and lack of principle of New Labour, there is an incredible incompetence. Policy is announced from No 10 to grab media attention and nothing is properly thought through".
I whole-heartedly agree. The defining features of this government are spin and incompetence. I hope that they leave power with that reputation firmly gilded into the minds of the British Public. They have lurched from crisis to crisis (from fuel protests to foreign prisoners to the MSR bug to pensions to spiralling knife crime). They have regulated and legislated like never before (without enforcing) and jerk their knees to the tune of the tabloids with rhetoric, inquiries and commissions and never ever deliver properly considered policy. In purely managerial terms, their approach is prehistoric.
I may disagree with much of what Clare has to say, but I am one person who hasn't questioned her sincerity. As I posted on PoliticalHack (well before the MSM picked up on the story at all), Birmingham Labour activists must have seen this coming. Clare's views represent a significant group of left-leaning urban voters who are disenchanted with New Labour - but who feel they have nowhere to go. I say to them, come and have a look at what the Tories have to offer. It's the future.
Hat-tip Political Hack and Peter Smallbone who moved the Tories into second in the May Council elections in Ladywood and have commented on this story before me.
6 comments:
What exactly have the Tories to offer?
Britain had 18 years of Tory rule.I don't think many voters have forgotten the many policy failures.The Tories are the party of the past.
Tony Benn, surprise, surprise, has attacked Tony Blair's Government for abandoning the NHS in favour of the Iraq war. And what with Geoff Hoon speaking out today too, all his MPs wanting him to stop down, he soon won't have a Government left.
I struggle to believe that Short is sincere. She is now a vocal opponent of the military intervention in Iraq but, unlike Robin Cook, she did not resign her cabinet post in order to oppose the action until it became clear that Blair was going to sack her anyway. Is she sincere or just bitter?
Unlike what New Labour has to offer, PT's comments are lucid and well thought through. Clare and I have significant differences over many things, but I welcome her attack on the New Labour project. There has been no attempt at serious 'reform' and the primary solution is to chuck money at problems in the hope that some will stick.
As for Clare's own position, it was seriously undermined by her decision to stay in the Cabinet as long as she did. It was obvious that her issuing of a public ultimatum spelt the end. Going at the same time as the late Robin Cook would have had a much greater impact on the government and public opinion.
On reflection, it is reasonable to judge that she should walk rather than provoke expulsion. To wait for the push would simply be self-serving PR (with the admittedly benevolent side-effect of damaging Labour).
Hey, PoliticalHackUK only got the story off us! ;-)
http://thedaily.wordpress.com/2006/09/11/exclusive-clare-short-to-step-down/
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