tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post9024604538729103778..comments2023-10-27T07:50:27.411+01:00Comments on Next Left: Should the Coalition admit it wants to "smash the state" by choice, not necessity?Tom Hampsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05917325958130851128noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-60982376240191780392010-09-13T21:41:02.969+01:002010-09-13T21:41:02.969+01:00Thank you giroscoper and Leo, I was previously una...Thank you giroscoper and Leo, I was previously unaware that positive comments are allowed on the internet!<br /><br />The "mandate" point is an important one. Labour's argument was rejected - or failed to get across (partly because it all seemed about £6 billion this year) - but against opponents who said cutting waste was important, but in David Cameron's case that he would reject any ministerial plan to cut public services.Sunder Katwalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671411534003530927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-35220069121305315772010-09-13T18:28:35.430+01:002010-09-13T18:28:35.430+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016091328515996575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-38044476634113070872010-09-13T18:28:08.502+01:002010-09-13T18:28:08.502+01:00Caution, caution, caution! I agree with giroscoper...Caution, caution, caution! I agree with giroscoper - yet another brilliant post (they've been the best commentary around these last few weeks!), which makes explicit the amputation-not-cure intent towards the welfare state that many in the the Government are embarking upon. <br /><br />The first simple observation - that there was nothing even close to a public mandate for permanent reductions in state-led welfare provision at the last election (recall that the Tories had to radically groovify their brand, centre-left their smile; recall too that the LDs remain as much a social democratic grouping as an economic liberal one). <br /><br />The second observation is to recall how the advocacy of an overt smaller state argument by many in the Coalition would, quite apart from polarising British politics like nothing since '83, risk seeing the Left falling once again into a framing trap that pushes the centre of gravity in political discourse even further to the right. If the Tories do rear their 'true' head & claim that the cuts will (& should) be permanent, then the debate will be between amputation vs cure in how to deal with the deficit, breaking what patina of consensus still remains between political parties over the necessity of the welfare state. Julian Glover's assumption that senior Tories might well benefit from improved clarity as to their intentions might result in an ideological war that Labour may think it can capitalise on (by taking the Coalition's necessity argument at face value, Labour will be able to uphold the seemingly reasonable position - that there are no social democratic ends by stateless means.) <br /><br />I would caution against this. We have seen from America how right-wing anti-state sentiment can take hold & gain wide traction. Labour should be in the business of framing most of current welfare provision as something like the 'basic needs' of most British people, & pushing for innovative tax & legal reforms that enable the deficit to be closed with minimum civic disturbance.<br /><br />Giroscoper is right to raise the spectre of the Tea Party. With the continued expansion of the Murdoch media empire projected for the coming years, the likelihood of further media liberalisation towards Fox news-style political discourse in the UK & the likes of Dan Hannan waiting in the wings, the Left should be cautious in welcoming such arguments to the mainstream political conversation so soon. (am I over-bleak in thinking such arguments could slip quite easily into mainstream discourse?) <br /><br />The new leader (esp if Ed Miliband) will have a fantastic opportunity to portray the government as two-faced over the cuts in the coming months & years, & in doing so, holding the centre ground firm against any move to the right. We shall see if the Tories & LDs can continue to sing from the same sheet for much longer, but there may come a point (preferably after the AV referendum) that Labour's best strategy for avoiding another welfare-smashing lockout in opposition is to not take another state retrenchment (after Thatcher) lying down, & to agitate for the collapse of the Coalition, for a new Parliament, & a chance to reduce the deficit in a much cleverer, & less crude manner. My fear, & hence my caution, is they can only do this if the public conversation identifies Labour as a politics of the centre, & the clear & urgent voice of reason &c &c..Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016091328515996575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7985429043801017839.post-65646366667661412102010-09-13T09:10:47.455+01:002010-09-13T09:10:47.455+01:00Great article, except that there is nothing "...Great article, except that there is nothing "centre" about Julian Glover.<br />He's basically a UK version of the Tea Party - about as far right on the 'liberal' spectrum as they come.<br /><br />Nonetheless, I think if Cameron and Clegg were being honest with the electorate about what they're trying to do, Glover's got it about right. Of course the consequences for ordinary people in the UK will be utterly disastrous.T.N.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13994761000416067940noreply@blogger.com