As a ‘dyed in the wool’ socialist, ex Trade Union Officer and staff representative, I feel the current Labour Party is trying really hard to lose my vote. This is from Keir Starmer praising Thatcher to Wes Streeting using the phrase ‘middle class lefties’ to describe opponents to his plan to expand the use of the private health sector.
Thatcher did untold damage to many communities and should be vilified by all Labour leaders, not praised.
The NHS
The Shadow Health Minister not just wanting to expand private health care, but insulting those who oppose his plan is shocking and he should be embarrassed, If not replaced. The idea of private health companies is an anathema to me and many, many others, I find it morally wrong to make profit out of people’s misfortune and illness. Labour should be the ultimate guardian of the NHS, if we cannot trust them with it then we are doomed.
Gaza
The Labour Party has, historically, aligned itself with oppressed groups so the leadership stance on Gaza is, in my opinion, a disgrace. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the current leadership of Israel has used the atrocity of 7 October by Hamas to destroy Palestine. If the party’s decision not to call for a ceasefire and an inability to call Israel out is tied to previous antisemitism issues, then that is a sad indictment of the current leadership. It shows a lack of courage. In addition, surely the party should be able to discern between a matter of conscience and policy and as a result have given MPs a free vote.
Then to suspend Andy McDonald for making a speech calling for peace just beggared belief.
Wooing the middle ground
Keir Starmer and his advisers picked exactly the right buttons to push if their desire was to alienate me…so congratulations. This apparent desire to woo the middle ground voter at the expense of socialists like myself is, i predict, going to come back and bite them on the bum.
I appreciate that the Labour Party cannot win a majority at a General Election without the votes of the political centre, but the betrayal of our socialist heritage is an insult. Sadly, I don’t believe the Labour Party exists anymore, well it is unrecognisable from what it started out as.
Change is inevitable. Change is essential. However, there must be core beliefs that never change, beliefs that define the Labour Party. We are seeing in real time the Party abandon them in favour of becoming Tory Lite.
I, like, a huge number of people are now becoming politically homeless.
I want proportional representation brought in so I can look at all the various parties and decide which one most closely aligns to my beliefs.
Spoiler alert…I will still be voting Labour in the upcoming General Election, because they are the only option I have in order to get rid of this corrupt, uncaring and incompetent Tory Government.
To finish, I would say that Starmer needs to look inside himself and decide if he wants to be a Labour PM or a watered down Tory.
