Labour failed because it did not offer a real alternative

I’m not.

Labour’s policies, with the exception of the bedroom tax, were effectively, with rhetorical spin, the same as the Tories.

Although most social democratic parties in Europe have recognised that the need for ‘austerity cuts’ is a sham cover for an attack on the welfare state, Labour repeated the Tory propaganda and even said they would be tougher on the poor than the Tories.

Labour could have been bold and said we will not replace Trident nuclear missiles, but no, they echoed the Tories.

What could have been Labour’s ace card, the NHS, came to nothing, because it was clear that they were committed to continue the privatisation process they themselves had started in 2006 and the Tories pushed forward in 2013. Their commitment to give an extra £2bn in spending was more than matched by the Tories promising £8bn. (Neither amount is enough to keep pace with need).

On all fronts Labour collapse into a Tory mirror image… Education saw Labour accept free schools and the handover of a trillion pounds worth of state property to private companies and faith groups. Whilst the Germans are proud to announce that all university fees are abolished, Labour was still backing fee paying.

On housing they took the Tory line of inventing a target figure they thought the private sector might achieve…rather than directly fund a house building programme.

Even where there was massive public support for policies such as renationalisation of the railways (76 per cent of voters) Labour backed away.

Labour failed because it did not offer a real alternative. Those that did – the Greens, the SNP and Plaid Cymru increased their vote significantly.

Cllr DAVID WILLIAMS
Leader of the Green Group on Oxfordshire County Council 
London Road
Oxford