Reasoning With the Electorate
Whatever your political orientation, you will agree that the recent media image of the Labour party has not been great. Inter-party leadership conflicts combined with constant - if not rather crude - attacks from the Tories have shown us to be a party in decline. This image couldn't be more wrong. Our party is flourishing: ideas stream up the ranks at an impressive speed and the party's left and right have never before found as much common ground as they do in the current political climate. We must therefore be careful with the image that we present to the public and must strive to give the truest impression as possible.
In a recent Fabian Society article, Tim Horton completely summarises the current Conservative strategy. He professes that the Tories aim "to so closely resemble Labour that a change in government seems like a change in managers, a breath of fresh air". We must work together to counter such a deceitful tactic. As a party we must aim to relate each decision we make and each action we take to our collective principles and ideology. When discussing successes we must ensure that the public knows which particular aspect of our ideology drove us to take that particular action. Cameron may be able to agree with each of our policies but when it comes to ideology he will be forced to reveal the great fundamental differences between the two parties. This will therefore undermine his overall strategy and reveal the Tories as the tricksters they, to this day, remain.
Together, we must come to a consensus and clearly define our vision of future Britain. Not only will this display the unity within our party ranks, but will also champion the principles of both New Labour and democratic socialism. In the last decade we have proven that a New Labour government can uphold its founding principles within the context of a modern society, and a modern Britain. We as a party must ensure that the public know that it is those principles that have lead to successes that simply could not have been implemented under the constraints of a different party's ideology. We must ensure that come election time the public have a fair and clearly defined choice. Finally, we must ensure a vote not for a passing set of policies, but a vote for democratic socialism.
In a recent Fabian Society article, Tim Horton completely summarises the current Conservative strategy. He professes that the Tories aim "to so closely resemble Labour that a change in government seems like a change in managers, a breath of fresh air". We must work together to counter such a deceitful tactic. As a party we must aim to relate each decision we make and each action we take to our collective principles and ideology. When discussing successes we must ensure that the public knows which particular aspect of our ideology drove us to take that particular action. Cameron may be able to agree with each of our policies but when it comes to ideology he will be forced to reveal the great fundamental differences between the two parties. This will therefore undermine his overall strategy and reveal the Tories as the tricksters they, to this day, remain.
Together, we must come to a consensus and clearly define our vision of future Britain. Not only will this display the unity within our party ranks, but will also champion the principles of both New Labour and democratic socialism. In the last decade we have proven that a New Labour government can uphold its founding principles within the context of a modern society, and a modern Britain. We as a party must ensure that the public know that it is those principles that have lead to successes that simply could not have been implemented under the constraints of a different party's ideology. We must ensure that come election time the public have a fair and clearly defined choice. Finally, we must ensure a vote not for a passing set of policies, but a vote for democratic socialism.
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