I'm writing a piece touching on this for next week, and I agree with the points you make. For me, it comes down to a few things.
First, there was a 'concept' of vision and strategy going into the GE, but it was not fully worked up, especially at the vision level. I was a Campaign Manager for one of the newly elected MPs and I didn't know how the country was going to be better under Labour i.e. I couldn't paint a picture in my own mind about what sort of country this would be.
Second, after the riots was the ideal opportunity to talk about how we are so much better than this, and paint of picture of Britain under Labour. It's not as if this isn't being modelled at every opportunity by the Harris team.
Third, the focus seems to be power for power's sake. For what? Linking to #1, if you don't have a vision and goals, what do you want power for?
Fourth, Labour's obsession with party management is at the root of this. There's little space for vision and a hopeful vision to flourish when the Party is tightly focused on controlling its own ranks. The clunky way the country is being run is the clunky way the Labour Party has been run. Previous behaviour predicts future behaviour. I'm a social democrat and find myself agreeing with John McDonnell. (Today's Guardian). Not where I expected to be!
I never thought I would be having to be worrying so soon into a Labour government about all those pensioners, just above the Pension Credit limit who will be terrified to put on their heating. Those living in the north or Scotland where winter comes early and leaves late, those who are not just pensioners but disabled. Being disabled is very expensive. I did not vote Labour for this and never thought I would be so disappointed so quickly.
It just feels like burning a lot of political capital for very little fiscal gain.
They might have well have abandoned their pledges and raised income tax. They'd have got the same blowback but at least it would actually have given them some money to spend on the public services that so desperately need it.
I think we all know exactly where Alastair Campbell is, now, and he has vastly more listeners than you have readers, so that was a rather silly comment.
I'm writing a piece touching on this for next week, and I agree with the points you make. For me, it comes down to a few things.
First, there was a 'concept' of vision and strategy going into the GE, but it was not fully worked up, especially at the vision level. I was a Campaign Manager for one of the newly elected MPs and I didn't know how the country was going to be better under Labour i.e. I couldn't paint a picture in my own mind about what sort of country this would be.
Second, after the riots was the ideal opportunity to talk about how we are so much better than this, and paint of picture of Britain under Labour. It's not as if this isn't being modelled at every opportunity by the Harris team.
Third, the focus seems to be power for power's sake. For what? Linking to #1, if you don't have a vision and goals, what do you want power for?
Fourth, Labour's obsession with party management is at the root of this. There's little space for vision and a hopeful vision to flourish when the Party is tightly focused on controlling its own ranks. The clunky way the country is being run is the clunky way the Labour Party has been run. Previous behaviour predicts future behaviour. I'm a social democrat and find myself agreeing with John McDonnell. (Today's Guardian). Not where I expected to be!
A bit irritated!
I never thought I would be having to be worrying so soon into a Labour government about all those pensioners, just above the Pension Credit limit who will be terrified to put on their heating. Those living in the north or Scotland where winter comes early and leaves late, those who are not just pensioners but disabled. Being disabled is very expensive. I did not vote Labour for this and never thought I would be so disappointed so quickly.
It just feels like burning a lot of political capital for very little fiscal gain.
They might have well have abandoned their pledges and raised income tax. They'd have got the same blowback but at least it would actually have given them some money to spend on the public services that so desperately need it.
I think we all know exactly where Alastair Campbell is, now, and he has vastly more listeners than you have readers, so that was a rather silly comment.
Or, you know, a joke...