Time for a new left wing to take flight
THE recent election of Momentum’s founder, John Lansman, to Labour’s National Executive Committee underlines the continued swing of the party to the hard left. His election will give even greater support to Jeremy Corbyn whose position as the Leader of the Party is now unassailable.
However, many socialists countrywide, let alone MPs, do not wish to see their party pursue policies such as nationalisation, penal taxation and a host of other initiatives which could collectively by described as left wing. The problem is that nobody at the centre of the Parliamentary Labour Party seems to have the urge to forcefully state their views, such is Momentum’s grip. Self-preservation seems to be more important than principles.
It is even being suggested that all Labour candidates for the next General Election will have to sign up to Momentum principles to get Central Office approval.
The current situation is in fact ideal for a thrusting movement to take over the centre ground, for the Liberal Democrats are just not cutting much ice with the electorate at the moment. The farther Momentum takes Labour to the left, the greater the opportunity for somebody to step forward with left-ofcentre policies which will attract a consensus of the majority of Labour voters, and which would form a real challenge to a Tory government which currently is not doing very well.
As regular Parliamentary Channel watcher, I see many Labour MPs who could well attract a lot of support by developing more moderate policies but who sadly do not seem to have that pressing conviction to stand up to Mr Corbyn and push for such aims.
History reveals that extremists are not good news for a nation’s welfare, and that our country has fared far better under administrations either just left or just right of centre.
Time therefore for a Labour politician to grip this ground, for I am sure that there will be a lot of grass root support.
It is just a question of nerve. Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm
AE Harris