Labour and the hard left

From: Coun Nick Allen (Conservative), Bessacarr Ward, Doncaster Council.

LIKE nearly all politicallyminded people, I am following the Labour leadership election with keen interest. I was pleased when I read The Yorkshire Post’s recent coverage of Andy Burnham’s warning about the impact which infiltrators could have on the outcome.

That intervention demonstrated why pre-empting an election result is never good for politics. It is interesting that Mr Burnham did not address the much wider implications that entryism could have on the future direction of the UK. His warning was issued because he has not been as successful as Jeremy Corbyn at packing the Labour Party with supporters. The imputation is that Mr Burnham is frightened that he will not be elected.

Although I am a Conservative councillor, and part of me wants to jump with joy because this crisis could lead to the long term decline of Labour, I am still a democrat and I value parliamentary democracy.

I recognise that Labour are at risk of reneging on a responsibility to act as the main party of opposition. There are constitutional issues present within this election and the outcome of this “debate” is going to have consequences for us all regardless of which party you support.

A number of residents in my ward, people from all parties and none, have spoken to me about this. They all agree that this election could damage both Labour and the UK’s democratic institutions. There is a real fear within the community which I represent because left wing extremism could be imposed on the Labour Party (and on the UK) through the back door.