Labour’s lessons

The unity and credibility tests

ONE STEP forward, two back. Yesterday’s campaign visit in Leeds encapsulated Labour’s fortunes under Jeremy Corbyn.

He, and colleagues, did highlight an important issue – the future funding of colleges and the importance of skills as Britain prepares to leave the EU – and further education has, in many respects, never been more important.

As such, it would be churlish – and disingenuous – not to acknowledge Mr Corbyn’s contribution at Leeds City College or the sincerity of his beliefs which are clearly well-held. Equally, it would be remiss not to point out the two fundamental drawbacks – funding and a lack of wider political support.

First, funding. Even though Labour says its education revolution will be paid for by significant – and progressive – increases in corporation tax, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies, said it would be one of the biggest tax hikes for 30 years and that companies would pass on their costs to consumers who would, in all likelihood, be one per cent worse off as a result. Fair? The electorate will decide on June 8.

Next the implementation. On another day when Mr Corbyn tried, manfully, to get on the front foot, there were reports that dozens of MPs could resign the Labour whip in Parliament, and sit as a “progressives” group, in an effort to force their leader to step down. If the party can’t form an Opposition, how can it be expected to govern in the national interest?

Past elections show that voters support the party which is the most united and the most economically credible – two lessons which today’s Labour Party has still to learn.