Letter from Mark Langabeer, Hastings and Rye Labour member
Following the summer recess, the Tories remain in crisis. The issue of crumbling concrete in schools and other public buildings is another symbol of their austerity. Hardly a day passes without criticism of the government.
Birmingham City Council have declared that they are bankrupt. The Tories claim Labour mismanagement, but as experts on local authority spending point out, they are not the first and won’t be the last to declare insolvency. Of all local government spending, 40% has been cut by Tory austerity measures.
Labour’s frontbench are right to highlight the current problems as a product of 13 years of Tory rule. However, they offer little in terms of an alternative. They think that they can manage the economy better than the traditional party of big business. As in the past, the strategy of the bosses is to discredit Labour and bring the Tories back in power at a later date. Given the scale of the crisis, Labour are likely to be elected despite the timid outlook of the leadership.
A general election is likely in May or October next year. Enormous expectations will be aroused by a Labour victory. Labour supporters will demand meaningful reforms . A powerful left-wing will develop if Labour ‘s leaders fail to improve the lives of the majority of workers. That is the lesson of history. It must be influenced by the ideas expressed in Left Horizons in order to ensure a fundamental shift in power and wealth for working class people.
