What Labour is for?

The outcome of the General Election for Labour inevitably means heart-searching and much talk. The question that all of this must beg is "What is Labour's purpose?" Right or wrong, the other parties could express their distinctive aims succinctly and in a way anybody could grasp: Small State, Low Tax; Leave EU; Independence; Anything it Takes. Labour used to be able to say with justice that it stood up for workers. It tried to say this again but with little conviction. Since the decline of organised labour, Labour has seen it fit to align itself with the bosses rather than the employees, rendering its roots history. Unless a clear purpose can be defined or a vision of UK's future depicted as an ambition, we are left with mere generalisations about social justice, aspiration etc, unsubstantiated by any detectable DNA.

Labour used to challenge capitalism. Whilst this may no longer win hearts and minds, turning capitalism to use for the greater good sounds like a starting point for clarifying a distinctive line, implying decent wages for those who work to create value, a more inclusive view of stakeholders, collective and democratic behaviour instead of the cult of the individual. Labour's next Leader will need courage enough to withstand the brickbats s/he will face for challenging the Establishment, but unless they do so, what are they for?

To be worth its salt, any organisation must be prepared to stand up for its beliefs. Any leader must be able to be articulate and passionate about these. Meekly accepting the role without taking on the powerful is to let down those who look to Labour as champion of those lacking influence of their own. Herein lies a proper purpose for the Labour Party. Right now, this role is only offered by the SNP or by non-Party pressure groups, to whom Labour has abrogated its former function. By all means work with others in a progressive alliance to achieve specific goals like EU membership, Human Rights, anti-austerity, environmental responsibility; but do so carrying the banner of champion for something or someone. Today it looks as if all the candidates want is votes, without the values, the passion or the charisma needed to merit them.

Why radical is best

There really is almost no point in Labour sticking to a me-too list of policies, hoping to win on grounds of managerial credibility or not being Tories. Even in the unlikely scenario of a victory in such circumstances, what would this do for the people of this country? More austerity, less public services, growing inequality leading to stress and misery for millions. Unless Labour is prepared to offer  real change, not just of masthead but of substance, it may as well save its campaign budget for a further 5 years.
This country is getting richer again, according to the Government. No. Some few people and corporations are getting richer as they cream off dividends and asset inflation into tax-minimising investments. The vast majority of voters and non-voters are left to pick over the slim pickings of lower wages or lower social security as they attempt to make a living, never mind a comfortable life for themselves and others. This is not about old-style class warfare but a need for the earnings of this country being shared more fairly among those who contribute to their generation in return for electoral support.
Without social change and a refocusing of politics onto the holistic needs of all citizens, UK will cease to be a democracy in more than name, as its governance increasingly ends in the hands of huge corporations unaccountable to the public. This trend can either be maintained under a Tory self-interest agenda; or reversed by a Labour-led evolution in favour of mutuality and concern for the well-being of all and accountable through retention or restoration of public services and social influence over infrastructure.
Labour has been drip-feeding encouraging policy ideas, no doubt to test public reaction. This will no doubt be assessed by huge representative committees. Such methodology can only regress to the mean. The Leader of the party has to take this agenda by the scruff of the neck, shake out the managerialists and tell the country where he will take us and how, as far away from the greed and power accretion of the current oligarchy as possible. Then Labour will be true to its values and present a true alternative which can hope to make the country a better place.