Keir Starmer's Pledges

I'm arguing that private schools should not be VAT-exempt, not that they should be abolished. They are businesses providing a service - the aim of which is to give an advantage to the children of those able to pay the fees. So I think they should pay VAT. I don't think that marks me down as embracing a "world class struggle"!

Effective recruitment and retention are a subject for the future if Labour is to make good on it's mission to have more teachers. I assume they will not continue with the present status quo regarding recruitment, but we will have to judge them by their actions in office - if they get there.

 

They're a protest party though, and not in any way equipped to be involved in a national government. I think we're stuck with the present two main parties for the next decade or two, depressing though our politics is.

 

No they're not. And dismiss them at your peril. Labour were a protest party once...People like me will go to them if theyre the only progressive party. I will not vote for a party that does not offer anything that challenges the inequalities/major issues in society. The greens are, potentially, my go to party now, and I say that as a socialist. How sad is that? A sociialist who is thinking of not voting Labour. And there will be many more like me. There will be many muslims angry about the 'dont send fuel and food to gaza' attitude - quite rightly. There will be many who simply dont see Labour as a party of social justice (two child benefit cap springs to mind). Where do these people go? Please dont tell me if if I dont vote Labour Im a Tory or am letting the Tories in. Im not voting Tory, wont vote Tory in future, wont vote reform, wont vote BNP. I am not letting the Tories in. I'll vote for a party that speaks social justice, kindness, respect and community. If thats Labour i'll vote Labour, if its Greens I'll vote Green. If its Lib Dem i'll vote Lib Dem. I will not vote for a party that does not stick up for working-class people but simply offers soundbites for same-old managed Thatcherism. Change is needed. If Labour promise change that makes sense I'll vote Labour. If Labour suggest nothing of import I'll vote for another party. Starmer has to be careful. He's attracting nasty Tories like Elphicke but alienating decent people like me.... Next election Im voting for the best progressive party I can vote for. Might not be labour

 

That is your inalienable right, sir!

 

UKIP were a protest party. Look what their agenda achieved in British political fabric.

 

Rest assured, there are millions who share your outlook.

 

Labour are the original protest party. Basically formed as the political arm of trade unions. Everything has a life cycle and I’d say the two main parties cling on. Both are unrecognisable from their origins. Tories flirting with populist right no longer ‘conservative’. Labour occupying a space just to the right of wet Tories like Cameron no longer representing working people. All things must pass.

it’s a mad world where Suella Braverman is to the left of Labour on social justice.

 

Well said. It’s time we all voted for who we actually want to vote for. Labour offering centre or centre left policies helps us on that journey

 

Versions of this quote keep popping up from time to time, and I really like it as a principle to follow.

It will mean different things to different people, at any point in time, particularly if they take an active interest in politics. I wish it could also be adopted by those who don't bother voting at all currently.

I'm never going to get the perfect choice, and I've never voted for anyone without disagreeing with some aspect or other of their politics. The best I can do with my vote is hope it helps steer things towards the direction of travel I want government to take.

 

I generally vote instrumentally. A political party will never 100% reflect a persons values so you go for the next best. So at the minute Tories/Reform 10% crossover with my views. Labour maybe 15% - pro austerity, anti union, pro hard Brexit, pro free ports, no action on child poverty (Suella is to the left of them). Lib Dems and SNP probably a 50% match. Plaid about 60%. Greens about 70%.

So Greens will have my vote and Labour are pretty much near the bottom of the options in your analogy. No progressive of any kind should vote for them. A hung parliament would be interesting with a Lab / Tory coalition being the most logical given policy similarities. Could they sell it probably not and Labour will probably scrape a majority but they are significantly to the right of centre left parties like the LibDems and SNP so don’t see much chance of any common ground there.