“Now is not the time to accommodate our demands to a non-existent centre ground; now is the time to boldly proclaim a socialist agenda.”
By Matt Willgress
As Campaign Briefing goes to press, there is growing opposition across society – and within Labour itself – to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves’ continued adherence to austerity policies.
All the evidence shows these choices are both causing great human suffering and are deeply unpopular. For example, when it came to disability benefit cuts, 59% of Labour members wanted Starmer to fully reverse the plans.
Yet it is clear that Labour’s leadership are ideologically committed to travelling further down the road of neo-liberalism – meaning misery for millions.
It is also clear that the crises we face – in terms of cost-of-living, the climate catastrophe and militarisation– are deepening, and can’t be resolved by tinkering around the edges.
In such a context, the Left needs to popularise a totally different approach – a socialist economic strategy based on taking on the corporate profiteers head-on, ending austerity for good.
5 building blocks for such an agenda could include:
- Expanding public ownership and control – to really take back control and plan a better future.
- Taxing wealth to help fund universal public services, welfare and social security – tackle poverty by making the rich pay.
- Investment not cuts – investment is the most important factor in growth, whilst cuts mean more stagnation.
- A green revolution for people and planet – a comprehensive plan to tackle climate change and social inequality by transforming the economy – backed up by hard cash not just well-meaning words!
- Welfare not warfare – a ‘Peace Dividend’ to see the £3 billion of additional nuclear military spending announced for 2025/2026 to be restored to the funding of social needs.
In each of these areas, socialist solutions to the crisis not only already have great public support, but have the potential to receive much more support, as the Government stumbles from one crisis to another.
In terms of public ownership, for example, polls show a sustained increase in support for nationalisation – 71% of people want energy in public ownership, alongside 75% on Royal Mail and 82% on water.
Even with regard to welfare not warfare, despite the incessant Establishment propaganda for more military spending, in answering a YouGov question of “Would you support or oppose making cuts to other areas of public spending in order to fund an increase in defence spending?” 53% either “strongly” or “somewhat” opposed the idea.
Now is not the time to accommodate our demands to a non-existent centre ground; now is the time to boldly proclaim a socialist agenda. As James Connolly famously said, “For our demands most moderate are, We only want the earth!”
- LIVERPOOL EVENT: We CAN tackle poverty & inequality. Sunday 28th September 12:30pm at The Racquet Club Hotel & Ziba Restaurant. Register here.
- This article is from CLPD’s annual briefing, which you can read here.
- Matt Willgress is the National Organiser of ‘Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas.’
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