View from Parliament

Katy Clark MP

The Glasgow East by election shows us yet again that we need a real change in direction if we are to reconnect with those who have traditionally put their faith in Labour. The lessons to be learnt are not only in Scotland - the similarly appalling results in Crewe, Henley and the local and Mayoral elections show that voters will vote for whichever Party they believe is best placed to give Labour a kicking. The message the voters are sending doesn’t just reflect unease about the economy. It is more fundamental, they no longer believe that we are on their side.

There is no doubt that the 10 pence tax issue is seen as a major breach of trust and that we are still suffering its effects. The sooner that sensible and workable proposals are brought forward and implemented which ensure that those on low incomes do not suffer as a result of the change, the sooner we will begin to recover electoral support.

Having fair and progressive taxation should be central to Labour’s economic programme and we need to make sure that the vehicle excise tax doesn't become the next 10p.

We do, however, need to do much more. The love affair with money and big business has got to end. We have to show again that we are the Party of the people. That will not be done by continuing to privatise the public sector, imposing wage freezes on those on low pay,  failing to legislate to protect rights at work and being seen to constantly looking to "middle England". 

We can no longer rely on the loyalty of what we call our "core vote" and won’t deserve that loyalty unless we show loyalty to them. A good start would be allowing and positively encouraging councils to start building much needed council houses again.
             
People are genuinely worried about what the future holds. Many of the problems the Government faces are genuinely international and not directly of their making. However after ten years of "no more boom or bust" the voters expect the Government to do everything it can to alleviate the pain they are feeling. At the moment they are not convinced we are. We don't just need to listen - we need to act.  We need drastic action on fuel prices. We have to do everything we can to meet our fuel poverty targets. It is clear that the current model of ownership of the electricity and gas sector is not working and the regulator is ineffective. The electorate is unimpressed when it sees the energy sector's soaring profits and the Labour Government doing nothing to represent consumers’ interests.

When Gordon Brown took office there was a genuine willingness from the British people to give him a chance. He promised change and change is what people were looking for after Iraq and "cash for honours". The last year however has been a year of missed opportunities. There has been a lack of new ideas from the top and a continuation of some of divisive and misguided policies from the past - such as 42 days detention.

When Chancellor, Gordon Brown said that "we are best when we are Labour" this gave hope to activists up and down the country who are saying that they want Gordon Brown to be what they always thought he was. Despite many of the policies which emanated from the Treasury they believed he would bring the type of social democratic policies which so many had joined Labour for.

It's time the leadership of this Party gave up on their love affair with the market which they learnt in those years of defeat in the 1980s. Labour's support has always come from a coalition of the working and middle classes, of those with progressive values and those who look to Labour to represent their economic interests. The right policies for a Labour Government will not only deliver for the traditional core vote but will also reach the ‘aspirational’ voters who came over to us in the 1990s who are, after all, as vulnerable to an economic down turn as traditional Labour voters. At this time when people are feeling the pinch, it should be an opportunity for bold and radical policies. The stakes are high but if we rise to the challenge those who are currently coming out to kick us will once again be willing to put their faith in us.