|
17 July 2006 |
Labour Party Leadership |
|
The Scottish Campaign for Socialism (CfS) supports the call of those who wish to see the future leadership of the Labour Party to be a democratically contested election rather than the handing over of power to any individual. To this end, CfS welcomes the announcement from John McDonnell MP that he will stand for the leadership of the Labour Party when Tony Blair stands down. The leadership of the Labour Party is the crowning gift of its members, not something to be casually handed over from one individual to another. The way ahead is by open and honest debate between Party members, and not by deals and trade-offs at Westminster. That is the only way to achieve a Party at ease with itself. While not endorsing any particular individual at this moment, CfS will support the socialist candidate in a future election who articulates most clearly and positively the need to move on from the tired Blairite agenda that is currently operating to the detriment of the country. Members of the Labour Party need to decide if the way forward is to continue with the present policies of privatisation, nuclear weaponry and free market economics, or if what is required is a return to the core Labour values of high quality public services, full employment and a commitment to looking after the most vulnerable in our society. The Scottish Campaign for Socialism urges all those ex-Labour Party members who have left the Party over the last ten years, whether it is due to Tony Blair's support of the war in Iraq, Gordon Brown's support for privatisation, or to join other parties who have been found to have feet of clay, to rejoin the Party now. In order to have a say in the election of the next Labour leader and have an influence in the way forward you must be a party member for twelve months, so rejoin today. There is at least three years to the next general election and the Labour Party has the opportunity to regain the trust of the Scottish people, the time to start is now.
For further information, please contact |
|