Miliband's Big Society
Peter Hoskin 2:22pm
Paul Waugh has already noted David Miliband and Tessa Jowell's proposal to turn the BBC into a co-op. But the
language they use to outline the idea is striking in itself. Here's an excerpt:
Read it from a distance, and Miliband's "moment for mutualism" looks an awful lot like the coalition's Big Society. The main rhetorical difference is an emphasis on communities rather than individuals, on membership rather than freedom, but the broad contours are very similar. I mean, even the Tories have been talking about co-operatives in the health service."In confronting the big challenges ahead of us, whether it's rebuilding our economy, tackling climate change or protecting frontline public services – the need for collective action is greater than ever. This is a moment for mutualism, which offers us the opportunity to take collective action in step with individual aspiration, drawing on the values and practices of the cooperative movement and today's Coop party.Underpinned by principles of trust, reciprocity and common ownership – co-operative and mutual organisations exist solely to provide a service for their members, placing long-term social returns ahead of short-term private gain.
As democratic organisations they are accountable to all those with a stake in their success – giving users, employees and the wider community a real say in how they are run. At their best, they combine the virtues of the private and public sector – efficiency and values, delivering power into the hands of the many and not the few."
This isn't the first time that Labour has played this record. James Purnell and Jon Cruddas developed this kind of thinking in 2009. And Jowell was preaching about a "moment for mutualism" just before the election waltzed in. But this is it's most prominent appearance since then – and it lends the elder Miliband's leadership campaign a little more solidity.
Previous
Tarka the Rotter
August 5th, 2010 3:02pm Report this commentDon't tell me he wants one as well! Some kids are never satisfied...
Yam Yam
August 5th, 2010 3:09pm Report this comment"Underpinned by principles of trust, reciprocity and common ownership".
In other words, good, old-fashioned socialism: what's yours is mine, and what's mine is my own (with expenses).
Liberty
August 5th, 2010 3:23pm Report this commentBut they can't do it. For Labour people private money is out because the rich would be in control but taxpayers money has to be unaccountable so require bureaucrats overseeing with targets on inclusiveness, etc. and we would be back to square one. They can't get over statism because to do so would make them Tories.
Mycroft
August 5th, 2010 3:32pm Report this commentSounds like hot air to me, accompanied by the irritating suggestion that private enterprise aims only at 'short term private gain'.
Hugh Janus
August 5th, 2010 3:44pm Report this commentYet another bucketful of meaningless tripe from one of the Geek Brothers. I'm surprised you bother to comment upon it.
When will this NuLiebour toff learn to speak clearly and plainly?
Jean Monnet
August 5th, 2010 4:07pm Report this commentHe lost me at "climate change".
Marcher Baron
August 5th, 2010 4:15pm Report this comment"...whether it's rebuilding our economy, tackling climate change or protecting frontline public services" And no mention of the fact that the reason we need to do these things is down to Labour's trashing the economy, encouraging over-population with their incentives to breed and mass immigration, and running out of our, the taxpayer's hard-earned cash?
Senor Frizby
August 5th, 2010 4:20pm Report this commentMilliband desperately trying to get out the unpopular State-Takes-All trap and yet still sound like a grassroots socialist. His brain will be buzzing about on trying to find a solution to this identity crisis for Labour. No doubt Mandy is throwing his deep philosophical back-of-a-matchbox assessment of the electorates needs and desires to help his man!
ollie
August 5th, 2010 4:20pm Report this commentnicely put, Liberty. I treat 100% of everythig Miliband says with scepticism.
The Labour party cannot exist without the premise that the state comes first - always.
I don't think they realise it yet - but Cameron is sucking the life out of the Labour party. He is trapping them, and before long, they will be an utter irrelevance - if they aren't already.
In2minds
August 5th, 2010 4:22pm Report this commentThe order of things in the Miliband speech is important. He says "rebuilding our economy, tackling climate change". Only a dreamer would think like that, and that way around. For if you 'tackle', that is spend vast sums of other peoples money that way, then you trash the economy. So don't vote for this man!
Not the sort of stupid thing Cameron would do is it?
Man With a Very Hot Bladder
August 5th, 2010 4:46pm Report this commentWho wrote that? Alinsky?
Collectivist claptrap.
TomTom
August 5th, 2010 4:53pm Report this comment"by principles of trust, reciprocity and common ownership "
You mean like local government, the NHS, and other fine examples of trustworthy and considerate employers and service providers ?
Tell us Miliband about the Duty of Care towards Dr David Kelly. Tell us about your resignations over the treatment of British soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Tell us about the "common ownership" and "trust" in the EU.......or even if you will ever manage to instill that in the Labour Party, a seething cauldron of resentment and treachery.
CYNICISM best describes the public mood towards Avatars like yourself Miliband
Alan Douglas
August 5th, 2010 4:55pm Report this comment"and it lends the elder Miliband's leadership campaign a little more solidity. "
I think you mean "stodge" - that is certainly what this reads like !
Alan Douglas
Ricky
August 5th, 2010 5:09pm Report this commentTurn the BBC into a Co-oP. What perfectly symmetry!
An extremist left wing agitprop organisation in love with Hamas, Hezbollah, the IRA and Obamastan - opening up cornershops to sell Socialist Worker, the Guardian and Osama Times alongside tins of baked beans and groceries! Obviously with the BBC's track record there will be no kosher food on sale.
Looks like the Dedward brothers are the real divvies.
HFC
August 5th, 2010 5:11pm Report this commentSeems to have come from Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto. Well, what a surprise. I wonder what Brother Ed will come up with in a bid to out-Marx him.
Chris lancashire
August 5th, 2010 5:31pm Report this commentThe sort of absolute tripe and gobbledook we have come to expect from both Millibands. These two dorks will never connect with the man in the street.
Woodbine
August 5th, 2010 5:47pm Report this commentCan we look forwards to motivational propaganda celebrating the achievements of the Beeb?
"Every episode of 'Flog It' is like a hammer blow to the heartless champions of private enterprise".
Andrew SW18
August 5th, 2010 6:03pm Report this commentBritish Broadcasting Co-operative? Bring it on!
Then watch Hampstead squirm as the Great British Public cheerfully agree to de-mutualise it, and sell it to Murdoch, pocketing the loot with scarcely a look back.
Frank P
August 5th, 2010 10:23pm Report this commentThe apple doesn't fall far from the tree, particularly when the tree is now transplanted in Highgate Cemetery, next that other transplanted tree, Karl Marx. It's All All In The Family - comrade!
With a bit of luck Dannat has abandoned the Brokeback Mountain love-in to gird his loins and lead the coup d'etat that must surely come ere long. My pitchfork is polished and ready.
Dimoto
August 6th, 2010 1:31am Report this comment"a little more solidity" eh ? Cough, eyes raised to heaven.
You have to laugh, do these clowns have any ideas of their own, at all ?
maddy1
August 6th, 2010 5:07am Report this commentHe has been watching too much Sex and the City, Big donated his kidney and got it rejected!
Chairman of Selectors
August 6th, 2010 5:52am Report this comment"Tackling climate change". Christ almighty. It's the way this maddening BBC/socialist mantra of "climate change" has now buried itself into our lexicon which is so infuriating. Gone is any attempt at questionning, as the BBC relentlessly perpetuates the myth and moron politicians, voted in , natch, by the empty headed electorate, blindly spout the same line. It is now just an accepted term, and one which apparently we all have to do something about. Truly terrifying.
PayDirt
August 6th, 2010 9:01am Report this commentIt's becoming more and more obvious that politico's, including those types who wish for a European state, are using "climate change" as an excuse to beat the citizenry with punitive taxes and lord knows what else. Whatever happened to good old pollution? We can all see pollution where it happens and agree that something must be done, but to extrapolate global pollution to future environmental catastrophe is a dangerous step towards tyranny. By making a religion out of "climate change", the high priests claim to know the future and we should all be aware of where such paths can lead.... a dramatic loss of freedom, with the pro's ending up fighting the con's. We have been here before, many times. The truth is that nobody knows how the climate will change, just as nobody knows when the aliens will land and destroy all before them.
Ricky
August 6th, 2010 9:06am Report this commentChairman of Selectors - are you aware that much of the BBC Pension scheme is invested in climate change based/ethical industries......interesting. Hence the BBC policy on AGW climate change....
The failure of these infantilist industries has led to a downgrading of pension payout levels to BBC staffers. Plastic wind turbines all round!
Ricky
August 6th, 2010 9:20am Report this commentPayDirt
It is not insignificant to note that the AGW climate change agenda took off soon after the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the intellectual and moral collapse of communism.
Most climate change fundamentalists are like watermelons: green on the outside, red on the inside. As the evidence shows most of the AGW "experts" are arts based academics and most "deniers" are scientists/rationalists. The earth is actually cooling but that doesn't stop the Stalinist control freaks from wanting more rules, laws and authoritarian bullying.
Like most Lefties, dogmatic ideology is preferred over people and emotionalism triumphs over reason.
GeoffM
August 6th, 2010 10:53am Report this commentSince when were "multualism" and "collectives" in the British tradition?
They do NOT follow the same shape - its just Marxism with a new vocabulary. Marxists always hide their ideology in new words so as to trick the population.
Don't fall for it.
Do any of YOU want to live in a collective? Or a hive?
Tim Carpenter LPUK
August 6th, 2010 10:20pm Report this commentI have no problems with mutuals and coops, as long as they so not operate a State mandated unnatural monopoly.
I doubt this is what the Milibands have in mind. When Marxists talk of "collective", it is a one stop, no further, end of the line and no return or opt-out shop. Of course one adds in the NEF-style "year zero" purging of all the apparatus that would otherwise "interfere" with it, like competition or choice.
daniel maris
August 6th, 2010 10:40pm Report this commentGeoff M.
The Rochdale Co-operative was formed back in 1848. Read Disraeli's book Sybil if you want a picture of the revolutionary, class-based feeling around at the time.
Collectives have been part of British history, going back to strip farming and the Saxon moot.
So has individualism...as always we are looking for a productive balance.
Tim Carpenter LPUK
August 7th, 2010 8:04am Report this comment@Daniel - "looking for a productive balance"? You don't need to look very far, just ensure no cercion or monopoly. Sorted.
maddy1
August 9th, 2010 4:15am Report this commentPayDirt
August 6th, 2010 9:01am
Report this comment
Paydirt you do not think much of my idea of using our employed masses to build a pyramid seven times the size of Giza to deflect the evil emissions then? What about reuniting the the jade skulls of the aztecs in the sociology department of East Anglia then?
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