What's Labour's alternative to the Big Society?
Piotr Brzezinski 2:44pm
After a difficult few weeks for the Big Society, culminating in Liverpool’s
nakedly political ‘withdrawal’ from the vanguard projects, Peter Oborne has already drafted an obituary for the Conservative's policy agenda.
As Oborne says, the Big Society goes to the heart of this government’s reason for existence, and its (real or perceived) failure would damage the Conservatives. But it's notable Labour has
yet to come up with an alternative to the Big Society, or even a substantive critique of the idea.
The problem for Miliband is that the Big Society agenda captures the centre ground of social policy – neither pro nor anti-state – and risks sidelining his party. He recognises this threat, but Ed and his ‘blue Labour’ guru Maurice Glasman have struggled to carve out a distinct, non-economic vision for the Labour Party. Miliband's platitudes about mutualism have no traction; there’s no money, so he can’t advocate more state ‘investment’; and any genuinely innovative ideas can be co-opted by the government.
On pocketbook issues, Labour has a clear (if disingenuous) offer to the public: fewer spending cuts, more redistribution and more banker bashing. On the broader policy agenda, however, Labour lacks both new ideas and distinct messages. Insofar as it exists, the 'good society' appears indistinguishable from the Big Society.
Take Miliband’s recent Fabian Society speech, where he attacked top-down government “managerialism”, argued for an “empowering” rather than “intrusive” state, and talked about strengthening local, non-state institutions and communities. But for the venue, it could have been a description of the Big Society.
In effect, Miliband has been boxed in ideologically. To the right of the Big Society approach is a robustly laissez-faire view of the state-society relationship – one that sees no problem with ‘clone town’ Britain, for example – but Ed won’t seize this policy space. To the left of the Big Society, there is a potential policy agenda based on a more active, direct role for the state. This, however, could easily be portrayed as an unappealing mix of centralisation, targets and statism.
Defending the traditional, top-down government won’t win Miliband votes in 2015, but he needs to draw a meaningful contrast between the Big Society and his alternative. It will take more than
attacks on the Conservatives' sincerity ('fig leaf for cuts', etc) to escape this box.
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Matt Lock
February 7th, 2011 2:54pm Report this commentLabour's need to answer this question is as about as pressing as their to tell us what their alternative to unicorn-powered raindbow factories is.
ollie
February 7th, 2011 2:59pm Report this commentThe Labour party simply exists for no other purpose than to enlarge the State. What else are they for? The individual? Of course not. Aspiration, ambition, raising standards? Don't be silly.
Economic sanity? Lmao.
The people of this country have to open their eyes to the profound threat Labour pose to this country.
toco
February 7th, 2011 3:08pm Report this commentRed Ed cannot even decide whether to get married or remain a bachelor never mind attempting to make a decision on matters of national importance.His trades union paymasters are setting the Labour agenda and will continue to do so for as long as he remains Labour's titular head and their placement.Excellent news for the coalition in looking forward to a less embittered society through honest effort.
Rantonuk
February 7th, 2011 3:11pm Report this commentWhat's Labour's alternative to the Big Society?
Who wants to know what they think?
They have ruined this country and are an irrelevance to society in this day and age. They were formed out of the labour movement for workers rights. We have no workers anymore, they are in the far east. Why don't the Labour party go there? I am sure they are needed.
Why not ask the same question of the other political parties in this country, like UKIP and the British National Party?
Why do the media ignore these other parties who have some solid idea's for turning this country around?
TrevorsDen
February 7th, 2011 3:16pm Report this commentIf Oborne's brains were dynamite they would not blow his cap off.
the 'big society is a nice idea and it wouild be good if loacalism could take more back fdrom the centre and do more for itself.
but if it does not succeed or is only partially successful then life will go on.
But anyway its not a snap your and make it happen initiative. we the public are the people who would make it happen and who might benefit.
luke
February 7th, 2011 3:33pm Report this commentAre you seriously claiming that Cameron's view of the big society is not anti the state?
Im afraid you havent been listening to him. That is exactly what it is, for good and ill
Thoughtmantle
February 7th, 2011 3:44pm Report this commentAt its essence the so-called "Big Society" is an attempt to restore local control to matters that are of local interest. This is not what Labour is about or ever has been about, so why would they look for an alternative?
Centralization, followed by overweening centralization has been at the core of government policy for at least two generations. Why should we suppose that this can be unpicked overnight?
Westminster journalists and impatient politicians should calm down, keep the main principle in the forefront of their brains and patiently implement the necessary changes.
dorothy wilson
February 7th, 2011 3:52pm Report this comment"On pocketbook issues, Labour has a clear (if disingenuous) offer to the public: fewer spending cuts, more redistribution and more banker bashing"
And - as sure as night follows day - Labour's offer is also more debt.
Simon Stephenson
February 7th, 2011 4:02pm Report this comment"To the left of the Big Society, there is a potential policy agenda based on a more active, direct role for the state. This, however, could easily be portrayed as an unappealing mix of centralisation, targets and statism."
Yes, unappealing to the general public, but the very heart and soul of what the Labour Party is all about. To me, what is indefensible about Labour politics is that they should seek to make themselves electable by misrepresenting what they actually stand for. If they tried the same thing in the commercial world they'd all be locked up for fraud.
Fatbloke on tour
February 7th, 2011 4:17pm Report this commentPB
Your report card is marked "must do better".
Your article offers nothing in the way of detailed analysis, it is just 7 paragraphs of wishful thinking.
You forget the big issue involved in all this, Dave the Rave is pushing this as alternative to proper state funded services.
It is financial expediency being sold as a political platform. Unfortunately the public are not stupid and can see through the plan, back to 1905: the dole, the Parish and charity.
Any shift to mutualism, direct public involvement and growth in the third sector needs a well financed state to do the basics as we now expect them to be done and provide the foundations for the new social, inclusive, self help structures that will take the collective provision of public services to a new level.
That is the aim should be better and not a hotch potch of sticking plasters aimed at preserving a civil society as the Tory led coalition dog boilers slash and burn their way through the TB / GB social consensus.
michael
February 7th, 2011 4:21pm Report this commentBig soc' is loved by the cuddly left. You can see them all cooing about it on QT. I'm sure it's accidental' but if DC doesn't put a big foot in it, it could yet prove of political benefit to him.
michael
February 7th, 2011 4:47pm Report this commentrEd labour remain ideologically clueless, and Balls enriched, are undoubtedly fecklessly ruinous.
Nicholas
February 7th, 2011 4:53pm Report this commentLabour's answer to the Big Society? Why, Big Brother of course. However they might seek to dress it up and however they cloak their ship of fools, "old" Labour, New Labour and now "new generation" Labour (pass the sick bag) always fall back on authoritarian control as the means to the end and the end to the means. Whether it is shouting people down on Question Time, lying, conniving, misrepresenting, distorting or any of the other, umpteen methods of dishonesty employed by the ghastly crew of uber propagandists and worthy of their Bolshevik predecessors and inspirers.
The most startling question is not what they are going to do but why, time and time again, the British fall for the same old nonsense.
Simon Stephenson
February 7th, 2011 4:59pm Report this commentFatbloke on Tour : 4.17pm
"Any shift to mutualism, direct public involvement and growth in the third sector needs a well financed state to do the basics as we now expect them to be done and provide the foundations for the new social, inclusive, self help structures that will take the collective provision of public services to a new level."
More tax, do you mean? Or more borrowing in the short-term, followed either by inflationary default and/or more tax later on?
Don't you think we should be warned of the possible consequences, or is it your intention to present this to the nation as a fait accompli?
Fergus Pickering
February 7th, 2011 6:07pm Report this commentFat fellow, you should really stick to mindless abuse. When you attempt to enunciate a policy you talk like a footballer, about taking things to a new level. What does that MEAN, my old son? A new level of what. Come to that I don't understand the other stuff either except that you want the Government to spend more money which they well borrow from the fairies. Nope, stick to the abuse you smelly old tub of lard, you.
TGF UKIP
February 7th, 2011 6:26pm Report this commentBut why do Labour and the Swivel Eyed need to do anything about The Big Society other than to keep implanting in the voters' minds "fig leaf for cuts".
The whole Big Society idea was cooked up by my good mate the Labour Mole, to reinforce the public's view of The Heir to Blair as nowt more than a PR man full of daft ideas with fancy names like, well just like The Big Society.
All Labour needs do is what Steve wants them to do - keep directing well deserved derision.
Big Ali C
February 7th, 2011 6:36pm Report this commentAs we see it here in the 'burbs, BIG Society is actually small society working well, so pick up your own litter, help your neighbours, volunteer, stop rude kits abusing little kids, work to stop travellers littering old fridges in the road, work together. But after 13 years of liebore 'rights' and the nanny state many folk have forgotten what to do (i.e. how to live). This is a problem.
I don't think the public sector is the answer. Basically wake up everybody, and do something altruistic. It feels good actually that is what is going to sell it.
Those of us with consciences must try to get the rest off their arses.
Scotty
February 7th, 2011 6:43pm Report this commentOur ed musthave a clever plan somewhere- I think it's to keep as quiet as a mouse beyond saying no to any change and hope that he will be thought to be acting with wisdom, rather be forthcoming and prove he is a ditherer and dodger and a no policy nerd, obviously this is in the hope he can come in on the blind side and sneak the election. The moment he talks of his left whinge wishes to the public they will run scared from his big state spend spend spend and give away to the voting benefit schemes and run to the big society. We all know we are best qualified to know where to spend our money not the state.
Yow Min Lye
February 7th, 2011 7:53pm Report this commentLabour's alternative to the Big Society is the same as it ever was: Big Money (preferably stumped up by the taxpayer).
Baron
February 7th, 2011 8:09pm Report this commentFergus P @ 6.07:
good stuff, it cheered me up. It really is a waste of time to talk to people like the fatty one, their delusion runs deep, it’s incurable.
Scott
February 7th, 2011 10:29pm Report this commentLabours' idea of a big society is one where the political elite rules over the little people, and Government interferes in all aspects of our lives. Rather like Commumist China really!!! Trust me, if they could have it that way they would. Remember that current Labour leaders father was Marxist!
Verity
February 7th, 2011 10:39pm Report this commentAs "the Big Society" is a Cameron's big, fat, communist, apparachik-laden, Common Purpose construct, the only sane alternative is to dump it. (Dumping Dave at the same time may be helpful.)
Sir Everard Digby
February 8th, 2011 7:23am Report this commentFatbloke,
Are you serious? If the idea is to handover local decisions to local people,the need for a 'well financed' state -whatever that means, decreases. The last 13 years have proven conclusively that the 'well'financed state spends a significant proportion of that finance avoiding democracy at any level whilst interfering in the minutae of every day life. Bring on the day when the stste no longer has the right to inspect my leylandii,pot plants or dustbin contents.
Dave is clearly not the only one raving.
Chris lancashire
February 8th, 2011 9:12am Report this commentEasy answer to your headline, it's the Big State.
Fergus Pickering
February 8th, 2011 10:32am Report this commentCripes, Dave's a communist. Thanks, Verity. I might have missed that.
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