Might Miliband move Labour to the left?
James Forsyth 9:04pm
In media short-hand Miliband is a Blairite. But after talking to a bunch of folk over the last few weeks, I suspect that he might actually be a more left-wing PM than Brown. The theory goes that Miliband is not an uber-Blairitie, some of them express a certain disappointment in him—they brought him up and they expected great things from him but he has yet to deliver, and the political opportunities for Labour are on the left now.
If Brown were to shift slightly more to the left, the commentariat would scream that he had ‘lurched to the left’. However, if Miliband were to do so his labelling as a Blairite by the press would mitigate against this criticism. Indeed, the politically savvy thing to do for any incoming Labour leader would be to be more populist, to draw dividing lines that force the Tories into defending people who are politically difficult to defend. Indeed, the game-changing popularity of George Osborne’s inheritance tax proposal shows that there is a lot of political mileage in redistribution from the super-rich to the mildly-rich. So, it would be a sensible move for any incoming Labour leader to start their premiership by increasing income tax on salaries over £200,000 a year to 45p in the pound and to make great play of using the revenue generated to raise the amount at which the 40 percent threshold kicks in.
It would be remiss to write a post about Miliband’s political philosophy without citing Daniel Finkelstein’s typically brilliant article about it. Back in July 2007, Danny described how Miliband would be categorised under the three tests proposed by Matthew Taylor, a former head of Blair’s policy unit:
But as Danny went on to say:How intense and driven are? How tribal are you? What are your beliefs? Use this scheme and you get the perfect description of Mr Miliband. He is Blair-Blair-Brown.
“[Miliband] has spent his entire political life working for Tony Blair and Mr Blair has changed him profoundly. I remember being very struck back in 1994 in those early days with Mr Blair, watching as Mr Miliband took on the leader’s project as his own, his convictions gradually blending with his boss’s. But with Mr Blair’s departure his situation has changed utterly and he will change with it. He is bound to.”
Miliband is on journey and it is not yet certain where he will end up. If (and it is a very big if) he is elected leader, you have to suspect that it will be on the most electorally advantageous ground which is currently slightly to the left of where Labour is now.
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David C
July 30th, 2008 9:29pm Report this commentRight or Left doesn't weigh heavily at the moment. I think the Libertarian/Authoritarian balance is more important - and Labour believes in authoritarianism like an alcoholic believes in his next drink.
David Davies may yet be the Conservatives best weapon.
Nicholas
July 30th, 2008 9:43pm Report this commentAgree with David C. This speculation about lurches to the left by Milliband is akin to wondering whether Hitler was more totalitarian than Stalin. Both bad news for their countries. Labour, in any guise, cloaked form or stealth shapeshift = very bad news for Britain.
Apart from anything else Milliband comes over as something of a prat.
Trumpeter Lanfried
July 30th, 2008 9:52pm Report this commentI wonder if Miliband will continue the fight against crime? Announced today: Government is planning to give local authorities power to fine (£70) motorists who park more than 19.5 inches from the kerb. How's that for an exciting new vision of the future? A real vote-winner.
Pete, Scotland
July 30th, 2008 10:24pm Report this commentI think Miliband works hard to create the impression that he is he is what you want him to be.
I suppose in this respect he really is of the Blair mould in that he has the political commentators completely confused as to who he is and what he believes in.
To some he is left of centre, to others he is right of centre.
Does anybody know what his unbreakable principles are, for sure?
C Powell
July 30th, 2008 10:49pm Report this commentDavid C and Nicholas are right. Labour are authoritarian and illiberal. People have had enough of it. Tax rates - even high ones - can always be changed; but the loss of our liberties and privacy won't be reversed if we don't get rid of Labour. There are plenty of ex-Labour voters who won't give them the time of day unless they ditch this aspect but they can't and won't . If I were GB I would tell these fabled grey suits that any more of this nonsense and he'll call a GE: he may well save his seat but they won't. My guess is they'll be much more interested in keeping their snouts and front trotters too in the trough for a while longer.
Travis Bickle
July 30th, 2008 11:03pm Report this commentYou know, it's amazing how all of Labour's many "new" ideas involve additional opportunites to relieve us of yet more money from our wallets. No doubt they'll write the legislation in such a way as the 19.5 inches( mistake there surely they have to use centimetres as the evil empire is no doubt involved in some way) doesn't necessarily refer to the side nearest the kerb (or at least some jobsworth traffic warden somewhere is bound to interpret it thus).
TrevorH
July 30th, 2008 11:16pm Report this commentjust look at Millibands background - he's a marxist.
He is a silk shirt marxist - but a marxist.
it might be an interesting thought experiment but I would rather not have a marxist as PM for a reality.
Nicholas
July 30th, 2008 11:45pm Report this commentSad reflection on New Labour's criminal justice "system" that parking too far from the kerb is viewed as a crime rather than as a very minor road traffic offence. Presumably it will be an arrestable offence with DNA to be taken from the "criminals"?
KB
July 31st, 2008 12:17am Report this commentPeople who say Miliband is the new Blair are wrong. He's the new Straw.
Thortung
July 31st, 2008 8:31am Report this commentTravis,
19.5 inches is remarkably close to 50cm...
Marcus Cotswell
July 31st, 2008 10:06am Report this commentThe problem with increasing the tax rate on people earning over £200k is that it raises approximately nil revenue so you can't really do much to cut taxes lower down the scale. Still, I agreee that it might work politically, I suppose.
Frank Pulley
July 31st, 2008 11:03am Report this commentWill Miliband Move Labour to the Left?
With a bit of luck and a following wind Cameron will shortly move Labour to the left-overs bin. WGAS what Miliband tries to do? Papa Ralph's pedigree has already done for both him and his bug-eyed brother, surely? But lest anyone has missed the connection, let's keep reminding everyone of the political heritage of the Mildewbrand.
Trev H
You say, "I would rather not have a marxist as PM for a reality."
You already have one, no matter what camoflage he tries to cover it with. So let's Nepalm them at the next election, just to make sure!
Mike N
August 1st, 2008 11:04am Report this commentOh purleeze ... do we really require a 16 year old as PM? They guy needs to do some growing up first.
Kiffa
August 3rd, 2008 10:59am Report this commentMarxist from the cradle. You don't shift those delusions very easily, especially if reality has never intruded: such as, has Miliband ever had a proper job? A wealth-creating, risk/reward-linked activity that has not been funded by the tax payer?
If not, there you go.
Personally, I would like Labour to win the next election: so Britain finally gets, tamps down into the depths of its lizard brain, that The State Is NOT The Solution, that tax'nspend will never, ever work and that perhaps Mrs Thatcher needs listening to.
Kiffa
August 3rd, 2008 11:00am Report this commentAll right - the Thatcher hope is a bit of a step too far! (but she was right).
Derek Hawes
August 3rd, 2008 12:04pm Report this commentAll you need to know about Miliband is that he is a chip off the old block; a certain surface glitter and loquacity, but underneath a sterile emptiness. Just look at the eyes. Cold and empty.
We must undertstand that the old left/right model is no longer adequate to describe British politics; today it is about the centre versus the periphery and on that measure, neither Brown nor Miliband will do. Derek Hawes
Kiffa
August 4th, 2008 9:07am Report this commentCentre versus the periphery - could you elaborate a bit more, Derek?
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