If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Read the community guidelines before posting ✨
Options
Is there no major party of the left anymore?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
With 'New' Labour and the Conservatives being the two main political parties, with some cross party consensus and some of New Labour’s really Un traditional Labour like policies, for example Foundation Hospitals and Tuition Fees, could it be argued that there is no longer a major political party on the left of the political spectrum?
To an extent, I believe this to be true due to ‘New’ Labour’s abandonment of traditional party views; however it could be argued that the Liberal Democrats are now the party of the left? Some of their policies are further left than those of New Labour, for example the Liberal Democrats want a 50% tax on the highest income bracket. Furthermore, the with the recent success of the party in By-elections in previously safe Labour seats, it could be possible to argue that left wing voters are abandoning Labour in favour of the Liberal Democrats. However, it is debatable to weather the Liberal Democrats can really be classed as a ‘major’ party, we will have to see what happens at the next general election for that.
So those are my views on the matter, do you think that there Is a major party for the left or not?
To an extent, I believe this to be true due to ‘New’ Labour’s abandonment of traditional party views; however it could be argued that the Liberal Democrats are now the party of the left? Some of their policies are further left than those of New Labour, for example the Liberal Democrats want a 50% tax on the highest income bracket. Furthermore, the with the recent success of the party in By-elections in previously safe Labour seats, it could be possible to argue that left wing voters are abandoning Labour in favour of the Liberal Democrats. However, it is debatable to weather the Liberal Democrats can really be classed as a ‘major’ party, we will have to see what happens at the next general election for that.
So those are my views on the matter, do you think that there Is a major party for the left or not?
0
Comments
Traditionally they have been seen as the centre party, though this seems to be be increasingly out dated.
Lib-dems are supposed to be centre babe. Labour on the left, Tories on the Right, Lib-dems in the middle. When Labour moved toward the centre (and overshot) it confused things.
That's not to say they're a left wing party though.
There are several left wing parties in Britain- they're simply very small in numbers.
People are not going to go out and vote for the likes of The Socialist Workers part or anything though. Though in Scotland the Scottish Socialist Party has 6 MEP's due to the top up system.
then there doesn't seem to be a large party of the left wing.
I'd personally would do the former- but then again I'd be counting on others to do the tactical voting and stop the Tories from getting in.
Liberalism and the left wing (ie. socialism) are entirely different things. And for your information, the both the Conservatives and New Labour are quite heavily influenced by the impact of liberalism, that is the ideology.
How is that relevant? The Lib-dems aren't left wing, that doesn't mean that no-one is interested in them.
Roo: you should pay more attention. What would your mum say?
At any rate, where roo and I are it's stuff competition between Conservative and Lib-dem, I remember when someone from Labour came into our school to talk to us (so long ago) he was nearly torn limb from limb, and all because he was too lazy to do some background.
But at the end of the day, people don't see the Lib Dems as ever having a realistic chance of winning, so many feel like using their vote tactically elsewhere.
Do you have a point to make? Or are you just making silly noises?
At least we have a third party, you think voting for the Lib Dems is bad here, try voting for a third party in the US. That bastard Nada lost Gore the election.
That's fabulous, but there are threads in the student forum for that.
Do you have a response to the posting on how the Lib-dems do attract some interest?
US? Third party? I didn't think they knew how to count past two. Like boobs, one boob, two boobs, why do they need bigger numbers?
You are however correct, it's not a great system when instead of a party you like, it's the one you dislike the least.
Nothing to do with this thread is it.
He won't, he uses every mention of Liberal Democrat to launch an attack on them. Im unsure how someone can hate them more than any other party :eek2:
Yes you did, right here
and it goes without saying they don't attract, on a country-wide scale, as much attention as tory or labour, or they'd be in power or the official opposition wouldn't they. Come on, say something sensible for a change.
The Democrates are known for being pro-abortion, so they've already lost a huge slice of the church going vote. Christians dont make up a massive slice of the public there but they go out and vote.
Surely pro-choice? Not that most bible-belt christians know or care what the difference is.
You've got to realise that abortion is a huge issue over there, FAR far bigger than here.
Many many normal people will never vote for the Democrats purely on that one issue. And they are far from all being bibble-bashing wierdo's.
It is a huge issue over there. Probably because of the insistance that they are a Christian country founded on family values. Whereas here we're a bit of a mixed bunch.
Even if they start wars left right and centre.
They piss of homosexuals and pro-choicers though don't they?
This is mainly because the British people were offered a truly left wing alternative (Labour 1983 - Longest Suicide Note) and they rejected it hook, line and sinker.
The British people do not want a socialist society, they never have. They dont want a revolution or workers control or complete nationalisation.
Hence Thatcherism, and now the Social Market COnsensus.
(Which, in my view, will break down soon as the rising costs of health care place a huge tax burden on workers who have to pay for the elderlys pnsions. This means Health Service privitisation and lower taxes for all.)
As far the political pulse of this country is concerned, it lies between the two. And whereas Britain might be conservative in some areas, it certainly ain't in others. Believe it or not the majority of people are happy to pay taxes to fund public services, and happy to have a public health and education system (and certainly transport when it was in public hands). Screw private health insurance.
The alleged outrage at the taxes we pay is largely made up by the Daily Mails and Telegraphs of this world.
There is no such thing as "Middle England being taxed to death by the government".
There is no such thing as 'Middle England' as it happens.
Luckily very few people in this country believe in the absurd "as low taxes as possible, and every man for himself" notion. Otherwise we'd end up like those countries where dying people are dumped outside hospitals because they have no health insurance.
I think most people would be okay with higher taxes for the very rich. Anyone who earns 100K per year or more can certainly afford an extra 5%-10% tax on all amounts above 100K.