Ed Milliband is the new leader of the UK Labour Party

[Kantor]

Foamer said:

Kantor said:

They've moved right and left under a succession of politicians, becoming their most left wing in the 1980s under Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock, and their most right wing, of course, under Tony Blair. Blair achieved a pretty good balance. Gordon Brown, despite his hatred for rich people, was only able to move it slightly further left. Ed Miliband will move it much further left again. He embodies everything that is bad and disgusting about left-wing politics and socialism, where Attlee embodied everything that was good and fair.

Actually, I just read back and found this. Can you tell me exactly what policies he's espoused so far to make you believe this nonsense? Or are you just on message with what Central Office has fed the Mail, Telegraph and assorted Murdoch rags to establish a 'Red Ed' narrative?

From the massively right-biased BBC website: Ed Miliband's profile!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11150085

"Rediscover radicalism" speaks for itself.

Thinks 1/3 of the Cabinet should be female, even though nowhere near a third of Labour is female. - Takes refuge in "equality".

"Reach out to more trade unions" = give the trade unions even more power (why do you think they voted for him?)

"Higher bank levy" - *yawn* standard Labour Party "we're going to punish the banks! Actually, no, never mind"

"Reform state to make it more accountable" - Oh, you mean that thing the Tories are doing?

"Living wage" - So, NMW rise. Feasible?

"Would keep 50p tax rate permanently" - And yet, not lurching to the left.

"Graduate tax" - Charge people for the rest of their life for daring to seek higher education! Oh, unless they're "poor".

"Fair pay review for public/private sector" - Lower wages for executives/tertiary workers.

"A party of idealists" - i.e. a hopelessly idealistic party with no basis in reality.

Enough evidence?

Party must rediscover radicalism and become a movement and a cause, give members a proper voice, reach out more to trade unions, voluntary sector, community and environmental groups, move beyond old Blairite/Brownite divisions to unite around ideas, believes a third of shadow cabinet should be women but would also support Harriet Harman's 50% proposal.

Labour's plan to halve deficit in four years is "starting point" but more could be raised through tax - such as a higher bank levy.

Climate change and environment, reform state to make it more accountable, elderly care, create skilled jobs, backs a "living wage", would keep 50p tax rate permanently, graduate tax instead of tuition fees, right to request flexible working for all workers and fair pay review for public and private sectors.

"The road back to power isn't simply about analysing election results, it is about fundamental beliefs. We must build a wider movement that can show in opposition that we are rooted in people's lives. We must show that we are a party of idealists not just managers." Full Story