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The Labour Party

(206 Posts)
janeainsworth Mon 18-Apr-16 15:19:50

It's an interesting question Anya and one I think which could equally apply to those who think of themselves as on the centre right but think that the Tories are lurching too far to the right, and there is no-one left to represent those of moderate views, such as wanting to maintain good public services and the NHS.

daphnedill Mon 18-Apr-16 15:02:05

ab, I think that's a very good question and where the starting point should be. Let's forget about labels such as 'far left'. There is no way that Corbyn or his supporters are Trotskyists. I agree with Anya that the Labour Party is ripping itself apart at a time when the country really needs an effective opposition to this government.

I'll start the ball rolling. I would like to see a return to the post-war consensus about having a safety net for everybody. I would like to see people caring about everybody in society. In fact, I'd like to see a return to the concept of a society. I'm not against capitalism, but I would like to see a situation where people have more equal opportunities. They'll never actually be equal, but there's a lottery of birth, which people can't fight, however hard they try.

Once we've established what socialist traditional values are, maybe it would be interesting to hear from people who don't agree with them and why.

Anniebach Mon 18-Apr-16 14:41:19

Anya, what do you consider are socialist traditional values ?

rosesarered Mon 18-Apr-16 14:34:29

I'm not a Socialist or Labour voter, as you know, have voted Lib Dem for a long time, and next time would vote Conservative just to keep Corbyn and his ilk out of power.The Lib Dems are finished now, and their own voters fault too, for punishing them for working alongside the Conservatives in the last coalition government.As you say, there must be moderate Labour voters on Gransnet, so let's hear from them! It may now sadly be the case that the few ( but vocal) far left
Voices on the forum ( and there aren't actually all that many) dominate threads, all agreeing with one another. It's become a bit of a club for themgrin thankfully this is not the case for the country in general.

nigglynellie Mon 18-Apr-16 14:29:02

I expect there are Anya, and I may be wrong but I don't think you'll get many takers!
I'm afraid I can't help as my political stance is well known and predictably abhorred, therefore I now keep quiet! However, I personally would love to be able to have a civilised chat with you and like minded people, as different ideas and attitudes can be interesting and informative. It aint going to happen though, so I'll leave it that - sorry.

Anya Mon 18-Apr-16 14:16:14

Is it just me or do other moderate left-wingers feel alarmed by the way the Labour party is being torn apart by a move to the far left and the way this is being glorified on GN?
I've never voted Tory in my life and I detested Blair before it became fashionable to dislike him. But I feel the heart is being torn out of the Labour party. This talk of returning to 'traditional values' is no such thing but a cover for a lurch to the extreme left.
There must, surely, be others like myself whose socialist principles are firmly held, but who are alarmed by the current situation.
I know the reaction this thread is going to get from some who think otherwise, but I believe that there is a cohort of quiet socialists on this forum who would agree with me.