british politics

Tactical victory for Cameron – unnecessary defeat for Labour

10th May 2015 Socialist Action 0


The outcome of the 2015 general election was a tactical triumph for David Cameron but it was achieved by destroying his own political allies the LibDems. For Labour this was a huge missed opportunity. There is now a Tory Prime Minister with a majority in Parliament with the lowest share of the popular vote ever, who presided over the longest decline in living standards, yet Labour lost seats. The rise of the SNP, the other big winner from the election, being due to the greater distance it places between itself and Tory policies.

Kick out the Tories – put Ed Miliband in Number 10

18th February 2015 Socialist Action 0

By Jane West

There are only two possible outcomes to the General Election in May this year. Either Cameron will be returned to Number 10 or he will be replaced by Ed Miliband as Labour Prime Minister.

For the left and all progressive people the choice is unequivocal: kick out the Tories and put Ed Miliband and Labour in Number 10.

Source: YouGov

Labour support grows when it defends living standards

2nd October 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Paul Roberts and Jane West

As expected Labour conference fired the starting gun for the 2015 election. What was not so anticipated was the Miliband leadership’s announcement of a series of popular policies that are widely perceived as constituting a shift to the left.

The strategy rolled out was for Labour to position itself as the party that defends the living standards of ordinary people. This was a shift in strategy and a welcome one. It is based on a correct understanding that the mass of the population is now more animated by contracting real incomes – the ‘cost of living crisis’ – than the ideology of ‘deficit reduction’.

Party conferences fire starting gun on 2015 general election campaign

20th September 2013 Socialist Action 0

By Nicky Dempsey and Jane West

It is little more than a year and a half until the next general election and already the main issues in each party’s campaign are being delineated.

Labour is still virtually certain to be the largest party after the next election as the long-term decline in the Tory vote will be further depressed by five years of austerity. Electorally the main question is whether Labour wins a majority – and of what size – or whether it is forced into coalition with the Lib Dems.