Path to Victory

Mining through the columnists and commentators in recent days is gloomy stuff. Here are 7 ideas that are radical but not too offensive to those who are flirting with a vote for the Tories. This is not the time for an obvious lurch left, that was in the second term, but it is still time to look angry for change. I hasten to add, none of these ideas are my own but I believe they cohere around a general direction.

1)Elected House of Lords

This one is obvious, the reform needs to be completed and such a change will be one of a major legacy of New Labour.

2)NHS Constitution

An attitude and faith in the public sector should be finalized through an NHS constitution. This will entrench the public sector value system into the organization: one available at the point of need, democratic and decentralized, with an ethos of community that recognizes the motivation of public sector workers. This could truly help mould the social fabric of society, embedding Labour's greatest achievement even further into the national psyche.

3)Electoral Change

Some form of STV or AV to create a system that boosts the plurality of views and the interchange of ideas; and ensures a liberal majority. For those who disagree with the latter point and believe the anti-Labour vote will be bigger than the anti-Tory vote, we should remember that we are a 'democratic' socialist party.

4)A renewed attitude to Equality

Over-zealous old-style redistribution would stink of the retrograde socialism that the media hates even more that the EU and Heather Mills. We need to further arguments surrounding social cohesion: that we have a stake in eachother, that we have a shared sense of collective well-being and common humanity.

One idea is that we could introduce a wealth tax based on overall assets for the super rich that is: a) partially voluntary, encouraging the richest to publicly show social responsibility; tapping into the huge scale philanthropy prevalent in the States, and b) directed in its entirety towards a transparent scheme to provide opportunities for the poorest. E.g. baby bonds, or higher-education grants.

5)Decentralization of Public Services

The major problem with emphasising choice and localization of services has been the articulation of why it is crucial to making Britain a liberal Social Democracy. Decentralization ensures that communities have a stake in their own services, and can make staff feel less like a target-focused machine, and more like a public servant following targeting for social betterment.

6)Citizenship Initiation

Young people feel alienated in modern Britain, lost in the often cold-hearted post-modern wasteland of the knowledge and service economy; think how few students (even those studying politics) failed to vote on May the 1^st. This is through a large mix of factors: the ideological squeeze, the cynical media, the electoral system, and the general apathetic malaise that has followed affluence. To integrate the young into society, to make being a British citizen an understandable balance of duties and rights, we need to introduce a citizenship initiation period. This should come at the end of year 13 (or equivalent), in line with a continual citizenship programme, well-funded and taught by appropriately educated teachers. Included should be the bestowal of the vote as a duty, in line with the streamlining of adult rights: smoking, marriage, drinking, and driving.

7)Make the environment entirely our ground

Unlike many of the above points, this is an area which does get a lot of people passionate, and one where we can really call the Tories bluff (as well as bringing back Lib-Dem voters from the 1997 coalition). CO2 emissions have increased by around 3% since 1997, they shouldn't have.

I think an agenda following these ideas will make us look like a government on the move, eager for change and not despondent to our constituents. It puts us on the attack. Shaping the public discourse not responding to it. I believe this will help us seize a progressive majority and launch us into a fourth term. If not we'll go down fighting for what we, as creatures of the left, believe in.

Please tell me why i'm wrong, i wrote this purely to stimulate debate!