THE SCALE of the anti-Tory revolt sweeping through the electorate in England, Wales and Scotland has also had its impact in the Labour Party, and assisted Tony Blair's crusade against socialism.
The same desperate urge to get rid of Major's gang at any cost, which persuaded millions of angry middle class voters in Hertfordshire, Es- 'No, not victory-that's sex, cathedral towns and how many votes I got' country hamlets to vote La- tion. Many who are far from bour, was also reflected in the enthusiastic about his new constituency Labour Parties clause voted for it as a lesser as they voted on Clause Four evil to another election defeat. issue. Blair did the same thing Politics, the fight for pre- with the local elections. Never cise policies and specific de- has so little been offered to so mands, has taken a back seat many as Labour's feeble proin the desperate scramble to gramme for local governoust a discredited and bitterly ment. His claim that people unpopular government. are voting not against the To.
"I don't care who gets in as ries but for New Labour' long as the Tories are thrown flies in the face of the fact that out," said one Plaid Cymru the Party offered no actual supporter as the Tory vote in policies or commitments for Wales dropped to 10 percent, voters to endorse. with Labour the main benefi- Of course the Tory leaders, ciary. "This government is too, are deluding themselves very unpopular. Mr Blair and retreating from any real comes over extremely well on analysis of politics. TV and people want to give They scratch their heads, him a chance," said a defeated wondering what or who to Tory councillor in Canvey Is- blame for this latest fiasco, land. debating whether or not a change of leader might make A-political any difference - but refuse to examine the policies that have Blair's new clause; designed to offend nobody but clearly angered and alienated socialists and commit him to their natural base of middle no radical policies, and put class voters. forward only after most of the Less than six weeks before 'debate' was over, summed the elections, 15,000 largely up the a-political mood. middle class parents journeyed to London to support He deliberately made the matter effectively a vote of the national FACE demonstration against cuts in educaconfidence, challenging anyone voting against him to risk tion reflecting a split in the leadership in groundswell of anger running what everyone sees as the run- right across the shire counties. up to the next general elec- The Tory government stood firm against them - and has paid the price.
A month before the election, Virginia Bottomley unveiled yet another package of hospital closures, triggering a revolt by back-bench Tory MPs, and scandal stories about the NHS have been regular fare in the Tory press: the government has stood firm, and paid the electoral DUCC Poll after poll shows huge public opposition to rail privatisation - but the Tories are forging ahead, and are paying the price.
And while ministers whitter on endlessly about economic growth and recovery, and boardroom chiefs stuff their wallets with record salary increases, the reality for PONT most people on the ground is that jobs and living standards have never been less secure. There are scares over private pension schemes, over endowment mortgages and even insurance payouts may be taxed. Nothing seems safe.
Most of the 'new' jobs boasted by ministers are low-paid, part-time jobs, while many of those axed in round after round of redundancies and rationalisation have been what were solid, dependable jobs aspired to by the middle classes - including. banking, insurance, middle manageTHE BRITISH CHARACTER LOVE OF KEEPING CALM. ment.
To make matters worse for 'middle England' house prices are still depressed, tax increases are slashing real incomes, and insulting pay awards to nurses and health workers sum up a mean-spirited and inflexible government.
It's not the divisions in the Tory Party that cause them problems: it's the fact they are united in forcing home policies which have little popular support.
The anti-Tory mood now seems strongly enough established to sweep Tony Blair into Downing Street. But where does he stand on the issues which have generated the 'feel bad' factor?
Voters who may take him on trust to get rid of Major may grant a brief honeymoon period, but they will be looking for real changes on the issues that matter: and Blair's new Clause sets out an agenda for no change at all.
Before the honeymoon is over, the fight must be waged by socialists inside the Labour Party for policies to meet the social and economic crisis.