Blame it on grandad
Giving the Herbert Morrison Lecture at Westminster, last month, Peter Mandelson, Morrison's grandson, asked: "Why was it that, after a great Labour government, that achieved so much in its first term, failed to meet the challenge of renewal and allowed its huge majority to melt away and be followed by 13 years of Tory rule? And how can we be sure to avoid the same fate?"
It is rather ironic that it should be Peter Mandelson who raises this question, because his grandfather was principally to blame.
The post-war Labour Government introduced a big programme of radical measures - nationalising the railways and road transport, the coal industry, steel, and, above all, created a National Health Service, which was the envy of the world.
But the Attlee government failed to take the next step - workers' democratic control in the newly nationalised sectors.
"No," said Morrison, the task now was "to consolidate". Permanent revolution was not for him.
Capitalist style management would continue in the nationalised sectors, often the same people who were in control under private ownership. Workers' control would have given a fresh enthusiasm. There is no need to look further for an explanation to the question raised by Mandelson.
But it's pretty clear he has not learned the key lesson of that period - that the choice is between permanent revolution or a return to unbridled capitalism.
Diagnosis
Tony Blair underlined this diagnosis when, speaking at the NHS conference in Brighton on November 10th he admitted underinvesting in the NHS during his three years in power.
Why? Because of his decision to stick to Tory spending measures.
He said he would "stand or fall by that decision". But he won't be the only one to fall. This decision has left the NHS seriously short of funds which has resulted in a shortage of doctors, nurse, etc and such a shortage of beds that the NHS now has to rely on private health facilities to cope with the demand. And winter is still to come with its added pressure on NHS sources.
Then there is also the decision to force pensioners to open bank accounts instead of collecting their pensions from post offices. This will not only increase the already swollen profits of the bankers, it is also another step toward the privatisation of the Post Office
Make bosses shell out
After an absence of seven years, Shell is returning to Ogoniland, Nigeria, despite growing opposition from the Ogonis. Ken Sara-Wiwa, the Ogoni leader, was executed five years ago by the then Nigerian government, acting for Shell.
There were no tears shed for the Ogoni people in the Shell board room in October, when a record annual profit of £2 billion was announced.
This column is not demanding a reduction in fuel tax because we recognise the harm caused to the environment by the excessive use of fossil fuels. But it is sheer hypocrisy on the part of the government to use this as an argument against reducing fuel prices.
All the oil megacompanies have announced record profits which can be taxed without imposing great hardships on the directors and share-holders.
But, of course, this will mean a break with the policy of sticking to Tory spending measures and not imposing new taxes on the rich. That will never do!
Beggaring belief
Tony Blair has joined Jack Straw in a call to people not to give money to beggars. This is New Labour in all its nakedness.
What has happened to the inclusive society Blair and his cronies were boasting about not all that long ago? A group of distinguished academics has argued that tougher policing of begging through the Vagrancy Act, 1893, will compound social exclusiveness and could lead the beggars into crime.
Begging is caused by capitalism, or some other form of exploitative society.
People don't become beggars out of choice. Research has consistently shown that they do not resort to begging unless they are desperate.
The answer is definitely not more institutionalisation. Most of the people now begging in the streets have had more than their fill of institutions.
To add begging to the crime list, will do nothing to reduce it. We don't need any new offences.
As John O'Farrell pointed out in the Guardian, "... None of the reporting on ... crime figures made any reference to City fraud or big business tax evasion. ... there are no interviews with old ladies saying how they are afraid to go out lest they should be offered some tips for insider trading.
"Where are the big yellow signs in the City of London saying:' Appeal for Witnesses - Fraud? Did you see anyone skimming the remainders fund, selling currency forward and then buying it spot fixed overnight?"