by Joe Anderson
In the last few weeks we have seen some of the strengths of our movement. Hundreds of activists in every seat across the country – full of the energy and passion of our people fighting for our values.
But their efforts unfortunately weren’t enough to convince the electorate to overlook our weaknesses over the last few years; confused communications and policies which never offered hope against the onslaught of Tory cuts. Our people and the institutions they depend on were suffering and we weren’t sure whether a Labour Government would save us.
We need to work out what the next five years will mean for us. And we should get it right. This new Tory government will challenge us on a number of fronts. Our narrative on devolution (local and national), benefits and welfare, the need for economic growth which gives people security and countless other policy areas has all been tested. It doesn’t seem like it now, but we will look back on some of these and be proven right. On others we are clearly out of step with the country.
We need to take our time and ask the right questions. Do we really understand how the country (all four of them) feels about what Labour has to offer? Are we offering the right things to both cities and rural areas? Do we really understand how the wider city regions and counties feel about what we want to offer?
Scotland is a case in point. The SNP haven’t locked us out of government – we lost the keys years ago when the mistakes were made. And despite fumbling around in the dark, we still haven’t found them again.
We have to face the reality that we have a lot of thinking to do. And we must do it together as one party.
Anyone who blames “new labour” or “compass” or any other grouping, is damaging the party.
We need to come together and forge a new cohesive force for the country, before deciding which person we invite to lead us. We need voices from every part of the country to be included, not just those from the Westminster Bubble. We need to work out a policy direction which will give hope to every single part of our country. And we need to take our time doing it.
We have five years. Let’s get it right.
Joe Anderson is mayor of Liverpool
Tags: general election 2015, Joe Anderson, Labour defeat, Labour leadership election 2015, regions, Scotland, SNP
Labour needs to unshackle itself before it comes out and begins to see the light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MF3IKyfgcg
If like your actions in Liverpool, you do not ask the right question the majority of the time and when you do, you don’t listen to the answer if you don’t like it.
Look at Manchester, they co-operate with the government even if they dislike them, look at health devolution, would never happen in Liverpool due to people like you, unco-operative and frankly hostile. Your antics along with Dowd prove your inability to garner support and you threatened legal action when the leader of Wirral council was elected head of the ‘combined’ authority.
Liverpool deserves far better than you as Mayor
Well said. This internecine war between the Left and Right and Blair and Brown and Progress and the Unions must stop. It has wrecked the Party.
BTW Compass is actually more about building alliances and bridges, and not scuttling them so they may have a point.
Perhaps not patronising the voters would help
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/row-over-labour-secret-briefing-4816250
when voters express concern about immigration the document said try ‘moving the conversation on’ to housing etc ie don’t answer the question
here’s an article from last July that might be of interest.
http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/2014/07/labour-wants-to-stay-in-its-nhs-comfort-zone-and-ignore-immigration-and-the-economy/
Well it reads well but frankly there is a phrase about “bull excrement beating brains”. There is NOT a single idea in it .. apart from pulling together.
Meanwhile Lord Sugar has announced he is leaving the Party as it is anti business. (He is of course correct).
Interesting to see there is NO mention of business in Mr Anderson’s words. Tell you all you need to know about his priorities.The fact that Liverpool needs more business investment is not mentioned..
Words are cheap. Actions speak louder. Labour so far are seen rightly as economically incompetent and anti business.. And anti aspiration as well.. To change that is NOT going to take five years.. More like fifteen.
I totally agree with Bob, Joe is only interested in furthering his own position. It’s quite clear that none of the council leaders (except Sefton) want devolution if he is going to head it.
The ex leader of Sefton council is one Peter Dowd, now the MP. I suspect that Joe and his friends will now place one of their ‘friends’ into the position of council leader.
Joe is too used to running an oligarchy not a representative democratic organisation supported by Unite and Unison.
This is the metal of this man, all for me and nobody else.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3046491/Anti-austerity-Labour-mayor-earning-80-000-paid-4-500-secondary-school-used-work-doing-linked-gave-kudos.html#ixzz3Y6QzUY8g
He needs to concentrate on Liverpool, talk to the new government like the leaders in the Manchester area and stop pontificating about things that are not really his concern beyond being a Party member. Does he believe that his voice is more valuable than a member in his CLP or even a voter in the next road.
Woah!……. Liverpool City Council has a “kudos” tax?
Akira Origami, no, just Anderson thinks he brings Kudos to any role he undertakes. Hahahahahahahaha. Man is an ego maniac.
Jeez!…Bob…Your mean it’s only the mafia in Liverpool that has a “kudos tax”.
Phew!….I was really worried for a moment……………..