NEXT LEFT ISSUE THE

Fabian Review www.fabians.org.uk Summer 2009

RED SHOOTS In search of ideas for the next left

The quarterly magazine of the Fabian Society Volume 121 no 2 £4.95 REVIEW OF THE SUMMER “Change now has got to come from the people”

Helena Kennedy Image: Adrian Teal Politicians can’t fix the political system on After the Great Stink their own. Only by giving away power can the Government restore trust in a damaged political system. Check out realchange.uk.net and get involved. After the worst stench of disrepute hung Labour is only possible if voters believe year ago, was important. As the point over Westminster since the open sewers there are substantive differences at stake. was to learn lessons from the most of the 19th century, Labour’s most Labour can best address what it contentious foreign policy episode for catastrophic electoral performance for stands for now with a concrete and half a century, it was vital to go the extra decades and the shame of two British radical agenda for how the Government mile for openness. A rapid rethink, after fascists in the European Parliament, will use the next 290 days of power, an untenable initial instinct for privacy, Labour appeared to be a party on the rather than through shiny vistas for a means the inquiry will be more open. verge of a nervous breakdown. hypothetical fourth term. Labour has the This can be diagnosed as a bad case The question of leadership now bully pulpit of power. It could still frame of governmentitis, where the advice of appears settled; very few MPs can have public arguments, testing would-be the Cabinet Secretary seemed to trump any appetite for a third botched coup, and ‘progressive’ Conservatives who elementary public politics. the May rebels had neither a candidate no longer oppose what they recently The Iraq inquiry offers an nor any clear agenda for change. But the opposed, and seeking to entrench important broader lesson as Gordon more important question was always Labour’s claim about where the new Brown revives the idea of a new about the public argument and political centre of British politics lies. constitutional settlement. direction of the Government. This is not to advocate defeatism, still Many fear it is now too late in the There have been too many less a scorched earth policy. It would day. Proving this wrong depends on distractions but it should have been create a real contest, by offering voters Gordon Brown recalling a lesson from easier to identify what they were a the choice they have the right to expect. his first decision as Chancellor: making distraction from. But this can be done only if the the Bank of England independent. Gordon Brown’s Government has Government’s agenda on the three Giving away power to restore trust is shown more policy purpose in response central issues – public spending in a post- the only way reform will have public to the recession, but has yet to tell voters recession economy; political reform; and credibility now. Offer a referendum what Labour seeks a further term in the climate change deal we need – are on electoral reform. Create a citizens’ office to do. Not being the Tories will not clearly about radical change, rather than convention to begin writing our new work a fourth time, when ‘anybody but about defaulting back to business as constitution. Let the politicians listen – Labour’ has become a popular sentiment usual and incremental reform. and the people decide. It would take a too. That means that a dispiriting anti- The Iraq inquiry demonstrated this leap of faith. If this may seem unlikely, politics campaign will see the incumbents danger. The Prime Minister’s initial there is a new politics to be gained. Is lose by default; a fighting chance for commitment to hold an inquiry, over a there so much to lose? SK

Summer 2009 Fabian Review 1 THE SUMMER IN REVIEW on nextleft.org Fabian Review email your views to: [email protected] INSIDE Fabian Review is the quarterly journal of the Fabian Society [email protected] 4 Polling 21 What not to spend Editor ‘Once in a generation’ Tom Hampson 25 The Fabian Essay Fabian events and news are now reported at our blog, Assistant Editor Next Left. Join the debate at www.nextleft.org and here Ed Wallis 8 The Fabian Interview Putting ownership back are some recent highlights. We are also now on Twitter Fabian Review, like all publications of The man who won’t be on the table the Fabian Society, represents not the king Stuart White @ thefabians collective view of the Society, but only the views of the individual writers. The Mary Riddell responsibility of the Society is limited to approving its publications as worthy 8 Books of consideration within the Labour movement. 8 Red Shoots 28 Explaining the crisis Wednesday, 11 March 2009 2nd June, 2009 Printed by 12 The view from Duck David Lipsey The Colourhouse Liberal lessons for Labour “Europe is a test for all parties” - Miliband London SE14 6EB Island 29 Waving not drowning Shirley Williams was ’in conversation’ for the Fabians with Sideline Europe and you sideline Britain – that was the Designed by Alan Johnson Jessica Asato Newsnight’s Michael Crick - who it transpires was chair of the message from Foreign Secretary David Miliband at a joint SoapBox Communications Young Fabians at the same time Shirley was chair of the Fabians Fabian Society and Young Fabians debate. While political ISSN 1356 1812 14 Apples and oranges 30 Fabian Bookshelf proper. (This was in 1981 – the year of “the big bust up” and and constitutional reform was now the centre of attention for Fabian Society Richard Reeves “acrimonious meetings”.) Shirley was talking about ‘how liberal all parties, the Conservatives were pushing a “Europhobe” 11 Dartmouth Street is Labour’ and her main point was a good one: that Labour had political programme “under the smokescreen of a reform London SW1H 9BN 15 Where do we stand on 31 Obituary been particularly good on gender and race equality but its major agenda”, said Miliband. He also argued that Cameron’s Telephone 020 7227 4900 Fax 020 7976 7153 the state? Peter Townsend liberal achievements had come in the first term. This is because the commitment to withdraw from the main centre-right grouping [email protected] Larry Whitty www.fabians.org.uk liberal agenda was bequeathed to Blair by John Smith. Blair was in the European Parliament to ally himself with ultra-nationalist The Fabian Society always more interested in law and order issues than liberal ones. EU allies risked condemning Britain to international political General Secretary 16 Crimes against the Sunder Katwala Michael Crick challenged her on this by saying that it is easy to be impotence: “To retreat from the centre of the European Union English language 32 Listings liberal in opposition but once in power realpolitik gets in the way, is not just illogical, but dangerous.” Any serious reform agenda Research Research Director Jonathan Heawood 33 Noticeboard M15 puts threat evidence in front of your nose and you naturally must engage directly with Europe if Britain wants to remain Tim Horton become more authoritarian…and that when Shirley was in Labour a key global player, he said. The Tories’ determination to Research Fellow 18 ‘What works’ doesn’t governments in the 60s and 70s they had enacted fairly tough review British participation in the Lisbon Treaty would be both James Gregory work legislation too. She conceded half the point, but explained there pointless and politically damaging. From climate change Publications were strong cabinets in the past who were prepared to forcefully to terrorism to trade – “if you are not globally engaged, Editorial Director Claire Fox Tom Hampson stand up to the PM. Under Blair the cabinet was either weak or you’re vulnerable.” Editorial Manager 19 Everything is new bypassed, with Iraq being the prime example. Ed Wallis Posted by Paul Prowse Nick Anstead Posted by Ed Wallis Events Events Director Jemima Olchawski Thursday, 2 July 2009 Events Manager Friday, 8 May 2009 Rethinking equality doesn’t mean ditching it Richard Lane Both policy and attitudes need changing on housing “A rejection of inequality - both absolute, relative and of Events Manager Fatima Hassan Over the last week there has been a good deal of media opportunity - is absolutely core to who we are. But we will Events Manager coverage of our new housing report ‘In the Mix’…As ever, the be more successful - not just electorally but in challenging Genna Stawski media love a good headline, and the radio talk-shows love a unacceptable inequality - if we adopt and own a different, Events Assistants good debate about the ‘sink-estate’. That said, most of the debate more nuanced view of fairness and equality” said John Imogen Parker, Katy Taylor QUESTIONS WE’RE ASKING and coverage has been very balanced. The deeper issues have Denham. He was making clear that his argument for the left Communications been given a fair hearing. Right at the top of this list of issues is the to rethink its politics of equality and fairness in response to the Head of Communications Rachael Jolley theme that we have articulated through the language of ‘apartheid Fabian Society’s research for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation cities’. Strong language, as many have pointed out. But there is a Fabian office is somewhat more nuanced than it may have appeared from Finance Office truth here that needs to be taken very seriously indeed. At the literal yesterday’s Guardian report. That is followed up in other Phil Mutero/Margaret McGillen level, it is still the case that much social housing is concentrated in newspapers, though once again, the reflex to reach for an Local Societies Officer very poor areas and cut off from services and good infrastructure. outdated Blairite-Brownite analysis of every issue obscures Deborah Stoate But apartheid cities is also a metaphor for a process by which all Membership Officer much more than it illuminates. Indeed Denham’s case for a Giles Wright social housing has increasingly been seen as somehow ‘other’; broad coalition strongly reflects the strategy of ‘progressive Office Manager the denizen of a different type of person from ‘us’, the ‘virtuous’ of universalism’ which Gordon Brown and Ed Balls pioneered at Calix Eden a property owning democracy. the Treasury: Something for everyone, but most for the worst-off. Interns THE EXPENSES ABOVE THE FRAY THINKING THE OUT THE DUCK Yaso Sathiyanathan, Patricia Kaszynska, FACTOR Is Jon Cruddas UNTHINKABLE HOUSE Posted by James Gregory Posted by Sunder Katwala Loretta Addai, Benjamin Baruch, Nicole What do people the man to save Can we cut our way Can constitutional Martin, Paul Prowse make of their Labour? out of recession? reform save Labour? politics? Fabian Women’s Network p4 p8 p21 p12 Seema Malhotra [email protected]

2 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 3 POLLING

Some people have argued that the political Which two or three if any of the following crisis over expenses demonstrates the need for reforms do you MOST agree with? [Please tick constitutional reform. Which one of the up to three options] following statements comes closer to your view? Rather than the prime minister choosing the date of the next general 52% 59 election we need regular fixed dates “We should set up a ‘citizens’ convention’ and involve people from all walks of life in We need an electoral system that deliberating on how to improve the way the is more representative of the actual UK is governed” 50 votes cast “Once in a Constituents should be able to sack their MP by holding a new election 19% 36 to choose an MP between elections generation” “MPs should hold a special session of if 10 percent of them want it parliament to come up with a reform package” We should make parliament more democratic by replacing the House of 33 Lords with an elected second chamber 19% 10% We should clean up our messy and Neither of these “Don’t know” informal constitution and draw up a 24 single written constitution like that of How satisfied are you with the way the United States democracy works in the UK? We should replace the monarchy 11 with an elected President as head 46% Total satisfied of state As the daily beat of the Of those who expressed a preference, 50% Total not satisfied 4 None of these expenses scandal finally 67% chose quietens, what longer Don’t know Don’t know 4% 5 term conclusions have ”This is a once-in-a- the British public drawn generation chance for a about reform? Here we major overhaul to improve present new polling that * After the deluge, the reckoning. In early more considered than the media our democracy” May, the Daily Telegraph bought a and excitable bloggers? Would the shows a real appetite A challenge samizdat CD of MPs expenses claims change be lasting? as the statement that came closer to view, and and started publishing the details as Well, we now have the answers to for radical constitutional front page splashes day after day. The the first two questions: yes and yes. This change. to us all following two months of onslaught on poll, commissioned from YouGov by the just 33% chose individual MPs, on the Speaker and on Fabian Society in association with Unlock the reputation of Westminster as a whole, Democracy and Real Change, suggests a “The British constitution is resulted in humiliation, resignations, profound shift did happen this spring, a abject apologies and more than half a dissatisfaction with politics-as-usual and tried and tested – whatever million pounds of repaid claims. a real appetite for detailed and sweeping This was bound to have some constitutional reform: a citizens its problems, we should be Tom Hampson effect on how the public felt about convention, fixed term parliaments, is Editorial Director our political system, and polls have proportional representation, and the careful about changing too of the Fabian Society already shown high levels of ‘anger’ right for constituents to sack miscreant much too quickly.” at the way MPs have behaved. But MPs in the middle of their terms. would the change be profound? Indeed, asked how satisfied they

*Excluding the 19% who responded ‘neither’ or ‘don’t know” Would the public be wiser and are with how democracy works in the 4 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 5 POLLING

UK, only 46 per cent said they were satisfied while Electoral reform – would prefer a proportional system authorities on an almost daily basis. 50 per cent said they were not. Just compare this over the alternative vote (where (The Government experimented with to YouGov polling on the same question in 2003 At present we elect MPs by 'first-past-the-post'. Candidates Seizing the single member constituencies would citizens’ juries in 2007 but what they when 74 per cent of respondents said they were compete to represent local constituencies. The candidate be retained but ’X’ voting would be came up with were sadly not worthy satisfied against just 24 per cent dissatisfied. who wins the biggest number of votes is the winner, even replaced by preference voting). This of the name, functioning as little more Polls are always snapshots, and of course none if s/he obtains fewer than half of all votes cast. moment is consistent with repeated polls taken than glorified focus groups). And of of this has happened during a time of normal Some people suggest we should change our voting system over the past decade and the Joseph course the criminal justice system has politics. This febrile period has been inextricably Rowntree Reform Trust’s periodic been using the jury model successfully move towards the 'alternative vote', whereby MPs still entangled with the series of calamities that have to involve State of the Nation polls in particular. for centuries. represent individual constituencies, but voters indicate their driven the Labour Government’s own disastrous It is clear that Cameron is potentially poll ratings. This means that numbers like these first, second and third choices. When votes are counted, vulnerable to the accusation that his The key question though could feasibly be a result of the electoral cycle – as the least popular candidates are eliminated, and the citizens promise of change is merely cosmetic much a response to an unpopular government as second (and, if necessary subsequent) preferences of their if the argument can be presented is, how do we come a genuine cry for change. supporters are counted, until one candidate achieves an forcefully enough. But the data on Scotland suggests otherwise. overall majority and is declared the winner. The key question though is, how up with a package of Since Labour’s piecemeal constitutional reform do we come up with a package of This system keeps the link between MPs and their democratic reform that in its first term of office, some areas of the UK democratic reform that can evade the have now been living with reformed voting and constituencies but, like the present system, does NOT accusation that it has been seized upon can evade the accusation more modern democratic systems for more than ensure that parties are represented in Parliament according by a self-serving elite desperately a decade. If you cut the figures geographically, to their overall national support. looking to save its own skin? We need that it has been seized Peter Facey you can see the effects of this. In the south of Other people suggest that we should move away from a pure is the Director of to be wary of feeding cynical attitudes upon by a self-serving England – excluding London – 43 per cent of our about politics. For this reason, for constituency system to one of proportional representation, so Unlock Democracy respondents said they were satisfied with the way example, I would prefer not to elite desperately looking that parties are represented in Parliament according to their democracy works in the UK. In Scotland it was 56 reach for the Jenkins’ Commissions per cent. In the south, 38 per cent said constituents overall level of support. Such a system would make it easier for The renewed debate inside the proposals from ten years ago and to save its own skin? should be able to sack their MP. In Scotland it small-to-medium sized parties to win seats, but much harder for Labour Party about democratic use it as the basis of a referendum for was just 24 per cent. Meanwhile, in the south 30 either Labour or Conservative to win a general election outright. reform represents a dilemma for electoral reform, as is suggested by The level of support for a citizens’ per cent said “We should make parliament more campaigners. While it is of course Alan Johnson on p12 of this magazine. convention in the Fabian poll is quite democratic by replacing the House of Lords with Which of these systems is your first preference? welcome, to a large extent it has We need a system which people don’t striking (52 per cent), particularly in an elected second chamber” and in Scotland that come far too late. With Labour’s poll feel is being foisted on them by the contrast to the relatively low level figure was much higher at 47 per cent. This seems ratings at an historic low, the Party usual suspects in Whitehall and of support for MPs to sort the mess like a very public endorsement for the effect The present system - first-past-the-post is open to the accusation that any Westminster. out themselves (19 per cent). It is that voting reform has on voters – people feel 25  reform now has less to do with what As an alternative, Unlock crucial that such a system is seen more engaged with the system, less angry at their is good for the country and more to Democracy and others including to be unbiased, which is why the The Alternative Vote elected representatives, and more uncomfortable do with self-interest. How can Labour Compass, Progress and the IPPR executive would need to be kept at with undemocratic, unelected power. 25 go into an election promising real have been calling for a ‘citizens’ arm’s length. However, so long as that And it is in this debate about which form Proportional Representation change without the programme being convention’. Under the Unlock can be achieved it would appear to be of voting reform that these figures provide 34 cynically written off? Democracy model, at least 100 the best model for moving forward in particular succour for reformers. Peter Kellner, This poll offers us some clues about randomly selected individuals would a way that would satisfy most people. our pollster, ran the data from the voting reform Don’t know how this circle might be squared. deliberate on a range of possible This poll, and others, shows that questions through an AV-style run off, and PR 16 The first conclusion we can draw options for reform and make a the public want to be a part of any wins hands down. from it is that a demand for change number of proposals to Parliament. reform process not merely spectate Even only a couple of years ago it would have And which one is your second preference? resonates across the political divide. It is envisaged that it would consult from the sidelines. If we are to go been enough to say this offers a challenge to the Even a majority of Conservative widely, receiving evidence from both down this route however, we need Government, to politicians and the Labour Party voters (53 per cent) agreed with experts, politicians and the general to legislate for the convention as to find concrete ways to respond to this appetite The present system - first-past-the-post the statement “this is a once-in-a- public. Parliament would have to soon as possible. It is crucial that the for reform. But politics has changed. Movement 24  generation chance for a major overhaul respond to the convention’s report process is put on a statutory footing politics is increasingly important and, as our to improve our democracy.” 43 per within three months and if any of so that it can’t simply be closed down poll shows, people trust themselves rather than The Alternative Vote cent of Conservatives support a more the proposals were rejected the after the next general election and politicians to find solutions. After Obama’s success 37 representative voting system – slightly convention or a petition of at least 5 so that people have an assurance in mobilisation and consultation, and now that so more than the 41 per cent who support per cent of the public would be able that its conclusions cannot simply be Proportional Representation much campaigning and debating and thinking a system of recall for MPs. These are to force a referendum on the subject. dismissed out of hand. Martin Caton’s takes place online, this is the first big challenge 25 surprising figures considering the Deliberative bodies such as this Citizen’s Convention Bill has been to the new politics in Britain – to come up with longstanding and dogmatic opposition have a strong track record. In the drafted, already has the support of Don’t know workable and politically acceptable solutions to the Conservative front bench has had Canadian provinces of Ontario and over 120 MPs and is ready to be put this crisis in confidence. Indeed, it is a challenge 14 to electoral reform. British Columbia, citizens’ assemblies through the parliamentary wringer to us all. Overall, the survey suggests that a have deliberated on the electoral just as soon as Gordon Brown lets it. YouGov questioned a representative sample of 2,001 adults clear majority of the public supports system. Citizens’ juries are used Let’s seize this opportunity before it throughout Great Britain online between 1st and 3rd July 2009. electoral reform and – given the choice successfully by quangos and local is too late. 6 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 7 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW: JON CRUDDAS THE FABIAN INTERVIEW

Jon Cruddas is an intriguing mix of the blokey and the are hardwired in his DNA. In many ways, he is a contradiction. He did brainiac, a combination that has caused many across the well in the deputy leadership election, Labour Party to identify him as the man to lead them out of coming third, but rejected a job in Brown’s Cabinet. (He is coy about their current woes. But he’s not likely to be persuaded: he whether he has been offered a front likes things just the way they are. “I’m having a blast” he bench post since then.) Despite the ponderous title of tells Mary Riddell. his Warwick PhD on economic philosophy – ‘An Analysis of Value Theory, the sphere of production To resolve a crisis that started off in and contemporary approaches to the financial services and moved into the reorganisation of workplace relations’ real economy, you don’t just trade off – he wears scholarship lightly. Even one person against another. Brown in matters of style and taste, he is has done a lot of good fire-fighting in a chameleon. Though his suits are Mary Riddell is a columnist for the terms of recapitalising the banks and said by style critics to be more Next Daily Telegraph keeping the whole system going. than Jermyn Street, the label on one “The real question now is to design of several spare ties reads Giorgio a new system, not just economically Armani. In his office library, Ayn Rand Getting to Jon Cruddas’s office from but socially and politically. This is jostles for space with Philip Gould. reception at Portcullis House requires epochal; there’s no comfort zone you “See, I was never into scientific a trek that might daunt Sir Ranulph can go back to.” Although Cruddas socialism. I was quite interested in Fiennes. “The less important you are has limited praise for Brown – “In the Blair’s communitarianism. Early round here, the further away they transition, he’s been brilliant,” – he Blair.” (As a former Blair adviser, put you,” Cruddas says when we warns that using ’green shoots‘ as he was also presumably responsible finally arrive. Few, these days, would an excuse to revert to the status quo for shaping the message, though he consider the MP for Dagenham to be would commit not only the PM, but claims to have been “small beer.”) “A insignificant. the party, to oblivion. lot of the debate around the Labour For Labour rebels, he was (and Party’s future in the coming years still is) the man who might wield Cruddas, to my will be about reinstating aspects of the knife against Gordon Brown. No Blairism. Blair lost the language and blood required – only the murmur surprise, rules himself the ethical dimension, but there was of no confidence which could have quite a rich texture to the early Blair.” weakened the Prime Minister out of running for the And, he implies, quite a threadbare sufficiently to provoke a leadership leadership, categorically feel to the later Brown. contest. But, despite his colleagues’ Cruddas, a localist with his ear imprecations, Cruddas declined to and forever to the Essex ground, saw long ago play Macbeth to Brown’s Duncan. that Labour was heading for disaster. Asked why he helped save a PM Labour would be “absolutely Where slicker politicians preferred forced to plead with the Parliamentary gone. I see this as reflective of the managerialist jargon, he deals in Labour Party to save his job, Cruddas 1920s and ‘30s crisis of the Liberal plotlines. “Once, all you had to do says: “I can’t see how it’s any remedy Party.” Is he predicting the strange was to precision bomb messages to our problems to throw one bloke death of Labour Britain? “Well, it on to a group of key voters in 60 under a train and put another bloke could be. Why do people think the constituencies. That’s all gone.” In the in through a coronation. That’s just core vote has bottomed out at 20 “absence of a new story that makes symptomatic of our problems.” per cent?” Support, he thinks, could sense to all levels... the BNP reaped As he adds, in a none-too-oblique sink much further. “Our coalition the whirlwind.” reference to Alan Johnson: “Installing has been splintered for a long time. As an early forecaster of the danger The man who someone just because he might have This [slump in popularity] poses posed by the BNP, he considers their a back story and a communications major questions about the future of two seats in the European elections strategy seems to me to be no way the Labour Party. That’s seen as a “not that bad. They thought they’d get out of the dangerous place we’re in. heretical view, but I don’t think you 12. We know because we [he means Our significant problems can’t just be can just assume things.” Labour] have got people inside. We won’t be king traded off in some game of top trumps. Part heretic, part flag bearer of the got away lightly... But nearly one “A friend quoted Gramsci to me left, Cruddas is not easy to label. Aged million people voted for them, despite the other day, saying these are ‘the 47, he is a seaman’s son, for whom the the most sophisticated campaign morbid symptoms of an interregnum’. fears and values of the working man against them.”

8 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 9 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW

liberal left any answer. “I am not a on the liberal left. To Cruddas they were totally ill-equipped when the some game, thinking if I shave 20 per great egger. “People say: ‘Demonise are little short of heroes. Speaking of music stopped. It was assumed that cent of this [ideal], then it might work.” the BNP. They have no place in our the initial dispute, he cites blacklists people would always vote Labour – “I literally am not interested. A democracy.’ Why have they got no against UK Labour by big employers. that they had nowhere else to go. We lot of blokes in and around Cabinet place in our democracy? If people “We called the guys who struck borrowed the techniques of Tesco: this could do it. Harriet Harman has haven’t got a house after 12 years of xenophobic, protectionist and anti- is the consequence.” shown real steel. There’s the Miliband Labour government and their [adult] European. That’s so disrespectful.” Though he says he still thinks lads, James Purnell and younger kids are still at home with them in a So was Gordon Brown right to Labour could win the election, he people. I never even thought I’d be two-bedroom flat, why shouldn’t they vaunt British jobs for British workers? is gloomy about “the sheer fatigue an MP. I’m having a blast. But I don’t go elsewhere?” “He wasn’t wrong. But we haven’t and intellectual exhaustion” of long want anything. I’m not ambitious Cruddas believes in assessing the got an architecture to deliver it. It’s incumbency. Is Brown finished? “He – that’s my problem. Tony Blair, opposition rationally. “Some elements a sham .. and people can see the has to be so radical and populist. The Nick Clegg and David Cameron are of the BNP are “very sophisticated discrepancy in their everyday lives.” jury’s out; at best. I don’t know the physiologically interchangeable. They – not nearly as crap as people think Then there is immigration. “There guy, but his default setting is cautious. are merging into the same person – they are.” (UKIP, meanwhile, may be have been extraordinary patterns of I don’t think Cameron’s got it either.” constructing a politician that fits the discomfited to learn that he regards immigration from 2003/4 onwards, So who will lead the Labour party rubric. The parties themselves have its eccentric operation as “endearing; even before the EU accession. A lot into the future Cruddas wants? A been hollowed out.” UKIP are great”.) of [incomers] are from outside the political cleanskin, he has stood aloof Jon Cruddas will not join the hollow His task sheet listing how to crush EU. We’ve never confronted any of from Cabinet. This, many think, men. That, it seems to me, is both the BNP begins with housing. “You’ve this. We’re talking about 200,000 a is a deliberate strategy to position his greatest strength and his signal “I’m not a liberal. got five million people in need of social year into London. That’s a borough, himself for the leadership, possibly weakness. If Labour loses badly, there housing and 75,000 repossessions this right? You’ve got estimates of 600,000 on a fantasy ticket with his “mate”, will be any number of good thinkers to Liberalism has very year. It’s the outstanding public policy unregularised immigrants in this city James Purnell, who recently stalked debate the future and too few powerful dangerous conclusions issue. All other issues are refracted alone. That’s three boroughs, and out of government. politicians able to reshape and resell a through housing.” Cruddas advocates there’s only 33 in the city.” Cruddas, to my surprise, rules broken party. Cruddas can think the philosophically. It’s very a vast programme of social housing. Cruddas wants an amnesty for himself out of running for the unthinkable. But if he will not also dare “Something massive has to be done all unregistered migrants, plus a leadership, categorically and for ever. to do the undoable, then who else in individualized. Labour now. People would recognise that as tough, points system based on the He ran for the post of Deputy Leader his party will? should be looking at the a new deal.” Australian model. “You cannot just at the suggestion of Compass, secure Cruddas was never seen by his Second, he calls for honesty on allow a free market of Labour without in the belief that he would lose, and admirers as just a king-breaker or future with reference to immigration. “My constituency is any labour market reform agenda,” will seek no future promotion. “I’m king-maker. He was also, they hoped, the fastest-growing in Britain. It’s he says. Add in a swipe against “the not interested in Westminster, or a future king. In the its own past” no coincidence that it’s the frontline trite, banal view that everything about Parliament really. [The leadership] coming months, many against the BNP. When I ask what the Europe is fantastic”, and the Cruddas doesn’t interest me. There are certain will try to persuade Cruddas, who believes that the population is, I get quotes from the programme might attract some identikit characteristics which a leader him to change his mind. BNP’s rise will continue, does not 2001 Census.” The answer, he says, is plaudits from the hard right. has to have, and I don’t have them. When I leave, discount seats at Westminster. “We to produce “a real-time demographic His agenda is a magpie’s stash of I don’t have the certainty needed to Cruddas offers to see me can’t assume they’ve hit a ceiling. If we that alllows services and finances to measures he would define as practical do it. I couldn’t deal with it. I have a out, but I tell him not to don’t start confronting this stuff, the flow with the headcount.” This, he populism, drawn from across the different conception of how I want to bother. On the long walk back real danger is that you see repetitive believes, would stop the BNP stoking political spectrum. This wish list live my life.” I am stopped by a policeman who voting patterns in seats where they do up fears based on half-truths and includes scrapping ID cards, building Partly, he is talking about lifestyle demands to know why I have no get in. They build, consolidate, grow.” exaggerated figures. “paediatric allergy centres for kids (he is married to the political adviser, escort before crossly marching me This surge, he believes, is due to Step three is to “put a floor under with asthma and food allergies”, Anna Healy, with whom he has a off the premises. “I will be having a Labour’s woeful misreading of the the labour market. It happens all the better parks and abandoning Trident. 16-year-old son). And partly, he is word with Mr Cruddas,” he warns. lure of fascism. While the BNP is time that a guy is on £7 an hour, and The “good society” and the “ethical talking about compromise – “playing He is not the only one. selling to voters the dream of being his boss says: ‘Will you take £5.50, socialism” to which he aspires have “the Labour party their grandparents because we’ve got a bloke who will?’ many touchstones. He is interested in, voted for”, the Government risks The debates about agency workers though ultimately dismissive of, Red staying “camped out on a different were right on the money. Government Toryism. He admires Charles Clarke’s JON CRUDDAS PODCAST part of the landscape called Middle has steadfastly refused to regulate thinking and is intrigued by James England, drinking Liebfraumilch in a these markets. There should be a Purnell’s “liberal republicanism... though To hear Jon Cruddas talking to Mary Riddell about the rise of the far Holiday Inn in Watford.” fair employment clause for all public I’m not a liberal; liberalism has very right and the future of the Labour Party, visit the Fabian website at Electoral reform is vital, in his contracts. If you say you can’t have dangerous conclusions philosophically. http://www.fabians.org.uk/general-news/podcasts/cruddas-bnp view, to beat the far right “poison”. cheap, unregulated foreign labour, It’s very individualised. Labour should to download an exclusive podcast. “I once thought first-past-the that chokes off the space in which the be looking at the future with reference post choked off this mood. Now I far right operates.” to its own past – Toynbee, Tawney, think it creates vacuums for other The Lindsey oil refinery workers Hobhouse.” political forces to colonise.” Nor are whose dispute flared up again in New Labour, in his view, was for the insults (and eggs) hurled by the recent weeks were anathema to some good times and bull markets. “We

10 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 11 RED SHOOTS

Keir Hardie’s founding manifesto to understand the thought process Cameron’s Conservatives argue for the Labour Representation behind an acceptance that fixed term that none of this is relevant to the The view Committee included votes for women, parliaments, candidate selection and urgent need to rethink the way a Scottish Parliament, Lords reform the number of MPs can be valid and politics is conducted in Britain. and proportional representation. relevant to the situation we are in, but They say there must be no change from Duck The Tories were traditionally against that any discussion at all about the at all to a system that allows MPs all four. They have modified their electoral system is not. with a minority vote for them as approach to the first (although don’t To take one specific element, some individuals to form a government bank on unanimity if it came to a argue that we need more MPs who are on the basis of a minority vote for Island vote a Conservative Party Conference); free of any party allegiance. Whilst I their party after which, fortified by have been roundly defeated on the am firmly of the view that politics the whipping system, they become second; and have been forced by their can be cleaned up without the help what Lord Hailsham described parliamentary leadership to swear of irritating self-righteous men in as an elective dictatorship. They a superficial allegiance to the third. white suits, it’s worth remembering say we must stick with FPTP (I simply do not believe that even that for Martin Bell to be elected in because “you know your vote has a majority of Tory MPs genuinely Tatton, Labour and the Lib Dems led directly to the ousting of one supports an elected House of Lords. had to collude to deny the electorate government for another.” Leaving Cameron believed it was a pose they the opportunity to vote for them. Our aside the palpable nonsense of this Alan Johnson MP could strike without ever having to miserably disempowering voting description of our current system, is the Home Secretary implement the policy.) what Cameron meant in this extract On electoral reform, as Cameron The citizen who admires from his Evening Standard article could legitimately argue at PMQs is that FPTP produces single party recently, the Conservative Party has government. Photo: Andy Drysdale/Rex Features the individual attributes supported First Past The Post when Jenkins tore this argument to they were in front and when they were of a local candidate shreds in five cogent paragraphs, behind; when they won and when but wants a different demonstrating that “in only 64 of the The current political and economic crises present an they lost. Bone-headed consistency is past 150 years has there prevailed indeed an attribute we should concede political party to form the the alleged principal benefit of the opportunity for bold reform. Don’t let the Tories kid you to them. FPTP system, the production of government if forced to they are up to the job, says Alan Johnson Cameron’s Open University a single party government with an speech in May was meant to project sacrifice one for the other undisputed command over the House the Tories as the change agents on of Commons.” constitutional reform. The proposals He went on to propose a system, he laid out were devoid of any system is such that the citizen who AV+, that maintains the constituency Out of turbulence and confusion can happened; the former created misery meaningful commitments but, more admires the individual attributes link, ensures that MPs have majority emerge new opportunities, fresh ideas for our constituents and the latter importantly, they sought to close off of a local candidate but wants a support (thus actually strengthening and radical change. added disillusion to their disquiet. It’s debate about the most fundamental different political party to form the that link), would deny any seats to These are indeed turbulent times a miserable way to create a climate for aspect of any democracy: how people’s government is forced to sacrifice one parties with less than around 11 per – the economic pandemic spread change but advance through anguish is votes are translated into political for the other. cent support and provides greater much faster than the H1N1 virus. a well-trodden path. power. When I set out my view that The ‘safe seat’ mentality must at proportionality whilst meeting As Paul Krugman has observed, it There are three broad areas to the there should be a referendum on the least be an aspect of the accusation that his Commission’s remit for stable was Gordon Brown who supplied the necessary debate. day of the next general election giving MPs became careless in their expenses government. anti-virals, and as the symptoms fade The first is the reshaping of the British people a choice between claims and dismissive of their electorate. I have argued for the British it must be the left that develops the our economy. This is where the retaining the current voting system Safe seats can exist under any electoral people to be given a choice. I may vaccine to inoculate the world against Conservatives will undoubtedly or moving to AV+, Cameron wrote system, but FPTP is uniquely able to not be able to convince colleagues further outbreaks. use the ‘age of austerity’ rhetoric to an article for the Evening Standard ensure that even at times when the that this should be the precise We in Britain have had to endure pursue the ideological battle against describing PR (the voting system majority of the electorate turn against outcome of the debate on how to an added dimension, what many in the public services which David Cameron rather than his profession) as a step the incumbents, they will struggle to make progress on this aspect of population would describe as ‘swine managed to suppress during his backwards, and challenging me and unseat them if the protesting vote is split constitutional renewal. However, I flu’ without the flu. Politicians were hoodie-hugging phase. other proponents to explain how it between different parties, as is likely. work for a leader who accepts the hardly high in the public’s affections The second (much more prosaic) would help in current circumstances. As Roy Jenkins pointed out in his need for that renewal, with electoral before the Daily Telegraph saga began, area concerns the terms and conditions His defence of FPTP was the familiar seminal report, “the semi-corollary of reform as an essential element. but now, as we stand marooned on for Parliamentarians. one. It allows the electorate to vote a high proportion of the constituencies And I belong to a Party that could, Duck Island, it feels as if we’ll wait But I want to dwell on the third, ‘strong’ governments in and keep the being in ‘safe seat’ territory is not as Jenkins pointed out, “have the some time before our return ticket to which is the constitutional debate about BNP out. merely that many voters pass their unique distinction of having broken the human race arrives. how democracy works in our country. The first point to make in response entire adult lives without ever voting the spell under which parties when But all of this creates opportunity. Political renewal is the agenda of the left. is that there is either a constitutional for a winning candidate, but they they want to reform do not have Neither the banking collapse nor By definition, the right is ill-equipped to dimension to the debate on political re- do so without any realistic hope of the power, and when they have the the allowances scandal should have do anything other than conserve. engagement or there is not. It’s difficult influencing a result.” power do not want the reform.”

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There is no question that almost ‘good society’ is one composed of through which people can exercise the entire political class – new Labour independent, capable people charting what Berlin called ”the painful privilege Apples stalwarts included –underestimated the their own course, rather than a perfect of choosing”. Where do we stand systemic risks in the global financial shape to be carved by the elite. It is But if liberals tend in practice to service sector. It was Liberals like Vince messy and unpredictable. There will not support markets, they also recognise and Cable and commentators like Elliott who be a postcode lottery – but there may be that individuals therefore need key on the state? issued unheeded warnings. Nobody postcode democracy. Rather than having resources – including money. Unlike except a few Taliban-type City apologists to make the case for ‘devolving’ power their libertarian distant cousins, oranges think things should go back to the way down to individuals, those who want republican liberals do not however they were. power to be vested in communities or assume that the conditions for a The left need to reassert its belief in the state, but But there is a grave danger now that state institutions need to make the case self-directed life emerge out of thin not the state as we know it, argues Larry Whitty Labour will overreact in the opposite for consolidating it upwards. air. Independence requires a set of Not all markets are the direction. The travails of the financial what Amartya Sen labels capabilities It strikes me that it is time someone stood same, says Richard Reeves, markets do not, in themselves, tell us The ‘good society’ – especially financial resources, anything about the markets in apples, education and skills and health. up for the state – though perhaps not Larry Whitty and Labour should be wary education or cars. It was a market which is one composed of Without them the goal of independence the state as we know it. At a recent is a Labour peer, of being too gleeful that failed, not the market. is a pipe dream. Egalitarians ought to Fabian seminar I was both distressed former General The statist – dare I write ‘Fabian’? – independent, capable focus on the capabilities people have, and amused to hear so many politicians Secretary of the Labour Party and a ‘the state is back’ strand of the Labour movement has a rather than on narrow measures such queuing up to declare they were “not people charting their former Environment instinctive bias towards state action, and as income or poverty. Liberals care statists”. ‘L’etat ce n’est pas nous’ was Minister central state action at that. Sidney and own course, rather than deeply about equality, but in terms of the cry. Beatrice Webb wanted to ‘constrain’ the life chances, rather than income. ‘The Amused – because there is a history individual in order to make them each a perfect shape to be problem of inequality,” Sen argues, of Fabians being attacked from both As a result, the state has lost much of ‘a healthier, no nobler and more efficient ‘in fact gets magnified as the attention left and right as ‘top down socialists’, its legitimacy – not only in its ‘leftist’ roles being.” As George Bernard Shaw put in carved by the elite is shifted from income inequality to ‘statists’ or ‘state paternalists’, almost as central planner of the economy or as Richard Reeves an influential essay for the six year-old the inequality in the distribution of as derided as Marxists and Stalinists. owner of the commanding heights of is Demos’ Director. Fabian Society in 1889: “Consequently The reason why republican liberals substantive freedoms and capabilities.’ Distressed – because at this stage in productive industry, but in more liberal we have the distinctive term Social end up being pro-market is not because The state can enhance autonomy, our history, faced with overwhelming causes like the direct provision of public Democrat, indicating the man or woman of some ideological fundamentalism, not least through the judicial services where the mantra ‘private (or At last year’s Labour Conference the who desires through Democracy to nor because we think markets are in channelling of resources to young For most people the most third sector) good, public bad’ has taken atmosphere was odd. This, of course, gather the whole people into the State...” some way inherently moral. Markets people who would otherwise struggle hold. And increasingly the state’s liberal is nothing new: party conferences are I want to stress at this point the provide people with the freedom to to develop the capabilities necessary for important part of the state role as regulator of the market has been strange affairs. What was odd about distinction between the Fabian, statist barter and exchange, to use their labour genuine autonomy. The is in danger of distorted to mean less regulation. Labour in 2008 was the clear delight with tradition and the currently, actually power and consumer power in the succumbing to ancient statist instincts, is the local state: it is there This delegitimation has been most which many delegates, and some MPs, existing Fabian Society: Sunder Katwala way they think will lead them towards becoming those “impatient reformers” that services are delivered acute for the redistributive role of the were greeting the unfolding financial is no Shaw or Webb. But I do want to their version of a good life. Markets John Stuart Mill warned against, state using tax and expenditure policies crisis. Ed Balls said that those who had make the case for a more liberal version are awesomely effective at distributing the kind who “thought it easier and and democratic influence to achieve greater equality: only the favoured ‘light-touch’ regulation had of progressive politics, one sketched in power – most of the time. So markets shorter to get possession of the provision of a safety net is now seen been ‘routed’. Even the thoughtful Ed Philip Collins’ and my Demos pamphlet serve liberal ends by dispersing power government than of the can be exerted as legitimate. To my mind the greatest Miliband told the Fabians that “the line The Liberal Republic. For radical liberals, to individuals. But when economic intellects and failure of this period of New Labour between the state and the market had both the state and the market are social power becomes concentrated in dispositions of problems of climate change, inequality government has been to preside over an been redrawn”, and evoked the memory institutions which can either facilitate monopolies or cartels, the liberating the public”. The and global recession, it is not the actual increase in inequality relative to of his father, the Marxist academic Ralph or inhibit individuals from living good potential of markets is undermined. intellectual revival time to be disavowing the role of other Western European democracies, Miliband. Guardian columnists Larry lives of their own choosing. Liberals are This is why liberal economics is not of the progressive the state in progressive politics. even relative to the Thatcher period. That Elliott and Seamus Milne announced the not ‘for’ or ‘against’ either the state or neo-liberal economics. The arbitrary left which must precede Arguably the whole point failure reflects pathological reluctance to end of “new Labour economics”. the market – we are agnostic about both. power accumulated in the City, with any political recovery of politics of any sort is to commit overtly to using the state to After years of reluctantly following The question is always: do our social, destructive potential for the rest of us, for Labour has to gain control of the state; political achieve greater equality of outcome. new Labour’s broad acceptance of free economic and political arrangements was not a liberal utopia, for sure. be based on the argument is about how to use the To argue that the state is markets, with one bound the Party was give more people more power over the But there is a risk that recent resuscitation of even power and authority of that state. Yet withering away may seem a strangely free. The state – the Big State – was back. course, content and circumstances of economic events will blind us to the older liberal instincts. during thirty years of counterintuitive thesis to be advancing: in The intrinsic instability and unfairness their lives? But as the liberal philosopher overwhelmingly positive contribution of This is the debate that T h a t c h e r i s m general discourse, whether in the saloon of markets had been revealed. A new Amartya Sen argues, ”Responsible free markets to prosperity and liberty. should dominate this and New bar or the pages of our newspapers, social democratic era was dawning. adults must be in charge of their own The test to be applied to any social or year’s conference. One can Labour – the state is seen as all powerful and Allied with the anger against rich well-being; it is for them to decide how economic structure is the same as the but hope. aided and is often deeply resented. Yet in all the bankers, the combination of financial to use their capabilities.” one T H Green posed for any action by abetted by our above functions the role of the state has crisis and recession meant that Labour The ideal animating the idea of a government: “Does it liberate individuals strident media receded; only in what the right would could now push up top tax rates, argue liberal republic is that individuals have by increasing their self-reliance or their – the dominant political argue is its very prime function – that more clearly for state regulation and rein the power to determine and create ability to add to human progress?“ discourse has been to limit and of security and law and order – has the in the market. their own version of a good life. The Markets provide an important means decry the role of the state. state significantly extended its reach.

14 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 15 RED SHOOTS

But the truth is – whilst an When he catalogued such failings a maximum ten-year prison sentence. today, Labour is afraid of both rabbles unrepentant statist – I do not much like in his 1946 essay, ‘Politics and the Now, the Government is introducing and the language that inspires them. the state we have got. Crimes against the English Language’, Orwell set out to measures to prevent criminals from Orwell was right: failed language is Over those same three decades the help politicians and their audiences to publishing their memoirs, on the grounds failed politics. Conversely, the ability state has become more centralised (pace speak and think more intelligently and that they may offend the victims or their to use language with care and precision Scotland and Wales); more intrusive, English language intelligibly. Sadly, he did not succeed, families. This Government seems unable contributes to political engagement. with the spooks agenda triumphing and his catalogue of political crimes to distinguish between language which Whilst Britain led the recent walkout since 9/11; more partisan; and in some against language – dying metaphors, merely provokes its audience – as all from President Ahmadinejad’s rant at ways more inefficient. At the same time, verbal false limbs, pretentious diction and political language should, if it represents the United Nations, the Norwegian society has become more individualised The English language has been mangled by politicians meaningless words – is still with us today. delegation, led by Norway’s Minister and atomised and there has been a across the ages. But this trend has become even more Why does this matter? Because a ...a party which uses for Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr serious dilution of intermediate party which uses language so carelessly Støre, remained behind to make the solidarity organisations from extended troubling under New Labour, writes Jonathan Heawood. has forsaken its power to change the language so carelessly case for human rights. Rather than families to churches, trade unions and world. And when you’ve given up on has forsaken its power to respond to a discomfiting address stand alone local government. Thus the populism that served his ends. Diana language, you’ve given up on politics. with disapproving silence, Støre distance between individual and state was the people’s princess not through If Labour no longer believes in the change the world. And had the confidence to stand up to has increased. any democratic accountability, but power of language to inspire, it does Ahmadinejad. It may be no coincidence As the legitimacy of the state has through a form of collective fantasy. not believe in its own capacity to change when you’ve given up on that this politician is also a writer – the been challenged, so the concept of Jonathan This wave of grief – which Blair people’s beliefs about their place in author of a bestselling book, Ǻ Gjøre en Heawood language, you’ve given public service has been diluted and the rode so adeptly – swept in an era of the world. Compare Obama’s oratory, Forskjell (Making a Difference) published is Director of English role of public servants too often reviled. PEN www.english- infantilism during which the public which inspires his audience with a belief up on politics in November 2008, in which he shares Probably the most disempowered pen.org were neither inspired nor informed by both in his capacity to take responsibility his views on international politics part of the state has been local politicians but indulged. New Labour’s for their country, and their own capacity a distinct ideological position with which and human rights. Fittingly, Støre government. Functions have been managerial language complemented to take responsibility for their lives, and people may disagree – and language has donated profits from the book taken away from local authorities and What did New Labour have against its failures of political nerve. The the lives of others. He told Americans which actively incites violence. This is to Article 19, an international NGO given to central government agencies, the English language? At best, this Government told us that there were (quoting Ghandi) to ‘be the change a dangerous confusion, and one which promoting freedom of expression. to private companies in transport and Government has mangled words; at no hard choices to be made between you want to see in the world.’ This oppressive states around the world This Labour Government, meanwhile, street cleaning, to third sector bodies worst, it has criminalised them. As the free market and social justice. There is linguistic leadership entwined with exploit to silence dissent. has devalued freedom of expression and in social housing and increasingly we move into a new political era, we were, and if they’d been made correctly political leadership. Blair, meanwhile, There seems to be a fear in Number devalued language. The reconstruction in education. And even in the areas need to reflect not only on the policies Labour might now be looking at a fourth told Labour Party Conference in 2005: 10 and across Westminster of the rabble- of Labour must place more confidence in they control they are subject to central that have failed Labour, but also on term. They said that human rights were ‘That’s what we have been in New rousing potential of language. This is the power of language to inspire people controls by earmarking, ring fencing the attitude towards language that has negotiable. They’re not. They said that Labour. The change makers.’ The phrase a party which came into being when to good deeds, not just to incite them to and performance assessment. let down the party, its supporters and people such as paedophiles or asylum- was rightly derided. rabbles were effectively roused. Yet bad thoughts. I accept some degree of diversity their beneficiaries. seekers don’t have rights. They do. Labour’s antipathy to the English of frontline provision is necessary in When Labour reinvented itself in In his final speech to Labour Party language also matters because it echoes some of these areas, but the roles of the early 1990s, it adopted a way of Conference in 2006, Blair summarised something darker about the last twelve local state as planner, quality controller speaking that paralleled the ‘third way’ his attitude towards universal values years. This Government has created more Fabian Quiz and ring holder in the interests of the between state socialism and market with the chilling phrase: ‘We can only speech crimes than any previous British community need to be preserved. capitalism, a compromise between the protect liberty by making it relevant administration. It is not only in their Penguin has released a special 60th It may appear inconsistent to be plain English of Harold Wilson and Jim to the modern w o r l d . ’ own words that Labour ministers reveal championing both a statist and a localist Callaghan and the visionary rhetoric This is clearly not their resistance to inspirational language, anniversary edition of George Orwell’s position. But for most people the of Neil Kinnock and his more militant true. We can protect but in their criminalisation of a range of Nineteen Eighty-Four. We have copies to most important part of the state ­is the colleagues. This linguistic third way liberty by standing up speech acts, from incitement to religious give away; to win one, simply answer the local state: it is there that services are was neither plain nor visionary; it was for liberty, by promoting hatred to the glorification of terrorism. following question: delivered and democratic influence can calculated not to inspire emotions, but liberty, by educating the Labour has shunned the motivational be exerted. A state which cannot devolve to manage them. public in the value of liberty, rhetoric of the left – and it has outlawed The reasoning behind the title Nineteen and decentralise whilst preserving Tony Blair set the gold standard of the by opposing tyranny, by the oratory of those who seek to fill this Eighty-Four is unknown and some believe it its authority is a dysfunctional state. linguistic third way when he eulogised defying surveillance, by fighting ideological vacuum, whether they are referred to the future centenary of a certain We still have the most centralised Diana as ‘the people’s princess.’ Alastair censorship, by renouncing torture Islamist or Islamophobic. political society, founded in 1884. But Orwell’s state in Western Europe and the most Campbell’s memorable phrase defined and by cherishing political protest. The Government has dystopian masterpiece was nearly called centralised form of state finances. the public mood of those strange days We do not protect liberty by making introduced a range of offences something else entirely – what was it? So we on the left need to reassert the in the summer of 1997. Blair may not it relevant to the modern world. criminalising incitement to legitimacy of the state itself, including have been talking about politics but We do not keep the fire alight by ‘hatred’ – an intangible quality the state at local level. If we fail to do so this was political speech in its purest making it relevant to that has no business in the statute Please email your answers to [email protected] or send a and conservative hegemony prevails form – in Orwell’s words, ‘the defence a bucket of water. books – whilst the ‘encouragement’ postcard to: Fabian Society, Publications, 11 Dartmouth Street, London, at local and national level we will of the indefensible’. In setting his seal The nonsensical of terrorism has also become a crime, SW1H 9BN. be deprived of the essential tool we of approval on the way that many phrase reveals and even the possession of materials Answers must be received no later than Friday 4th September 2009. need to deliver both our global and people felt about a woman they had the nonsensical – including books – which might be domestic agendas. not known, Blair endorsed a form of thought. useful to a terrorist is an offence carrying

16 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 17 RED SHOOTS

In an article in The Times in June aptly se, we are met with open-mouthed it was argued, put ordinary people titled No leader, no ideas: a party at the disbelief. What is the point then, our off politics. It was even suggested that ‘What gates of Hell, Rachel Sylvester noted that critics ask scornfully. Indeed, what’s the ‘Blair’s babes’ would add a softer, less Everything is new “this is a government of the living dead, point of medieval history if it doesn’t aggressive edge to political debate. But a zombie administration”. She writes of solve the problems of MRSA? What without this public ‘battle of ideas’, what works’ the widespread view that the problem do thousands of years of philosophy ideas are voters to choose between? is that “there just aren’t any new ideas… contribute to solving climate change? Instead this is the era of consensual The cupboard is bare.” But there is more Universities have been variously told big tents and a government of all the By thinking about issues that Nick Anstead to this problem than simply that New to prove their worth as social-includers, talents, regardless of political allegiance, didn’t exist in 1997, Labour is a lecturer in politics doesn’t at the University of East Labour has run out of ideas. In many skills-brokers, community coherers and based on an opportunistic ‘what works’ Anglia in Norwich. His ways, since its inception in the late contributors to UK plc. Academics have approach to running society. Ironically, can break out of tired old research is focused on the nineties the party has waged war against to prove how their subjects practically this conviction-lite model of government debates and start to think relationship between politi- work ‘big ideas’ and ideals as a principle and is benefit the employability of their has precisely fed the popular outrage cal institutions, new technol- now reaping the bitter fruits. students and intellectual inquiry and over the expenses scandal. When being a afresh, says Nick Anstead ogy and civil society. Firstly it’s worth bearing in mind academic research have been hemmed parliamentarian is seen as merely a career there are no off-the-peg solutions to the in by the demand that they produce with no obvious sign of commitment to Claire Fox argues that absence of ideas. I remember once having useful outcomes. ideas or ideals as motivation, the public In their majestic, tongue-firmly-in-cheek New Labour’s rejection a row with a reasonably senior Labour assume the only reason MPs might go in isolation, but is instead part of a apparatchik about the party’s lack of The modern Labour Party into politics is for the money. account of British history, 1066 and far wider web of ongoing change. In of idealism has left it vision. Next time he saw me he excitedly has made virue of its post- The scorn and cynicism afforded All That, Sellar and Yateman note that particular, the information revolution dangerously ill-equipped for assured me he’d set up a working to ‘dangerous idealism’ indicates just the Wars of the Roses were started by (a process that we have barely party to come up with a vision. For me, ideological status and how we have limited the political the Barons to maintain feudalism and embarked on yet) will challenge the current challenges. this precisely captured the calculating imagination to the art of the possible. “stave off the Tudors for a time.” The many aspects of the post-industrial attitude the party has adopted towards boasts of its pragmatic But utopian thinking is an important joke is, of course, that we construct settlement, especially the rampant ideas. Opting for opportunistic quick- remaking beyond the old expression of the desire to make the history after it happens. In reality, individualism it bred, and could lead Claire Fox fix solutions or acting like a business world a better place. It stems from the Barons had no way of predicting to a new era defined by interaction is Director of the Insti- bringing in PR consultants to magic up left and right divide a belief that mankind’s problems are the onset of the Tudor era. And we and networks of collaboration. tute of Ideas, convenor a mission statement is short-termist and solvable. It is premised on the optimistic still tend to simplify history down to Such a projection of the future of the annual Battle characteristically instrumental. The new fashion for evidence- idea that human beings can build a specific dates and individuals, instead has huge ramifications for politics. of Ideas festival and A potent symbol of the Government’s based government might imply this is a society that is an improvement on that of thinking about more subtle social Conceived in the early 90s, New Labour a regular panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Moral instrumentalist attitude to ideas is the political elite that regards research with which we have now. and technological trends that take place was a creature of the post-industrial era. Maze present fate of the university sector. It high regard - unfortunately it more often Labour has resigned itself to the over a period of years. While predicting While recognisably social democratic in has journeyed from the Department of demands that academia dangerously narrow politics of managerialism, how the past will be thought of in the its concerns, there was a strong focus Education through the recently scrapped prostitutes its independence to deliver making a tweak here or there with future is a dangerous game, it does on competence and valence political Department for Innovation, Universities advocacy research, useful as ‘proof’ little concept of transformative, radical seem possible that the great credit crash issues, coupled with a commitment to and Skills before being dumped in Lord that such-and-such a policy is right. change. Instead ideas were charged of 2008-2009 will play a similar role. light-touch regulation of the private Mandelson’s fiefdom. That this super- The ‘initiativitus’ of this administration with the limited task of modest In 1973, Harvard academic Daniel sector and the introduction of new ministry features neither the word might imply an over-abundance tinkering on the surface. Bell argued that the industrial era, public management strategies (such as education or universities speaks volumes. of ideas - and yet it actually reflects But we should never underestimate defined by the production of material competition) into the state sector. Universities, arguably the home of ideas, intellectual promiscuity and an episodic the power of ideas. I’d rather today’s goods, was in the process of being Now though, with the decline of no longer merit a Secretary of State and and pragmatic attachment to ideas. political elite looked less to Keynsianism superseded by the post-industrial post-industrialism and the emergence are instead institutionally christened Kite-flying schemes come and go, one to solve the problems of the economy age, where advanced economies of the digital society, these ideas as instruments of business and the day vigorously argued for, the next and more took inspiration from Keynes’ would become much more reliant suddenly look very jaded. While economy, with scant regard for the non- day unceremoniously dumped. Who pertinent quote: “The ideas of economists on service industries. His predictions documents such as the Digital Britain economic benefits of higher study. remembers Ed Balls’ ‘little red book’ that and political philosophers, both when turned out to be accurate for much report offer interesting responses to the This is the inevitable outcome of was hailed as a revolution for schools? they are right and when they are wrong, of the western world. In the UK, challenges posed by new technology, New Labour’s ‘what works’ utility But there is more to Labour’s crisis of are more powerful than is commonly the success of the financial sector the approach offered is still largely audit approach: it only values ideas ideas than utilitarian philistinism. After understood. Indeed the world is ruled before the crunch was the definitive piecemeal because, as yet, there has that have useful outcomes; ideas all, the modern Labour Party has made by little else. Practical men, who believe example of post-industrialism, not been little thought at the ideological are disposable if they don’t deliver a virtue of its post-ideological status and themselves to be quite exempt from only because it became an important level, considering what it actually “outcomes”. Knowledge for its own boasts of its pragmatic remaking beyond any intellectual influence, are usually the part of the economy in its own means to be a social democrat in a sake is dismissed as self-indulgent and the old left and right divide. It has even slaves of some defunct economist.” right, but also because it provided networked society. In the coming years, elitist. At the Institute of Ideas we are expressed hostility to adversarial clashes Ideas do matter and can help to the affordable credit needed to fuel such an intellectual project is going to regularly asked “what are the policy between opposing ideas. Remember the shape the world. But in order for this consumer spending. become increasingly urgent. outcomes of your public debates and last time we heard so much about the to become a reality we have to dump For this reason, the credit crunch Where, for example, is the line discussions?” When we explain our need to reform parliament? Tony Blair’s instrumentalism, turn our back on might be seen as the Bosworth Field between the individual and the belief in the importance of interrogating modernising project included abolishing pragmatism and argue that idealism of post-industrialism. But, like that collective, the private and the public? ideas and creating a public space to the second PMQs to minimise the alleged can lead us to create a better future, and battle, the recent humbling of the An orthodox (if broad brush) reading explore and debate new ideas per tribal clashes between parties which, that humanity can create history. banking industry did not take place of the current debate on the left

Summer 2009 Fabian Review 19 RED SHOOTS would suggest that New Labour has with a desire for efficiency, one of than a mechanism for people to increasingly focused on the private the great political shibboleths of post- collectively make decisions through consumer, while its critics favour the industrialism. A logical conclusion the deployment of their individual what idea of the public-orientated citizen. of this process is that the government resources, a description which Yet these neat distinctions are now is now employing new technologies sounds remarkably like the principle being blurred; the old battles of the to gather and process information. that powers Google search engine, 1990s that some hope to revive in a The database state offers remarkable for example. Furthermore, when post New Labour inquest are no longer opportunities to improve public harnessed by Wikipedia or the open relevant. Consumption, for example, services such as healthcare, education source software movement, this form is increasingly a collective act, with and policing, but simultaneously poses of simultaneously individualised but websites such as eBay or Amazon huge dangers to privacy and civil collaborative endeavour fundamentally publishing and amalgamating the liberties. This is true even if we assume challenges more traditional capitalist reviews of millions of shoppers. Also, that the state is a benevolent actor, modes of production, embodied by the terms on which people are able since information, once gathered and multinationals such as Microsoft. This to take part in civic life are evolving. collated, can always be lost or abused idea, sometimes termed the Wisdom New modes of activism, giving by individuals with access. For this of the Crowds, can therefore be a citizens far more control over how and reason, social democrats need to revisit powerful engine for democracy and the not when they participate, suggest that fundamental questions about the role dissemination of power. The challenge collective action is become increasingly and objectives of the state, examining for progressives in the digital era is to individualised in its forms. Where do how governments gather and use data. conceive then realise institutions that to spend these new models of activity fall on Certainly, we must go beyond the idea, harness these ideas the old left-right spectrum? Can they most evident in Labour’s misguided In any kind of political discussion, All political parties face tough choices Let Them Eat Pret… even be categorised in this way? As the support for ID cards, that “more it is important not to confuse world changes, so must our thinking. information is always better” simply fundamental values – such as a desire on spending in straitened economic times. Liz Thorne is the London Development Manager for End The position of the state will also because it aids the public sector. for social justice or a belief in a strong Those on the left find this particularly Child Poverty. continue to evolve. Different elements In the wake of the credit crunch, it civil society – with the mechanisms hard to come to terms with, with the gut of the left have offered radically will also be fundamental to ask what that are used to achieve them. The instinct to hammer ‘Tory cuts’ leaving different analysis of government role progressives now envisage for former are constants across time and The House of Commons is home to twelve restaurants, five bars and and state power – some seeing it markets. While New Labour defined space, the latter can change in response ‘Labour cuts’ anathema. But perhaps the one cafeteria, each heavily subsidised at a total cost of £3.8 million as fundamentally coercive, itself as being comfortable with the to circumstances. Indeed, everyone in recession offers an opportunity: to not pounds to the tax payer each year. Just one of these, the cafeteria, is others arguing that state marketplace, it seems likely that the politics has a moral responsibility to spend money on things that should never open to unaccompanied members of the public. intervention is the only financial markets of the future will constantly re-assess the means they have been supported in the first place. So, Over 350 employees serve the 646 MPs, their staff, invited guests mechanism capable of be subject to far more stringent propose to achieve their vision of the and other parliamentary staff in the eighteen outlets. The Refreshments achieving social justice. regulation. However, it is important good society. To fail to do so is the in these unusual times, could we see the Department admits that the staff costs alone amount to more than the More recently, and especially that the left does not retreat into its fast road to becoming irrelevant and dawn of a positive ‘radical cuts’ agenda income received from their customers. under New Labour, the latter ideological comfort zone. In simple letting down the very ideas we purport that is a cause for celebration rather than In the current furore over expenses, unnecessary perks such as these position has been coupled terms, a market is nothing more to serve. handwringing? must surely be the first to go. Despite recent improvements in the efficiency, the subsidy provided ID Cards and Trident are the most by the public purse still covers over one third of the costs incurred. A report written by the Department three years ago states that buffet- frequently recommended in this vein; style canteens were already proving more popular than the out-dated we asked a wide range of politicians, dining halls, but that “influential” MPs proved resistant to change. At journalists and thinkers for other least two of the fine dining restaurants, complete with bone china plates eye-catching ideas for creative and and exclusive waiter service, still remain. There is legitimate demand for areas for quick snacks, formal progressive ways to save money. It’s meetings and the already profitable banqueting service, and for amazing how many still came back with affordable meals for parliamentary staff; but the abundance of ID Cards and Trident. Not all, however, exclusive eateries, operating at a significant loss adds to an impression and below we feature some of the most that MPs are secluded in ivory towers and detached from the people they serve. Coaxing them out of Westminister and encouraging more interesting ideas. of them to enter the wider world at lunchtime, as well as being economically sound, would demonstrate a positive shift in the ‘us’ and ‘them’ divide. MPs would do well to support the abolition of these food subsidies. In the current recession, this burden of £3.8 million – over £10,000 a day – is an unnecessary extravagance and will be viewed as unjustifiable by many. My advice? Let them dine from white china and stainless steel; let them self-serve and self-cater; let them exit the House of Commons; let them eat Pret.

Summer 2009 Fabian Review 21 what

to spend

got a little list, except it’s not little. As well as Americanised John Mann MP: Be honest about pensions management speak (‘stepping up to the plate’), public sector We should let Boris Johnson fund Crossrail, not prose is peppered with ‘effective’, ‘transformational’ and, yes, taxpayers in the North of England. Gisela Stuart is the MP for Birmingham lazy and flatulent words such as ‘diversity’. Edgbaston and a trustee of the Henry Jackson Accountability creates paperwork. We have to accept that Society. public bodies will always do more reporting than private Denis MacShane MP: companies; in a media culture where anti-state views are Put a block on any pay above that of the Prime There used to be a deal: modest wages in exchange for job dominant, journalists will demand much more from public Minister for all paid by the taxpayer. security and a pension where the benefits are defined and bodies than the private sector. index linked. But we have now lost sight of this, and the Here’s my proposal. The words generated by public difference between what is happening in private sector and bodies could safely be cut in half. Dyslexic government James Harkin, Director of Talks at the ICA: public sector pensions is no longer sustainable. ministers who refused to look at anything in their red boxes Scrap community support officers - they don’t Defined benefit pension schemes for private companies longer than a side of A4 had a point. Compression is good seem to do much for either communities or have become too expensive for companies to bear. No for clarity and clarity isn’t just good for decision making, it new schemes are being created and increasing numbers of could save money. Imagine how much less time would be policing, but do a lot of standing around Narrowing the CAP firms close schemes not just to new entrants, but to existing spent in meetings if no single agenda paper were more than hassling teenagers for not having bike lights. members as well. 400 words in length. Hopi Sen is a Labour blogger But the public sector is lagging behind the private sector Meetings themselves spawn paper. Say every public Michael Gapes MP: in facing up to this new reality. It is unreasonable and sector manager (one million people, or about 20 per cent of politically unsustainable to expect these same taxpayers the UK public sector workforce) immediately cut the number Abolish the House of Lords and become unicameral who are seeing great changes in their pension provision to of meetings they call by half. Perhaps fewer managers would like New Zealand, Sweden and Norway. Currently, the Labour Government reluctantly operates a continue to pick up the tab for maintaining what are in effect be needed; perhaps they could use the freed-up time to set of policies which transfer money from poor families and defined benefit schemes in the public sector. ‘manage’ or – God forbid – think about what they are doing Steve Pound MP: communities to wealthy landowners. If we want to reduce A shift to funded schemes in the public sector can’t and how well they are doing it. public spending, why not embrace a policy that reduces happen overnight and would need to be phased in, but it The Barnett Formula has united everyone subsidies, lowers tariffs, helps poorer countries and lowers has to be done. Anyone in their thirties has to accept that in opposition to it and clearly needs to be the cost of food? things have to change. It’s better to plan ahead and be reviewed, recast and recalibrated. Today, the EU’s Single Payment Scheme sends taxpayers’ honest with people. Means-test your way out of money directly to landholders. Impoverished farmers like We need to spell out just how much public sector the Queen get half a million pounds a year, say farmsubsidy. pension debt has been accumulated and make the pension a recession Deborah Mattinson, Chime: org, and Prince Adam of Lichtenstein gets a million euros. element an explicit part of the salary package. Use Citizens’ Juries and Forums as both a sensible Who pays for this largesse? The rest of us do, to the tune of Politicians and those in charge in Whitehall ought to Zoe Williams is a columnist for The Guardian way to decide spending priorities, and as a way £5 billion a year. give a lead by closing their own system to new entrants of re engaging people with the political process. Higher food prices from tariffs cost British families and make the kind of provisions they expect from those in roughly the same again. Tariff walls are set up around the private sector. Europe, preventing competition from developing I am on a bit of a crusade at the moment against unnecessary Mary Dejevsky, Columnist for The Independent: countries. A non-EU sheep farmer has to pay 173 per cent spending in the arena of maternity and childcare. Straight The cost of any outside management consultancy on lamb exports. off, I would can the £190 maternity benefit (this is universal) employed by any section of the civil service must be This has three effects. First, British families pay higher Keep it brief and the Child Trust Fund (keeping the £500 to poorer prices. Second, overseas farm workers lose income. Third, families, but losing the universal £250). I have reservations matched in advance by a corresponding reduction in EU agricultural producers benefit from higher margins. David Walker is managing director, about Children’s Centres: there is a sense that they’ve staff costs internally. These are not small farmers, but major agricultural combines. communications at the Audit Commission been colonised by the middle-classes and don’t do enough None of this can be rectified alone. Some on the left shy and formerly editor of the Guardian’s Public for the families they were intended for. The free nursery Chris Leslie, Director New Local Government Network: away from publicly opposing agricultural subsidies and magazine place allowance is useless for parents who actually work; tariffs because foaming at the mouth about the CAP is the indeed, at five weekly sessions of two and a half hours each Merge Whitehall fiefdoms into more cost effective province of little Englanders and Sun leader-writers. But The public sector is prolix. That’s usually because process (they cannot even run back-to-back, under the rules), they units: for instance, create a proper Department this is not about trashing the EU; that would be disastrous matters in public bureaucracies and procedures generate accommodate no parental activity I can think of, apart from for Constitutional Affairs subsuming CLG, Wales and leave our farmers undercut by the subsidies of others. words. But risk aversion, back covering and other freelance journalism. If that’s all the Government can afford, and Scotland Offices, Northern Ireland Office, To save money while being fair to our farmers we must unattractive attributes of government kick in, generating its universality should be abandoned, and genuine full-time be at the heart of Europe, working with allies to achieve a yet more words. And the words generate paper and papers free nursery places offered to parents who are struggling to Cabinet Office and half the Ministry of Justice. reduction in agriculture spending. consume time, lengthening the chain that stretches between afford childcare and hold down jobs.

Britain should begin by ensuring that the pressure political intention and service delivery. The issue underpinning this is that means-tested benefits Iain Dale, Blogger: on agriculture budgets is significantly downward. We I’ve been oppressed since joining the public sector nine were abandoned in haste, by a government that had more We should be looking at culling the burgeoning could target reducing payments to those with substantial months ago by the volume of unnecessary words. Bodies money than sense, and nowhere is this more obvious than in wealth. We should be at the forefront of reducing tariffs. like the one I work for are partly responsible. We help Labour’s family measures. A daft situation has emerged in Quangocracy: Let’s cut their total number by 20 We could be the voice in Europe for cheaper food and create an audit culture which puts safety first, and all the which so much money is wasted on universal benefits (and per cent and let’s cut their budgets across the lower spending. paperwork that goes with assurance and risk management. I even include the apparently sacrosanct weekly Child Benefit board by 10 per cent. Help the poor; cut food inflation; save taxpayers billions. It’s not just that there are too many words, but that the here) that more tailored schemes – the Childcare tax credit words themselves are too often empty and formulaic. I’ve – are underfunded. This tax credit, paradoxically, forces

22 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 23 what THE FABIAN ESSAY to spend low-income parents back into unemployment because it’s effect on cutting crime. One 2007 study in Cambridge found not enough to cover childcare completely, and that shortfall that 30 cameras in the city centre had no effect. makes work itself an extravagance. And yet, the UK’s CCTV network is the largest in the Straitened times are exactly when we should revisit the world, and its expansion is the most heavily-funded and whole philosophy of universal benefits, and see whether or costly ’crime-prevention’ measure outside the criminal justice not the disadvantages of means-testing can be solved piece- system. As the Campbell Collaboration put it: “Over the last by-piece, rather than just abandoning the whole idea. decade, CCTV accounted for more than three quarters of total Putting ownership spending on crime prevention by the British Home Office.” So there is a practical, enlightened self-interested reason for scrapping CCTV expansion. The recession offers the Reform pensions, save £45bn excuse. But, as ever, it would be preferable if Labour back on the table embraced the civil-libertarian cause with enthusiasm. The Frank Field is the MP for Birkenhead. You can intelligence of the electorate should not be underestimated. Ownership has not been central to social follow his blog at www.frankfield.co.uk They may not all be progressive or liberal. But nor will many democratic thinking for generations. But it should sympathise with needless authoritarianism. be central to what comes next, says Stuart White. Cuts in public expenditure are required to prevent the Stuart White is a lecturer and tutor currency collapsing as a result of a gilt strike. Radicals in Politics and Director should welcome such an opportunity to achieve objectives Stop ministers using official cars of the Public Policy Unit that were never achieved during a period when public at Oxford University expenditure grew at undreamt of rates. A cut by a radical Chris Mullin is the MP for Sunderland South. government could set the course to abolish pensioner He recently published a volume of diaries poverty and take £45bn or so out of the bottom line of the entitled “AView from the Foothills”. Social democracy is a movement for a more equal, and thereby Gini coefficient measure of inequality, averaging for five year public accounts. more free, society. But what policies and institutions are periods since 1982, we get the following picture: 1982-86: 0.644; I have been lobbying the Government to adopt a reform I would reduce the size of the Government car pool. Only important in achieving a society of free and equal citizens? 1987-91: 0.648; 1992-96: 0.664; 1997-2001: 0.694; 2002-03: 0.690. building a funded scheme around the state pay-as-you-go Cabinet ministers requiring security should be entitled to an At the turn of the last century, social democrats would Wealth inequality matters because the ownership of retirement pension. The aim would be, over time, to ensure a official car as of right. The rest should be allowed to use the unhesitatingly have said that changes in the ownership and financial assets is important to personal freedom and to minimum pension, taking every pensioner out of poverty. It pool only on the basis of need. control of wealth are fundamental to the project. On the one equality of opportunity. Assets are important to freedom, would mean individuals saving more for their retirement but The present system is hugely wasteful. At the moment hand, they looked to the rise and continued growth of the firstly, because they give individuals material independence – they would do so in the knowledge that their savings would every minister, permanent secretary and some other senior cooperative sector as a route to the just society. On the other, they holding wealth of one’s own, one is less dependent on others. be buying a guaranteed wage-indexed pension. officials have the use of an official car and driver, but for focused on ownership of productive assets by the state at both One can more readily walk away from abusive employers or The reform would then kick in mega public expenditure most of the day they are unused. Ministerial cars spend local and central levels. In the course of the twentieth century, spouses because one has some resources of one’s own to draw savings. The sharply rising means-test bill for pensioners – much of the day parked either in Speaker’s Court or outside however, the social democratic imagination contracted. The on. Assets are also important, second, in enabling people to now at £15bn – would be set on a downward course. With a their minister’s department. commitment to widespread public ownership was jettisoned, approach life in a creative spirit. Those who hold assets are able minimum pension in place the £30bn tax subsidy for pension The entire system is predicated on maximum use of the for good reasons, by the revisionists of the Labour Party in the to ask themselves “What do I want to do with my life?” in a savings could be phased out over a couple of decades. Here car. Government chauffeurs earn a low basic wage and rely 1950/60s. They sought to replace it with a distinctively social way that many of those without assets simply are not. Related is £45bn out of the bottom line over two decades – and this on overtime to make up their salary. They are, therefore, democratic conception of a ‘property-owning democracy’ to this, assets confer all kinds of opportunity, for example, sum alone might prevent the Government collapsing due happy to be kept hanging around. (Jackson, 2005). But this made little headway in the party and, to set up a business, to move, to undertake new training or to the inability one week to sell another shed load of debt. What often happens is that a minister forms a close following the rise and fall of Bennism, a strategy for radically simply to take time out from the labour market so that one relationship with his or her driver and soon starts inventing reforming the distribution and control of wealth effectively can maintain one’s vitality. A society is unlikely to achieve the things for them to do so they can maximise their earnings. dropped out of Labour’s social vision. ideal of equality of opportunity unless it achieves a modicum Over the years I have come across several ministers who ask As part of the task of renewal, Labour needs urgently to of equality in asset ownership. Particularly important, both Halt the rise of CCTV to be collected from their constituency each Sunday evening bring questions of ownership back into its field of vision, and for individual creativity and equality of opportunity, is asset and driven to London, just to keep their driver in overtime. to do so explicitly. One can see some modest first steps in this ownership in one’s early adult life when so many important James Macintyre is the political correspondent Some also have their red boxes delivered by car during direction under New Labour. But the steps remain too modest life-shaping decisions are made. for the New Statesman recesses, even though the Post Office operates a perfectly relative to the challenges we face, and they are not informed by The issue is not simply how wealth is distributed, however, reliable delivery service for a fraction of the cost. a coherent sense of what an alternative egalitarian capitalism – but how it is controlled. We are in the middle of a deep economic It is Labour’s responsibility to come up with radical When I was first made a minister in July 1999 I was or post-capitalism – might look like. recession precipitated by irresponsible lending practices by alternative cuts to counter the likely ‘Tory cuts’ to spending horrified to discover that the Government Car Service was There are a number of reasons why this is so crucial now. financial institutions. A large amount of the wealth at play in on basic public services. charging my office almost £1,000 a week for an official car First, wealth inequality in the UK is very high (higher than financial markets is owned by large institutional investors, such As well as abandoning ID cards the Government should and driver for which I had no use, but it proved extremely income inequality): as of 2003, the wealthiest 1 per cent owned as pension funds, which draw their underlying wealth from the abandon the expansion of CCTV which – besides being difficult to shake off. 21 per cent of marketable wealth, the least wealthy 50 per cent mass of wage workers. But workers who pay into pension funds authoritarian – has been shown repeatedly to be ineffective Reducing the size of the car pool would save a small but owned 7 per cent of marketable wealth (http://www.hmrc. typically have very little control over how their investments are when it comes to preventing crime. significant amount of money, and would be a signal that we gov.uk/stats/personal_wealth/table13_5.pdf). Second, there used. Their investments are deployed in the market in ways Last year, police themselves admitted the cameras – of are serious about encouraging less use of the car in cities. is considerable asset poverty: absolute lack of financial assets. that can contribute to the kind of crisis that has unfolded in the which there is one for every 12 people in the UK – helped As of 2005/6, 35 per cent of UK families had no savings, and past couple of years. The same workers may then be on the solve only 3 per cent of London’s street robberies. Last another 21 per cent had less than £1,500 in savings (Social receiving end of the job cuts and other costs associated with month a review of 44 research studies, carried out by the Trends 38, 2008, Table 5.21, p.76). Third, over the past couple the recession. As Robin Blackburn has argued, contemporary Campbell Collaboration, showed cameras had little or no of decades, wealth inequality has been rising. If we look at the capitalism involves a form of alienation of the worker from her

24 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 25 FABIAN ESSAY own savings: the savings become an entity separate from the capital. The interests of capital and labour are better aligned at Thinking more radically, one might look at certain existing the frequent flyers to never-flyers, with a parallel currency.” worker and are thrown out to seek profit in ways that can hurt the firm level by means of profit-sharing and related measures. public expenditures and consider whether it would be fairer to (Toynbee, 2006) the worker’s own interests (Blackburn, 2002). Capital’s power over labour is also limited by the social divert these into a citizen’s inheritance. Take subsidies to higher (3) Democratizing investment funds. Third, we need to Before considering some specific policies to address these dividend which reduces the dependency of an individual education. These subsidies benefit those in the top half of the address the lack of democratic accountability in the control of issues, it will help to step back for a moment and consider worker on selling her labour-power to an employer. We do academic ability range and disproportionately benefit young investment funds. In California, the public employees’ pension the kind of social vision which might inform policy-making. not necessarily have to sign up to Meade’s model in all its adults from higher social classes. Would it perhaps be fairer fund, CALPERS, uses its control of workers’ savings to pursue Of immense help here are two thinkers: on the one hand, the details, of course. But it represents the kind of ‘big picture’ to use the funds instead to finance a generous capital grant a vigorous ethical investment strategy (see their website at greatest political philosopher of the twentieth century, John thinking about the economy which social democratic – or, at for all young adults on maturity? It is hard to see what social http://www.calpers.ca.gov/). It is an example of how direct Rawls; on the other, the Nobel laureate economist, James Meade. least Labour Party – thinking has for too long lacked. It offers democratic principle of equity justifies giving the lion’s share popular control over popular savings can be used to make Rawls’s A Theory of Justice, first published in 1971, can a reasonably concrete ideal against which we can consider of public spending on young adults to the most academically investment decisions more socially responsible. be seen as the culmination of a century’s rumination on the individual policies. inclined (who, as said, also tend to come disproportionately Robin Blackburn has set out some interesting ideas liberal left about the content of social justice and, in particular, So, keeping Meade’s model in mind, what sort of policies from higher social classes). about how develop this approach. On the one hand, a social on how to integrate the claims of liberty and equality. It is might Labour – or some progressive cross-party coalition democratic government can seek to increase the direct in the tradition of John Stuart Mill, Leonard Hobhouse and – adopt to address the problems of wealth distribution and Social democrats need to ask accountability of institutional investors, such as pension funds, R H Tawney. As Rawls makes clear in the introduction to control identified above? I will briefly note three possible areas to their savers. Second, echoing an earlier proposal of James the revised edition of the book, a society of free and equal for policy development here. again what sort of economy they Meade, Blackburn calls for the state to impose a capital levy citizens is not achieved merely by ‘welfare-state capitalism’. (1) The citizen’s inheritance. The lack of wealth can be on firms, requiring them to issue new shares for a period It requires either a ‘liberal socialism’ or what he terms addressed directly by endowing all citizens on maturity with fundamentally want. Then they need to designated social funds. These social funds will then be ‘property-owning democracy’: a decent sum of financial assets: a citizen’s inheritance. This to consider how measures to manage controlled by management bodies which draw on trade is a variation on Meade’s idea of a social dividend, except unions and community groups (Blackburn, 2002). This can ‘...the background institutions of property-owning democracy, that the grant takes the form of capital rather than a periodic the economic crisis might help in be seen as a variant on Meade’s idea of the community fund, with its system of (workably) competitive markets, tries to income. New Labour has in fact taken the first crucial step in albeit with more emphasis on democratic accountability in the disperse the ownership of wealth and capital, and thus to prevent this direction by introducing the Child Trust Fund (CTF). The constructing this alternative economy management of the fund. a small part of society from controlling the economy and indirectly state gives all citizens a small sum at birth (and a further sum Such ideas are clearly very radical. The Swedish Social political life itself. Property-owning democracy avoids this, not by at age seven) which is invested and accumulates as they grow (2) The fair taxation of wealth. The flip-side of the citizen’s Democrats attempted to move in this direction in the 1970s redistributing income to those with less at the end of each period, up. Families may also contribute into the fund. Once put in, inheritance is the fair taxation of wealth and wealth transfers. (under the so-called Meidner plan) and they were largely so to speak, but rather by ensuring the widespread ownership of monies cannot be withdrawn from the fund, ensuring that One obvious anomaly here at present is the lower rate of tax on defeated. But context matters. We are, as said, in the midst productive assets and human capital...at the beginning of each all citizens will receive some capital of their own at age 18. capital gains relative to income, a standing invitation to the high- of a deep economic recession, one which raises some basic period....The idea is not simply to assist those who lose out through New Labour has also introduced the Saving Gateway. This paid to take their pay in the form of wealth, e.g., shares, rather questions about the merits of capitalism in its neo-liberal accident or misfortune (although this must be done), but instead provides matching subsidies to poor households who save than wages. It is also vital to defend the principle of inheritance form. It is, of course, crucial to manage the crisis. But it is no to put all citizens in a position to manage their own affairs and into special accounts (the proposed match rate is 50 per cent, tax. However, there is also a strong case for reforming the tax. less important to integrate crisis management with a longer to take part in social cooperation on a footing of mutual respect i.e., the government will put 50p into the account for every £1 At present, the tax is based on the size of the taxable estate at term perspective. Social democrats need to ask again what under appropriately equal conditions.’ (Rawls 1999, p.xv.) saved by the household). This directly addresses the problem death. In principle, it seems much more congruent with the sort of economy they fundamentally want. Then they need of widespread asset poverty. egalitarian aims of the tax to follow Meade’s proposal for a to consider how measures to manage the crisis might help Rawls’s conception of ‘property-owning democracy’ derives A first priority is to defend these existing policies, at least capital receipts tax: to make the transfer recipient pay the tax in constructing this alternative economy. Proposals such as from the work of James Meade, a close associate of the Labour until something better is proposed. The Liberal Democrats based on how much they receive by way of inheritance or gift Blackburn’s and Meade’s are useful as benchmarks against revisionists of the 1950s/60s. In its most fully developed form, remain committed to abolishing the CTF, disparaging it as a and how much they have already received in these ways. As which social democrats can assess the kind of reforms they Meade’s model of property-owning democracy has four key ‘gimmick’, apparently oblivious of how the policy coheres with Meade argued, this gives donors a modest incentive to spread would like to see come out of the present crisis. elements (Meade, 1989): their own philosophy and historic commitments. It is unclear their assets more widely to minimise the tax take. It is certainly Ownership was once central to social democratic politics. (1) Mutualistic firms. Firms take diverse forms but generally how deep Conservative support for such policies is. One more complex and expensive to administer than the present Over time it has been almost forgotten. This has left social use profit-sharing and revenue-sharing mechanisms to can all too easily imagine a future Conservative government tax. But experience from the Republic of Ireland, which has democrats too reliant on other policies and institutions, such determine pay. cutting them given the present crisis in the public finances. operated such a tax since the 1970s, suggests these problems as public services, to deliver their ideal of a society of free and (2) Capital receipts tax. Wealth is taxed across as it is passed However, these policies do stand in need of development. In are not insuperable. equal citizens. The time has come to bring ownership back in. across the generations. The tax falls on the recipient of the the case of the CTF, for example, the decision to allow families A fuller discussion would also need to consider proposals wealth transfer and depends on how large the transfer is and to contribute into the accounts (up to an annual ceiling) could for land value tax and for ways of publicly sharing out the References how much wealth the individual has already acquitted by such lead to individuals receiving highly unequal amounts of value of environmental assets. An interesting example here is Blackburn, Robin, Banking on Death - Or, Investing in Life: The History and transfers. capital on maturity, compromising the policy’s support for the suggestion for personal, tradable carbon use allowances Future of Pensions (London, Verso, 2002). (3) Community fund. The community (local and central equality of opportunity. If the CTF is to become the basis for (floated not so long ago by David Miliband). As Polly Toynbee Jackson, Ben, ‘Revisionism Reconsidered: ‘Property-Owning Democracy’ government) owns a large share of the nation’s productive an effective citizen’s inheritance, at least two further measures describes the policy: and Egalitarian Strategy in Post-War Britain’, Twentieth Century assets (say, 50 per cent). The dividends and capital gains on this seem necessary. First, it is important to increase the initial state “Give every citizen the same quota of energy and let them British History 16, 2005, pp.416-440. portfolio are then distributed among the population. endowments into the CTF from the current rather low sum of buy and sell it on the open market. The half of the population Meade, James, Agathatopia: The Economics of Partnership (Aberdeen, (4) Social dividend. The return on the community fund is £250 (rising to £500 for children in poorer families). Second, it is who don’t fly will make money from selling their quota to the University of Aberdeen, 1989). used to pay a uniform grant to all citizens. important to help low-income households save more into their half who do. Drive a gas-guzzling 4x4 and you will have to Rawls, John, A Theory of Justice: Revised Edition (Cambridge: MA, Harvard What Meade envisages here is a market economy but one children’s accounts so as to prevent substantial inequalities buy a quota from the third of the population with no access to University Press, 1999 [1971]). in which the class division of capitalist society is substantially at age 18. Here the principle of matched savings, familiar a car. Who could complain about such transparent fairness? Toynbee, Polly, ‘This electric radicalism marries green politics with social attenuated. A large share of the return to capital is directly from the Saving Gateway, is again relevant; as David White It is relatively easy to do: swiping a quota card to pay gas justice’, The Guardian, December 16, 2006, online at http://www. dispersed back to the population as a uniform grant. Some of the Children’s Mutual has argued, the state should match and electricity bills or buying petrol is a simpler transaction guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/dec/15/comment.greenpolitics capital remains privately owned, but the tax-benefit system the savings of low-income households into their children’s than Tesco’s complex information on their loyalty card.…it Stuart White is a lecturer and tutor in Politics and Director of the Public works to promote a wide dispersion in the ownership of this accounts, and at a generous rate. in effect redistributes money from the rich to the poor, from Policy Unit at Oxford University.

26 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 27 BOOKS

want some form of global governance, seem, with all fingers crossed, that the created an oversupply of savings and which would tackle the central dilemma great depression that was in prospect caused the financial system to go mad Explaining that the American economy is no longer has been averted; and green shoots are in search of returns on those savings. strong enough to sustain the world starting to look like saplings. Of course, The necessary work of international economy on its own. Finally, those this can still go wrong; but if it does not, institutional reconstruction has pale shadows of my 1968 self, the anti- it represents a triumph for the Keynesian not proceeded far. Banks are being the crisis capitalists, take to the streets in their approach to crisis, and for the ability of allowed to continue at once to be sandals with a miasmic vision (or rather, government, when its will is engaged, to stolid depository organisations and being lefties, lots of competing miasmic use its powers to restore stability. adventurous investment organisations. visions) embracing not just the current Less encouraging however is that it Consumers of financial services, Eminent academic crisis but international development, is by no means certain this approach will in Britain at least, are taking a poor Andrew Gamble’s treatise global warming, and world peace. continue. Powerful forces in society want second place as the authorities strive Professor Gamble is an academic, a return to the ancient regime as swiftly to do everything in their power to on the economic state we’re though of course an academic of the left, as possible. For example, the resistance strengthen banking balance sheets in is a tour de force, says and he is careful to offer predictions of to changes in the bonus culture were (most simply done by allowing them what might happen which span a wide evident almost as soon as the assault to rip off their customers). David Lipsey. spectrum. This is not a book of which, upon it began. Gordon Brown apologised Of course, what the world needs in forty years time, anyone is going to the CBI for the 50 per cent income tax in these circumstances is radical to be easily able to say: ‘did he really rate, as if tackling inequality was no part governments. America now has one (or Photo: Huyuanjia/Rex Features believe THAT?’ Yet, with the benefit of of his government’s purpose. at least it has a radical President). And the months between authorship ending Meanwhile some of the underlying Britain? For all Labour’s tremendous During my obligatory but brief Marxist the policies people now want are more and publication, I would hazard a few forces that caused the crisis remain at achievements in dealing with the crash, flirtation in 1968, we revolutionaries Labour than Tory, few will be confident guesses of my own. work. Nothing, for example, has been we do not have such a government in knew what the crisis of capitalism that the voters will demonstrate that The crash has represented a victory done about China and the oil producers’ office nor in prospect. was. The rate of return on capital was when the General Election comes. for regulatory liberals. For it does now payments surpluses, which in turn The Labour peer forced down, so wages were slashed; Gamble starts with a conventional David Lipsey is a unemployment soared; and soon the description of the present crisis. He then past chairman of the points out that the word ‘crisis’ itself Fabian Society working class marched triumphantly to power, massacring the ruling class has a number of meanings (for example on the way. (Though we were at in medicine it is the point at which the With a stellar cast of the great and the inadequate; how electoral, cultural and Oxford preparing for our great careers, patient either begins to recover or dies). good of social democratic thinking and social change has altered the parameters we assumed that they would spare A tour de force of summaries of the Waving a title which promises a way out for of the left/right axis in politics; and the sympathisers such as us). great thinkers on capitalism follows - yes, those tired of New Labour orthodoxy, need for Labour to approach the issue of The Spectre at That picture of what might happen Hayek, Schumpeter, Keynes, Polyani this book was always going to have equality with greater clarity. the Feast bore no relation to crises past or present; and the rest, which illustrates the central a hard task in satisfying its audience. John Kay and Will Hutton explain the still less any faint resemblance to what theme of this book: the competition of not The grand project which led to three reasons why New Labour has become a by Andrew Gamble might happen in the future crisis now analysts of different political persuasions never-achieved-before victories for the victim rather than the master of markets. Palgrave Macmillan with us. For one thing, the pattern of to produce the most compelling Labour Party is now variously described Kay writes: “In New Labour’s acceptance £14.99 economic growth has reduced the size narrative of what has happened. Few in drowning as in need of reinvention, dying or dead. of the market, there has been something of the working class as we thought the Labour Party probably come across So a tome titled ‘Beyond New Labour’ of the zeal of the convert in the readiness of it. The residual working class has it, for example, but there are swathes of leads the reader to wonder whether it to believe in market efficiency”, while been decapitated, as its most able economists, particularly in the United will describe if it’s possible to rejuvenate Hutton muses that in retrospect, “it seems members have been drawn off into States, who view the crisis as a failure of A host of big names Blair’s project, or whether it will argue amazing that anybody could ever have higher education. Its most effective too much government and regulation. declare New Labour dead that we need to take an axe to it and spell believed that the financial markets alone representative organisations, the trade Try not to laugh. out what comes next. could pioneer a new economic future or unions, have lost members, strength and The final chapter – entitled “what is in this new collection of It’s not altogether surprising that believed for a nanosecond in the efficient legitimacy. Even the working class which to be done?”, though don’t look there for essays, but Jessica Asato this book struggles to do either of market doctrine.” According to Kay, this remains seem more inclined to right wing a panacea – summarises the alternatives. these things, but in spite of that, it is an was because Gordon Brown’s doctrine solutions to crisis (‘send the immigrants Market fundamentalists – those who sees signs of life. impressive attempt at pulling together of market failure, was flawed as it was home’) than to socialist solutions. hold to the theory it is government’s the various conundrums which have based on a “fundamental separation We don’t yet know what the long- fault – want the swiftest return to the come to define New Labour’s period in between economic and political spheres”. term social and political effects of the purest liberalism. National protectionists office, and the political, economic and However, some economic choices are present crisis will be. But, as Andrew want strong states, more protectionism, societal dilemmas which those who care “essentially collective and cannot be Gamble points out in this compelling fewer immigrants and a sustaining about the future of left politics in Britain described as a summation of personal book, they may well not favour the left. welfare state. Regulatory liberals argue need to take on board if the Labour preferences” which means that issues The Great Depression didn’t. It gave that “the excesses of neo-liberalism movement is to remain a relevant force such as top-up fees, funding the long- the world Hitler. Stagflation in the 70s have to be curbed and a new regulatory Jessica Asato in UK politics. Broadly, the book contains term care of the elderly, and executive didn’t. It gave Britain Thatcher. And structure has to be set in place” to end is Acting Director of three main themes: why New Labour’s remuneration cannot simply be answered Progress for all Gordon Brown’s argument that “bubble finance.” Cosmopolitan liberals approach to market intervention is by leaving it to the market. Kay does not

28 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 29 BOOKS OBITUARY reject the use of the market in public Instead, as the introduction argues, democrats must address themselves to services entirely, however, writing that there is a new tension in social democracy the question of “who deserves what in “the ability of consumers to exercise which is emerging which divides into a socially diverse society” and “resolve choice raises standards” and that “the ‘cosmopolitan’ vs ‘communitarian’. an enduring dilemma in a new form: most effective means of getting a good One area where this division can be ensuring that the plight of the worst school is to be able to reject a bad one”. seen is in Labour’s approach towards off resonates with the middle-class Peter Townsend This appears to work against calls migration and identity in Britain. As majority”. So is New Labour the vehicle from Labour’s left that the problem Hannah Jameson argues, “New Labour’s through which to make this change? 1928-2009 New Labour faces is an obsession response to diversity and identity has The editors seem to suggest not: “it is with introducing markets into public been largely piecemeal. The desire our belief that a ‘next generation’ social services, and if only it were to drop this for increased immigration to support democratic project for Britain is needed: focus on ensuring individuals are able a flexible labour market and drive not a reversion to traditionalism, nor to make a choice in receiving services, economic growth has meant having to a further revisionist project on the the public would come flocking back reassure the majority over migration Crosland model”. A third way perhaps? to the party. In fact as Peter Riddell’s fears, often by deploying tough But at least the “next generation of thorough analysis of the electoral rhetoric.” Yet that very rhetoric makes Labour politicians” that Patrick landscape shows, what seems to matter it difficult for new citizens to properly Diamond and Roger Liddle are putting to the public most is not ideological integrate. If Labour is going to remain their faith in, “can draw on the success The death of Fabian Vice President, Peter Townsend, in positioning, but competence. Riddell a progressive, outward looking party, of the New Labour project, confident June robbed the Society of our greatest activist-thinker. also suggests that the growing decline therefore, Jameson writes it will need to that the centre-left is able to win the The acute – and impeccable – social researcher (for in support for greater redistribution and pursue “a greater civic identity, based battle of ideas and govern competently whom government ‘delivery‘ was a cause long before for left of centre positions particularly on a renewed conception of citizenship”. in the name of a more equal and just it became fashionable) co-edited two seminal Fabian among Labour supporters, shows that Neither the old left, nor New Labour, society”. So perhaps New Labour is not books, which forensically reviewed the 1960s and 1970s “the Labour left’s alternative of a return has satisfactorily developed such a basis dying, not dead, just different? Labour Governments. to redistribution and government for moving the debate forward. Both works specifically looked at the impact of policies intervention on behalf of ‘our people’, Finally, what does the book have to so as to improve the effectiveness of government – being a core vote, class-based strategy, has say about the enduring debate around influenced by the failure not just of will but by the inability few electoral attractions”. At the same the question of how to tackle inequality? of perfectly good legislative measures to produce the time, the UK has experienced massive It concludes by suggesting that while Beyond New intended social reform. Labour and Inequality reviewed the change as Roger Liddle and Simon New Labour has made “significant Labour 1966-70 Labour Government, whilst Labour and Equality Latham’s chapter describes in great strides in reducing poverty”, it also took on the 1974-79 Governments, the latter giving greater Methuen detail, leaving traditional old labour “under-estimated the profundity and attention to individual rights and outlining a broader £14.99 vs new dichotomies looking a little complexity of the inequalities challenge concept of social policy. The first book documented the them. Meanwhile, Peter, as Chairman, kicked off the irrelevant. in modern British society”. Social “sad fact” of the lack of impact on inequality, the second traditional autumn lectures in 1966 with an attack on the also recording the “intensively disappointing” outcome of Government’s half-hearted approach to health and welfare five years’ of government. services and to the poverty of large and fatherless families, Townsend never wavered from the belief that it was the as well as the Government’s failure to live up to socialist Labour Party which could – and should – “light a flame in and egalitarian principles. FABIAN What should we be reading? a world of injustice and inequality”, to use Peter and Nick The themes of poverty and equality both pre-dated Advertise your latest book, pamphlet or publication on our Bosanquet’s words. To his last moments he hoped and Peter’s Fabian books and continued to appear in the titles bookshelf.For more information contact Ed Wallis 020 7227 worked for a party and government which would radically of nearly all his subsequent publications and positions BOOKSHELF 4911 or [email protected] change society. with, later, a further broadening of his involvement to Fabianism ran deep through the Townsend veins. In encompass the international dimension of social policy, addition to his many Fabian publications and regular which became a major driver by the end of his life. (Indeed, attendance at AGMs, schools and conferences, he chaired the title of his LSE Chair was Professor of International the Society’s social policy committee from 1970 to 1982 Social Policy.) His final Fabian writing was earlier this year (throughout my tenure at Dartmouth Street, which allowed when he contributed “The 2009 Minority Report on the me the great privilege of working close to such an icon for World Bank” to the commemorative booklet for the 1909 my generation of sociologists), and from 1966 to 1967, Beatrice Webb’s Minority Report on the Poor Law, From the he chaired the Society during one of the most significant Workhouse to Welfare – testimony to his lifelong devotion to periods of its development. eradicating the causes – and – effects, of poverty. Following the 1966 election (which returned a Peter Townsend was a thinker, an activist, a Fabian, majority Labour Government), the Executive Committee an internationalist, a writer and a researcher. He was also decided that the Society should be the “Labour Party’s generous of his time and concern for others, humane, and friendly critic” and launched a series of debates with a great family man. ministers. Fabians regarded such a dialogue between And his legacy to the Fabians and Labour? Never stop the Government and its thoughtful friends as essential – acting on poverty – or inequality. and expected ministers to listen even when the candour of friends speaking in a good cause became hurtful to Dianne Hayter, former General Secretary, Fabian Society

30 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 31 FABIAN SOCIETY Listings A note from Local Societies Officer, Deborah Stoate The Local Societies House of Commons Tea It’s a chance to meet other local members socially but is also is an annual event which attracts members a chance to participate in what is usually a memorable meeting. BIRMINGHAM DARTFORD & GRAVESHAM Maloney on 07757 952784 or email SOUTHAMPTON AREA from all over Britain. I suspect it’s been This year’s all woman panel debated ‘Changing the Culture All meetings at 7.00 in the Regular meetings at 8.00 in the [email protected] for 10 July. Annual Summer Social in happening for over 50 years and I would be of our Politics’ – a serendipitous title, chosen months ago Birmingham and Midland Institute, Ship, Green Street Green Rd at 8.00. details Gosport Margaret Street, Birmingham. For Details from Deborah Stoate on 11 September. Stephen Barnes- grateful if any member could let me know if incidentally – and tea afterwards in the Members Dining Room NEWHAM details and information contact 0207 227 4904 email debstoate@ Andrews on ‘The John Lewis they can remember its inception. gave Fabian MPs and Peers a chance to meet Local Fabians. Andrew Coulson on 0121 414 4966 hotmail.com For details of this and all other Partnership’ email [email protected] or meetings Ellie Robinson on For details of venues and all DERBY Rosa Birch on 0121 426 4505 or [email protected] meetings, contact Frank Billett on Regular monthly meetings. Details [email protected] NORTH EAST WALES 023 8077 9536 from Rosemary Key on 01332 573169 BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT Further details from Joe Wilson on SOUTH TYNESIDE DONCASTER AND DISTRICT 17 – 19 July. Tolpuddle Rally 01978 352820 For information about this Society New Society forming, for details and 30 October. Martin Salter MP NORTHUMBRIA AREA please contact Paul Freeman on These pages are your forum and we’re open to your ideas. 27 November. Dr Alan Whitehead MP information contact Kevin Rodgers 0191 5367 633 or at freemanpsmb@ on 07962 019168 email k.t.rodgers@ For details and booking contact Please email Tom Hampson. Editorial Director of the Fabian Please also contact Ian Taylor if you Pat Hobson at pat.hobson@ blueyonder.co.uk are going to the House of Commons gmail.com Society at [email protected] hotmail.com SUFFOLK Tea on 7 July. All meetings at The EAST LOTHIAN Friends Meeting House, Wharncliffe NORTHAMPTON AREA For details of all meetings, NOTICEBOARD Sunday 2 August. Summer Garden contact Peter Coghill on 01986 Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth at 7.30. Party. 1.00pm New Society forming. If you are Contact Ian Taylor on 01202 396634 873203 September (date tbc) Visit to the interested in becoming a member for details. Scottish National Library. Details of of this new society, please contact SURREY BRIGHTON & HOVE this and all meetings from Noel Foy Dave Brede on davidbrede@yahoo. Regular meetings at Guildford com Regular meetings. Details from on 01620 824386 email noel.foy@ Cathedral Education Centre. FABIAN EXECUTIVE The global change we need Maire McQueeney on 01273 607910 tesco.net NORWICH Details from Maureen Swage on 01252 733481 or maureen.swage@ email mairemcqueeney@waitrose. FINCHLEY Anyone interested in helping to re- ELECTIONS com btinternet.com If you’re interested in joining this form Norwich Fabian Society, please Lecture from the Foreign Secretary, CANTERBURY new Society, please contact Brian contact Andreas Paterson andreas@ TONBRIDGE and TUNBRIDGE headswitch.co.uk WELLS Call for nominations New Society forming. Please contact Watkins on 0208 346 6922 email Rt Hon David Miliband MP Ian Leslie on 01227 265570 or 07973 [email protected] PETERBOROUGH All meetings at 8.00 at 71a St Johns Rd. Details from John Champneys 681 451 or email i.leslie@btinternet. GLASGOW Meetings at 8.00 at the Ramada Closing date 10th August 2009 com on 01892 523429 7th November 2009 at Amnesty International UK. Now holding regular meetings. Hotel, Thorpe Meadows, CARDIFF AND THE VALE Contact Martin Hutchinson on Peterborough. TYNEMOUTH Details from Brian Keegan on 01733 More details to follow this summer… 14 July. Nick Davies and Darren [email protected] Monthly supper meetings, details Nominations are now invited for: 265769, email brian@briankeegan. Williams – authors of ‘Clear Red from Brian Flood on 0191 258 3949 GLOUCESTER demon.co.uk • 15 Executive Committee places Water: Welsh Devolution and Regular meetings at TGWU, 1 WATERSHED Socialist Politics’ Pullman Court, Great Western PORTSMOUTH A new Local Society in the Rugby 22 October. The Lady Morgan • 4 Local Society places on the Executive Rd, Gloucester. Details from Roy Regular monthly meetings, details area, details from Mike Howkins Lecture will be delivered by the Rt Ansley on 01452 713094 email from June Clarkson on 02392 email [email protected] or J David Hon Peter Hain MP • Honorary Treasurer [email protected] 874293 email jclarkson1006@ Morgan on 07789 485621 email Details of all meetings from MEMBERSHIP SURVEY hotmail.com [email protected]. All Jonathan Wynne Evans on 02920 594 HARROW • Scottish Convenor meetings at 7.30 at the Indian 065 or [email protected] READING & DISTRICT Regular monthly meetings. Details Centre, Edward Street Rugby CV21 • Welsh Convenor We’re conducting a survey of Fabian members which will CENTRAL LONDON from June Solomon on 0208 428 For details of all meetings, contact 2EZ. For further information inform debate at the next AGM. 2623. Fabians from other areas where Tony Skuse on 0118 978 5829 email contact David Morgan on 01788 Regular meetings at 7.30 in the Cole there are no local Fabian Societies are [email protected] • 12 Young Fabian Executive places Room, 11 Dartmouth Street, London 553277 email jdavidmorgan@ Details will be sent via email: if you don’t have online access, very welcome to join us. excite.com SW1A 9BN. Details from Ian Leslie SHEFFIELD please write to Calix Eden, 11 Dartmouth Street, London, SW1H on 01227 265570 or 07973 681451 HAVERING 18 September. Dr Jonathan Perraton, WEST DURHAM Election will be by postal ballot of all full 9BN or phone 020 7227 4917 for more information. CHELMSFORD AND MID ESSEX 24 July. Cllr Kath MacGuirk. 8.00 at Academic Economist, University The West Durham Fabian Society Roope Hall, Station Rd, Upminster. of Sheffield on ‘A Very Peculiar national members and local society members. New Society forming, for details welcomes new members from all August (date tbc) Evening Tour of Crisis for Capitalism’. 7.30. Further areas of the North East not served Nominations should be in writing and of membership and future events, the Olympic Site. information, Rob Murray on 0114 please contact Barrie Wickerson by other Fabian Societies. It has individuals can nominate themselves. Local Details of all meetings from David 2558341 or Tony Ellingham on 0114 a regular programme of speakers on 01277 824452 email barrieew@ Marshall email david.c.marshall. 2745814. laterre.wanadoo.co.uk from the public, community and society nominations should be made by local [email protected] tel 01708 441189 Regular meetings on the 4th voluntary sectors. It meets normally Thursday of the month, 7.30 at the societies. At least two of the 15 national CHESHIRE HERTFORDSHIRE on the last Saturday of alternate New Society forming in Northwich Quaker Meeting Room, 10 St James months at the Joiners Arms, members and one of the four local society AGM resolutions Regular meetings. Details from Street, Sheffield S1. Details and area. Contact Mandy Griffiths on Robin Cherney at [email protected] Hunwick between 12.15 and 2.00pm members elected must be under the age of [email protected] information from Rob Murray on – light lunch £2.00 Any full member, national or local, may submit a ISLINGTON 0114 2558341or Tony Ellingham Contact the Secretary Cllr 31 at the AGM on 14th November 2009. CHISWICK & WEST LONDON on 0114 274 5814 email tony. For details of all meetings contact Professor Alan Townsend, 62A Nominees for both national and Young Fabian resolution to the AGM. The deadline for resolutions is 30 April. Mike Parker on ‘What Pat Haynes on 0207 249 3679 or [email protected] Low Willington, Crook, Durham Labour Could have done in Transport’ email [email protected] SOUTH EAST LONDON DL15 OBG, tel, 01388 746479 elections should submit a statement in support 10th August 2009. They should be addressed to the 8.00 in the Committee room at email alan.townsend@wearvalley. Chiswick Town Hall MANCHESTER 24 June. Fiona MacTaggart MP on of their nomination, including information about General Secretary at the address above or emailed to ‘Parliament and Prostitution’. Meet gov.uk Details from Monty Bogard on Details from Graham Whitham at 8.00 at 105 Court Lane, Dulwich themselves, of not more than 70 words. 0208 994 1780, email mb014fl362@ on 079176 44435 email WEST WALES [email protected]. Resolutions will be London SE21 7EE blueyonder.co.uk [email protected] Regular meetings at Swansea 5 August 7.00. Summer Social with and a blog at http://gtrmancfabians. Guildhall, details from Roger Nominations should be sent to: Fabian Society circulated in the Autumn issue of Fabian Review and CITY OF LONDON talk on Sewers by Brian Keegan. blogspot.com Warren Evans on roger@ Elections, 11 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H For details contact Alan Millington 30 September. Dan Whittle on warrenevans.net amendments will be invited. Please contact Calix Eden on [email protected] MARCHES ‘Young People and Political 9BN. Or they can be faxed to 020 7976 7153 New Society formed in Engagement’ WEST YORKSHIRE at [email protected] or phone 020 7227 COLCHESTER or emailed to [email protected]. Shrewsbury area. Details on www. 28 October. Benni Dembitzer on ‘The Details from Jo Coles on Jocoles@ Details from John Wood on 01206 MarchesFabians.org.uk or contact Forthcoming World Food Crisis’ yahoo.com Please write the position nominated for at the top 4917 for more information about the above. 212100 or [email protected] Kay Thornton on Secretary@ For details of all future meetings, of the envelope, fax or subject line of the email marchesfabians.org.uk please visit our website at http:// WIMBLEDON CORNWALL mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ New Society forming. Please contact and please confirm receipt. The closing date for Helston area. New Society forming. MIDDLESBOROUGH selfs/ Regular meetings; contact Andy Ray on 07944 545161or For details contact Maria Tierney at New Society hoping to get Duncan Bowie on 020 8693 2709 or [email protected] if you nominations is 10th August 2009. [email protected] established. Please contact Andrew email [email protected] are interested. 32 Fabian Review Summer 2009 Summer 2009 Fabian Review 33