"The Right Direction"

This is a thoughtful post and those of us who are Labour members would do well to take heed. It illustrates that Conservatives are not necessarily neo-liberal and that there is an honourable tradition of conservatism that those of us on the left need to understand, but that, if anything, might help define us better.

It also illustrates vividly an apparent realignment of politics. Coupled with a socially liberal position there are some Conseratives who might arguably be said to be to the left of the neo-liberal and authoritarian wing of "New Labour".  It also illustrates perhaps the deficiencies of the left-right terminology - though I think it retains its usefulness overall. Clearly, if one took Thatcher as some sort of aberration of Conservatism (and one might look at Blair similarly as an aberration of Labourism) then some Conservatives - Heath, Macmillan - look some distance to the left of Blair and Brown.

So what is it that distinguishes those of us on the Labour centre-left from Tories such as "The Right Direction?" Speaking personally now I think it is a view of society in terms of underlying class, or social, forces - that actually owes a lot to a Marxist viewpoint (though if you read Churchill for example you will find that a class-based view of history at least is not confined to the left). This leads me to believe that many of the important changes in society and democratisation have been won by the organisation of working people, women, Chartists etc. - they have been won through struggle. There were great Tory reformers of course, Disraeli is an obvious example, but I believe it was the pressure from below that mattered most.

Furthermore these underlying class interests (or whatever you would like to call them) from above or below, also play a powerful role in spite of the rhetoric, or even the programmes that parties campaign under. And one can see the powerful forces of global capitalism acting upon New Labour, in the obsession with market solutions and the unrivalled enthusiasm for privatisation. The influence of the Trade Unions on New Labour has been limited to stemming the neo-liberal tide a little and perhaps raising public spending (but with the neo-liberal three-cup trick of tying public spending to putting money into private sector hands). 

Similarly, if we look at Cameron, the rhetoric might be soft and socially liberal but my impression is of a right-wing neo-liberal programme dressed up as something less right-wing. And these powerful (and internationalised) neo-liberal forces of global capitalism will pull the conservatives rightward in government in the same way as New Labour - and more. Similarly the admirable socially liberal positions argued at the moment by Tories are likely to be modified in an authoritarian direction in government (because the pressures tend to pull governments in this direction).

The state - often viewed with suspicion by Conservatives is the only institution (apart from, in limited cases, the judiciary) capable of tempering the excesses of the market system and delivering some kind of fairness. The voluntary sector, much vaunted by the Tories, and laudable in itself, will in no way take up the slack if spending on, say the health service is cut back. And, if people no longer volunteer, for example, to spend time working with young people and children, then the only solution is for us, collectively, to pay adults in this role. I am deeply suspicious of what a Conservative government would end up doing in practice, as this is the real test. I believe it would end up in drastic cuts in public spending, especially for local authorities, and that would end up cutting services. (Everyone aspires to cut wastefulness of course, but in a bureaucracy this is easier said than done!). This is why I will continue to campaign for Labour at a local and a national level.

I believe that there are plenty of one nation Conservatives out there as conversations with some of my local Conservative councillors has borne this out.

These people like myself agree that the cult of individualism has done much harm to society as people are concerned with only them selves rather than showing due care to those around them this has resulted in loss of a sense of community. While believing that family and friends are very important I also think that those family and friends are also part of a wider community which if possible we should take part in.

One does not have to be any sort of activist to do this. There are many simple things like using local shops and  services, when doing so taking the time to be civil to the staff and anyone else you meet there.Attending local events and even simply saying "Good Morning" to a neighbour.

In the work place I too believe that the best and most successful companies are those that treat their staff well.  While of course pay and conditions are of the up most importance there is also they way that staff are treated. Things like giving them a say in processes/changes/improvements and ensuring that a job well done is praised. Too often far more gets said about something that has gone wrong than when something is going well.

I hope that your voice and those of similar minds gets heard within your party as I suspect that many of those in the most influential positions are Thactherite or have Thactherite sympathies.

Thank you for posting an alternative view point on here.