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Been asked to elaborate on the term “progressive”. Twitter only accommodates simple, so this may seem woolly: it’s the difference between facing forward as opposed to facing back. As basic as that. The primary engine of progressive politics is geared for forward movement. 1/2
A progressive movement and a non progressive one may have identical aims, but the former accepts reality as it exists and seeks to address a problem with practical solutions; the latter tries to reset to a point it can refight the key battles during which the problem started. 2/4
And since this kind of political reset, like all time travel, is impossible because too many factors external to domestic policy have changed, regressive politics, both on the right and the left, represents to me something akin to a child’s magical thinking. 3/4
I agree with almost all the policy aims of the current Labour leadership. I just don’t think their basic theory that the last forty years can simply be “undone”, is a practical or deliverable solution. Politics must be practical to be effective or it is nothing at all. 4/4
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