A progressive alliance between the 3 parties of the left would be a huge gamble, difficult to pull off. It would require genuine audacious leadership. But it could be a great electoral success. This is why. 🧵1/11
Some say that voters would react badly to an "explicit alliance". Perhaps if this alliance was only an electoral pact -presented as purely "opportunistic". But if it was focused on "flagship" policies on which the 3 opposition parties could unite (& hopefully unite the country)2/
-Dignity & security: at work, at home (housing), in old age, in communities (crime)
- Halting the privatisation of the NHS - much more should be said about the recent privatisation of GP surgeries for profit
- A genuine Green programme on job creation & protecting the planet 3/
- Halting the privatisation of the NHS - much more should be said about the recent privatisation of GP surgeries for profit
- A genuine Green programme on job creation & protecting the planet 3/
- Local control to local people: rebalancing the relationship between Westminster & the rest of the UK
- Democracy: electoral reform to make every vote matters
- Key fiscal and economic measures
- a closer less antagonistic relationship with the EU/fixing the TCA 4/
- Democracy: electoral reform to make every vote matters
- Key fiscal and economic measures
- a closer less antagonistic relationship with the EU/fixing the TCA 4/
All parties would remain free to defend other policies where they are their strongest & most importantly to focus on voters the other alliance parties have little chance of winning. Following the GE, they would form a coalition/confidence agreement depending on results 5/
Of course this involves risks. But it would:
1. Be a genuinely exciting change to the way of doing politics in the UK
2. Attract a lot of attention & airtime in the media: finally the opposition would set the "narrative". Bliss! 6/
1. Be a genuinely exciting change to the way of doing politics in the UK
2. Attract a lot of attention & airtime in the media: finally the opposition would set the "narrative". Bliss! 6/
3. Allow the Progressives to depict the Tories as a party stuck in "old divisive politics"
4. Be accepted enthusiastically by most centrist voters left or right who are those who need to be won over
5.Extreme supporters would have nowhere to go. They may abstain but electoral 7/
4. Be accepted enthusiastically by most centrist voters left or right who are those who need to be won over
5.Extreme supporters would have nowhere to go. They may abstain but electoral 7/
reform & GTTO are powerful incentives
The Alliance could be presented as a kind of GNU, a step necessary to modernise the country & bring it into the 21st Century. British people are mostly fed up with our style of politics. The Progressive would be the insurgents. 8/
The Alliance could be presented as a kind of GNU, a step necessary to modernise the country & bring it into the 21st Century. British people are mostly fed up with our style of politics. The Progressive would be the insurgents. 8/
One of Johnson's attraction is that he is not grey & boring. This progressive alliance would be completely new, it would be a gamble but gambles are exciting, it would project optimism.
The alternative is certain defeat. So what is there to lose? 9/
The alternative is certain defeat. So what is there to lose? 9/
Weary resignation, tinkering on the edges, is far more dangerous than attempting something brave & indispensable. The awful truth is that if it does not happen it will be due to a catastrophic failure of leadership by apparatchiks set in their ways & afraid of genuine change 10/
They should know that voters will not forgive them. I had an exchange with my opposition MP & the CEO of an opposition party on this topic. Let them know they should not count on your vote if they fail us in this defeatist way. When there is a will, there is a way.../END
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