Labour’s inability to defend its ‘red wall’ - working class constituencies in the North of England and parts of the Midlands has led to excruciating post-election media attention, concentrating mainly on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. But declining support among the traditional working class has been an issue for many years. In response to Labour's 1979 … Continue reading The Forward March of Labour Halted (once again)
Category: Labour’s policies
Labour puts Adult learning back on the agenda
After a torrid debate about Labour’s spending plans, Angela Rayner has indicated which of the Party’s education policies will make it into next week's Manifesto. The Tories, themselves (at least officially) ditching the ‘austerity economics’ of George Osborne and Phillip Hammond, have continued to accuse Labour of ‘reckless’ spending. But as previous posts have argued, … Continue reading Labour puts Adult learning back on the agenda
Labour: the long and the short.
Jeremy Corbyn’s speech at this week’s TUC conference, reaffirms Labour’s commitment to changing the balance of power within the labour market. Alongside the repeal of anti-union laws, Corbyn promised to introduce sectional collective bargaining, something that still exists in many European countries despite the decline of traditional industries. There’ll be a ministry for employment rights … Continue reading Labour: the long and the short.
‘An Economy that Works for all’
Notes accompanying presentation to Ferndale branch, Vauxhall Labour Party (17/01/19). Labour’s policies for the economy not only represent a clear alternative to the Tories, but are also significantly different to those of the Blair/Brown years. Representing a return to the centre-left ‘interventionist’ social democracy of the post-war years, they will encounter (the usual) opposition … Continue reading ‘An Economy that Works for all’
Towards a new Labour State
John McDonnell’s recent address to the TUC demonstrates Labour’s commitment to challenging neo-liberal ideas about the labour market. https://www.tuc.org.uk/speeches/shadow-chancellor-john-mcdonnells-speech-tuc-congress-2018 For the last three decades both conservative and social democratic governments across the globe have deregulated labour markets, arguing that increasing the ‘flexibility’ of workers will make them more productive, increase economic growth and bring greater … Continue reading Towards a new Labour State
Labour – past, present and future:
Patrick Ainley and Martin Allen (in the next edition of Post-16 Educator) Labour’s pedagogic project Like other social democratic parties, Labour was established in opposition to revolutionary communist parties. Backed by the trades unions seeking a better deal for their members, it sought to reform society in the interests of working people through governments that … Continue reading Labour – past, present and future:
Labour’s Techbacc and Apprenticeships.
Martin Allen argues that Labour's manifesto leaves as many questions as it provides answers Claiming to offer a new alternative for young people at the upper end of secondary school and in Further Education, Labour’s election manifesto retains some old themes –particularly in its policies for vocational education where it wants to introduce a Technical Baccalaureate and … Continue reading Labour’s Techbacc and Apprenticeships.
Tristram Hunt and ‘Two Nation’ Labour.
Vocational education is supposed to improve work and employment skills, but many of the vocational courses developed in schools and colleges after the collapse of industrial apprenticeships in the 1970s have not offered real opportunities for young people in the labour market. Instead, a succession of vocational courses and qualifications were introduced, lasted a few … Continue reading Tristram Hunt and ‘Two Nation’ Labour.
Education, Economy and Society 