Now that the Labour Party leadership contest is over, it will be interesting to observe the process of regeneration that the party goes through.
I would like to see many things change in the Labour Party and I do hope that Ed Miliband will bring lots of change, not only for the sake of the party but for the democratic system as a whole. Real discussions should take place on sensitive issues that have been stifled in the past. A more democratic and accountable party should be created. Labour should think less in terms of spin and more in terms of substance. It is also time for the party to find its real position in the left-right pendulum by adopting truly progressive, centre-left positions.
While in government, the Labour Party adopted a wishy-washy position on many issues. Europe was one of them. Although the victorious 1997 party manifesto aimed at putting Europe on the agenda the issue was never developed to the full. Apart from a very short-lived era of cautious EU-phoria during the first years of Labour government, the question of Europe was widely neglected. Such absence of debate allowed Eurosceptic/extremist elements to manipulate the public debate towards an inward-looking position.
I know that many will be interested in the Labour Party’s ideas on tackling the debt and facing the budget cuts. For all social-democratic parties, health, education and welfare are always on the top of the agenda. Nevertheless, one should not forget the important impact of foreign policies. In the end, Blair and the Labour Party did pay a heavy price for Iraq.
Many in continental Europe want to see the UK lead in the EU. There would be an added value for both the EU and the UK from an active UK participation in finance, economy and foreign policy. There will also be a positive mentality impact on the bureaucratic EU mechanism, since we admire UK officials for their efficiency, flexibility and imaginative solutions.
No country can stand on her own; alliances are necessary. In Europe, the UK can lead. It cannot lead in the rest of the world, on a level with other global/emerging powers such as the USA and China. A partnership cannot really be established on an unequal footing: a small country cannot be hand in hand with the world’s superpower (e.g., USA and the UK). However, the UK can lead in a group of middle-power states which form the European Union.
If the Labour Party will speak the voice of truth on Europe, there is a hope that the public debate will gradually shift to more logical positions. This is by no means an easy task, since large sections of the British media are Eurosceptic. However, one should make an effort in order to put the Europhile argument forward. This cannot just start to happen at the crucial time of elections – by then it will be too late. It has to be cultivated much earlier. It is time for the Labour Party to start speaking the truth on Europe.
#1 by bretagneteaparty on October 11, 2010 - 2:17 pm
with Daniel and you, we have enough “rouges” as it is. the european way is failing but it is saving Greece. for Europe’s sake, Greece should leave the Euro. and you should stop writing so much nonsense.
#2 by David on October 11, 2010 - 7:59 pm
I am a Europhile myself and I totally agree with you Vasilis. I do hope that things will gradually change in the UK when it comes to attitudes on Europe!
#3 by Marcel on October 12, 2010 - 4:53 pm
Oh really, another elitist who thinks the people are too stupid to understand the undemocratic EU is good for them. “If only it is explained properly, they will understand” or so the Brussels elites and their acolytes think.
One problem: explaining how the EU really works includes explaining the near destruction of national parliamentary democracy.
And I’d like to address another pathetic myth you seem to be pushing. It isn’t just the British PEOPLE who are against ‘more integration’. The Dutch, German, Austrian, Danish, Irish etc… are also against ‘more integration’. And on the continent, the press has been bribed by the EU to tell only the EU side of the story. People on the continent get nothing but pro-EU propaganda from their press. Why does that not bother you, oh mr elitist?
Here’s a few facts for you:
-the EU is NOT democratic
-the commission is very much like a politburo
-the Lisbon Treaty saw the EU secretly threaten and bully governments that had promised referendums, and bully a small country that dared to vote ‘NO’: keep voting until you get it right ie Soviet style
-the peoples all across Europe save for possibly Luxembourg are NOT IN FAVOR of political integration, only a tiny minority consisting of politicians and progressive university educated types are
I repeat: it is a lie that the British press is biased, it is far more balanced than the blindly pro-EU/anti-democracy press on the continent. It is also a lie that the PEOPLE on the continent are in favor of more integration.
Why else would the democracy-hating EU work to prevent referendums?
And another thing, we can cooperate in Europe but we do NOT NEED the undemocratic EU for that.
#4 by Marcel on October 12, 2010 - 4:56 pm
Here’s the truth on Europe:
-EU is bad for Europe
-EU is undemocratic and lacks legitimacy
-EU treaties have no legitimacy because no referendums, and ignored referendums
-only people who work for EU or get EU subsidies or press types who get grants or democracy-hating progressive types and politicians are in favor of EU
#5 by Jorge Pereira on October 13, 2010 - 12:19 am
Really Marcel? I dont work for the EU, I dont get any subsidies from the EU but I m still in favour of the EU
#6 by UK-Europhile on October 13, 2010 - 3:54 am
I’m British and very much in favour of the EU, and I agree wholeheartedly with the spirit of this piece.
I was not a labour supporter, and due to the Iraq war became determined never to become one, however if Ed Miliband was to adopt the policies you suggest, coupled with his denouncement of former policy re: Iraq, I feel I could really give the party my support.
I think it betrays a distinct, characteristic lack of self confidence that so many British people instantly dismiss EU integration as “being ruled by Belgians and Danes”. When as you quite rightly point out, the UK could be leading from the front if we put our heart into it.
I also find it ironic that those same people who deride our position in the EU so often seem quite content to accept ‘walking obediently at America’s heel’ as our lot in the world.
#7 by Christoph Koch on October 13, 2010 - 7:46 pm
Now that the EU has become a neo conservative project without a serous veto, I find I have more and more time for the Euro sceptics. Admittedly they are a bizarre set bed fellows, but they seem to be the only alternative to an unholy corporate (US dominated) Europe where the market is the only ultimate solution.