Simon Jenkins rails against the dearth of progressive choice in modern politics. Of Labour: "The withering of the party apparatus and of its base in the unions and local government left nothing to which future reformers might grasp."
Of the Lib Dems: "They were beguiled by the magnetism of the vacuous centre."
The result? "Those on the left who are against the current wars, the drug laws, an authoritarian Home Office and a centralised state have no voice. Nor do those who want to see bankers taxed and local council housing surge."
His prescription: "At present [democratic equilibrium] needs a Labour party. Someone should found one."
I disagree, obviously. You can have all those things and sustainable economics too, with Greens. But you'll never again see a Labour Party able to deliver them (which I agree is a sad state of affairs).
I'm reminded of this curious paean to Clem Attlee in the Daily Mail. That's what you can't have back, right there.
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