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Long out of power, Labor tries a different tack
March 17, 1997
Web posted at: 8:21 p.m. EST (0121 GMT)From Correspondent Richard Blystone
LONDON (CNN) -- The conservative era changed many things in Britain, not the least the Labor Party. "New Labor," under party leader Tony Blair, is bidding for votes from the center, even from disillusioned conservatives.
But what exactly do they stand for?
The old Labor Party was unashamedly leftist. It ushered in the welfare state, socialized medicine, nationalized industries. Laborites quaintly called each other "comrade."
Labor unions provided most of the funding, and cooperation with them was on the top of the old party's list.
'Winter of Discontent'
In the late 1970s, relations began to decline as the Labor Party went into a tailspin. As a result of Labor spending policies, Britain had to go to the World Bank for a bail-out loan. During the 1978-79 "Winter of Discontent," resentment of the party ballooned.
In 1979, 4.6 million workers went on strike, costing the economy 29.4 million workdays combined. (The total surpasses the number of workdays lost in the last 12 years put together.) Garbage lay uncollected in the streets as laborers showed the Labor government who had the power.
In 1980 voters swept Margaret Thatcher to power with a majority of 33 seats over all parties in Parliament.
Labor has spent the last 18 years out of office.
Blair creating new party appeal
Blair may put Labor back in power. Two years ago, resolving to make the party electable, he and his shadow cabinet amended the party constitution, removed the unions' special position, and lumped them instead with cooperative societies and consumer groups. The new constitution declares right up at the top that Labor is a democratic socialist party.
But much of the last two years has been spent trying to persuade capitalists that Labor is on their side. For example, Labor has made it clear that it would not renationalize enterprises that Labor originally nationalized, and conservatives privatized.
Labor has even promised not to raise income taxes for five years.
The party's overtures to business have allowed disillusioned Tory voters, and even one member of Parliament, to defect to Labor. But the pro-capitalist tone has also made Blair unpopular with old-time socialists.
"Was there ever such nonsense as to say, 'We can bring about a just society, that we can have a harmonious society, but nobody will be taxed anymore?'" said author Leo Abse.
And some businessmen are suspicious that the people behind Tony Blair may be less supportive of business. For example, veteran politician and unreconstructed leftist Dennis Skinner, a Labor MP, who has said that Blair "moved further to the middle than he needed to in order to win." (10 sec. /160K AIFF or WAV sound)
The new Labor supporters
Polls indicate Labor will do well with young people, who have never known anything but Tory rule, but are tired of it. "I don't have faith in them, as I think they're fairly corrupt ... I don't like their social policies and I just don't trust them," said one young woman.
The conservatives can no longer count on the new blue-collar Tories. They gave up knee-jerk voting when they flocked to Margaret Thatcher.
The new Labor's policies also promise to draw European Union supporters. The party favors signing up with the European Union's costly social and employment policies, promising to be more Europe-friendly.
It also promises to abolish the hereditary membership in the House of Lords, and outlaw blood sports, like fox hunting.
And it can't be ignored that, in the 1992 election, Major pulled off a surprise victory in a race thought to be Labor-dominant.
So Labor's action on any of its big promises depends entirely on whether, and how big, it wins in May.
Related stories:
- British elections set for May 1 - March 17, 1997
- Britain may see first-ever televised campaign debate - March 16, 1997
- British ruling party loses parliamentary majority - December 7, 1996
- Britain's political turmoil grows - December 6, 1996
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