Tom Lennard

Masters student in Social Theory and a care assistant in an EMI ward

I would consider myself left wing because I think society needs to constantly push itself with new ideas, cannibalising the useful parts of what has come before. Though conservatism can have a small, inoffensive c, life is about change – a personal attitude to self improvement mirrors wider social improvement.

1 Comment

Robert

What is it about my political beliefs that put me on the Left rather than the Right? Welfare state, social housing, disability , sickness looking after those less able then most, free education, free NHS.

1 Comment

Tax and the Left

Richard Murphy, Director of Tax Research LLP, argues that little can differentiate the Left from the Right more than attitudes to tax, but the Left has forgotten just what it has to offer. If the Left is to be renewed then so too does its attitude to tax.

7 Comments

Equality and the Left: a follow up debate

Is the capabilities approach a theory of equality? Why might we care about the gap between rich and poor? How could we translate an account of equality into a guide to political action? In a short e-mail exchange, Oxford political theorist Marc Stears responds to questions from Graeme Cooke, Head of the Open Left project at Demos, about his earlier post on different dimensions of equality.

9 Comments

Michael Walzer

American Political Philosopher

The strongest commitment of leftists is solidarity with people in trouble. I don’t mean a desire to help out of noblesse oblige, charitably, but a desire to join with them, as equal men and women, to deal with the trouble—and a willingness to use state power for that purpose.

2 Comments

Equality of what?

Almost everyone on the left values equality of some sort, but few are agreed on what the term implies for practical politics. Oxford political theorist Marc Stears offers a guide to present debates.

3 Comments

Neil Mukherjee

Teaching Support Staff and Graduate Student

I would want Britain slowly redevelop a multicultural outlook towards national identity and for British citizens and all those legally living in the UK to feel not only welcome in the UK but to feel that their contributions, their interests and their wellbeing are valued once again.

No Comments

Robert Young

IT Engineer

We should have the right to choice what groups our country is a member of every 25 years. Not be forced to except membership which may or may not have been right 50 years ago.

No Comments

John Champneys

Retired

How would I describe the sort of society I want Britain to be? We will celebrate the highest common denominator, not lowest common factor. Taditional cultural and intellectual pursuits will be available to all, and cherished by all.

1 Comment

Van Coulter

Student

We need to transform society by making some big changes – similar to the steps taken under Atlee; tiny steps towards change mean that too many fall behind, further and further as the “compensation” is raked in by those without sight or heart for the needs of all.

No Comments

Chris Benjamin

Retired Civil Servant

The current blend of public/private penury, collapsed productive powers, and chronic trade deficit is unprecedented. The fact that it has been allowed to occur is a commentary on the ineffectiveness of our system of governance, and no previous party or personality has confronted the necessity to turn round such a disastrous position.

No Comments

Stephen Purcell

Leader of Glasgow City Council

I am on the Left because I believe that government can improve the lives of the people we serve, not by doing everything for them, but by creating the circumstances in which they can flourish.

1 Comment
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