The Left is alive and kicking – Tristram Hunt

Last night the Spectator magazine hosted a debate on the motion: “The Left is Dead.” You’ll be glad to hear the motion was roundly defeated. Now, in a world exclusive, Open Left can reveal the arguments wot won it. Last up….Tristram Hunt.

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The Left is alive and kicking – James Purnell

Last night the Spectator magazine hosted a debate on the motion: “The Left is Dead.” You’ll be glad to hear the motion was roundly defeated. Now, in a world exclusive, Open Left can reveal the arguments wot won it. Next up….James Purnell.

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The Left is alive and kicking – Jonathan Freedland

Last night the Spectator magazine hosted a debate on the motion: “The Left is Dead.” You’ll be glad to hear the motion was roundly defeated. Now, in a world exclusive, Open Left can reveal the arguments wot won it. First up….Jonathan Freedland.

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There’s still life in Labour yet

Writing in the latest edition of New Statesman magazine, James Purnell argues that the centre-left is not in as bad a state as some claim. Labour has, if anything, delivered more than it promised in 1997 and in the process has forced the Conservatives to accept key parts of its ideology, whilst, on the economy and on public services, centre-left ideas are on the up.

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The New Progressives

James Green, Labour PPC for Cheltenham and Young Fabians Candidates Network Officer

While the liberal tradition can teach social democrats about the importance of empowerment; social democrats can teach liberals that, without social justice delivered through an active state, empowerment means little. Only by finding the right balance between liberalism and democratic socialism, extending individual liberty while defending social justice, can Labour build the progressive coalition of the future.

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A Reader

What most makes me angry about the way Britain is now? The inability of politicians to address the real underlying social and economic problems. The failure to tackle issues of inequality and privilege, and the growing inequality of political influence between the rich and poor. Surely, the aim of any politician should be to eradicate problems for all time, not to settle for simply trying to alleviate them temporarily?

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Podcast of Open Left at Labour Conference

Open Left held a fringe event on Sunday 27th September at the Labour Party Conference in Brighton. Listen to the podcast of the event here.

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The Road Not Taken

Rosemary Bechler of openDemocracy.net

I am convinced that the left must seek a different notion of individualism from the Machiavellian/ Hobbesian/ Mandevillian model that underpins much liberal thinking, and that we must pursue a politics that fully recognises and respects the role of individual choice in any modern, pluralist democracy. What would this politics look like?

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Martin Potter

Student and Parish Councillor

Which person, event, era or movement from the past should we look to for inspiration now? I am deeply inspired by the christian socialist movement as it is a very community driven organisation and encourages its members to be active in their communites. Whilst the csm is driven by the ideas of social justice it also understands working class values of strong families and coummunites and a strong sense of civic responsibility that are at the core of working class Britain.

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Holes in Conservative welfare plan

James Purnell, Director of Open Left and former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, is not impressed by the Tories latest attempt to come up with a convincing policy agenda to support people back to work.

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