Power to the people – and trust them too

Writing in today’s Times, James Purnell asks what it would look like if, when politicians talked about empowerment, they really meant – and how this “could inspire a radical Labour manifesto” in relation to schools, democracy and the economy.

3 Comments

We mean power

What if when politicians talked about empowerment thay really meant it? We Mean Power: ideas about the future of the Left, edited by James Purnell and Graeme Cooke, and published today by Open Left, offers an answer to that question. It argues that the goal for the centre-Left should be a Britain of powerful people in a reciprocal society.

No Comments

Back to Work Britain – Graeme Cooke

In the latest edition of Progress magazine, Graeme Cooke, Head of Open Left, sets out the arguments and ideas which Labour should use to demonstrate its commitment to reforming welfare and improving work in Britain.

1 Comment

British Social Attitudes – Anthony Painter

While on the surface it seems that Britain has become more Conservative and more socially liberal, the BSA data relies on the framing of the debate surrounding inequality and welfare.

3 Comments

Fighting Poverty – Kate Bell

Kate Bell picks up our debate about fighting poverty, asking “what is the role of those who use the welfare state in shaping its future development?”

No Comments

Fighting Poverty – David Coats

David Coats continues the debate about poverty, saying “New Labour failed to find a language that engaged public enthusiasm for what, in practice, has been a progressive set of policies.”

No Comments

Renewing the fight against poverty

Kicking off a week of posts on how the Left should renew its fight against poverty, Tim Horton argues that “a new welfare contract must once again be based on reciprocity rather than need alone”. We’ll be posting further contributions to this debate over the coming days. Let us know what you think too.

No Comments

Great Idea

The Times is reporting that Labour is planning to make a jobs guarantee for anyone at risk of long term unemployment a centre piece of its election manifesto. Open Left argued for this policy, and welcomes it as a great idea.

No Comments

Renewing the best of labour traditions

Writing in today’s Guardian, James Purnell puts the case for a radical Labour manifesto, drawing on the best of Labour’s traditions and applying them to the challenges of today. He argues that “Britain has many strengths, but both its markets and its state are too strong. To balance them, we need more powerful individuals, and a more reciprocal society”.

2 Comments

Michael Meacher MP

What one or two changes would make the biggest difference to bringing about the sort of society I want Britain to be? A wealth tax and a Commission to lay down fair criteria for income determination across all classes and occupations; and a radical democratisation of both public institutions and private corporations.

No Comments

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?

No Comments

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?

2 Comments
« go back — keep looking »

  • Join the Mailing List





  • About Demos

    Demos is a London-based think tank. We generate ideas to improve politics and policy, and give people more power over their lives.
    Go to Demos

  • Labour Leader Election events

    Ed Miliband Q&A

    David Miliband speech

    Ed Balls in conversation

    Andy Burnham Q&A

  • Open Left launch





    Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, writes for Open Left about what being on the left means to her. Click here to see what she thinks.

  • Contact Us

    openleft@demos.co.uk


    For an archive of Open Left project press, see here.

  • Open Left Project

    immigration Jobcentre Plus jobseeker's allowance Labour Unemployment welfare