Labour 2011: New Start, New Opportunities, New Challenges

By Luke Charters-Reid

Let’s be clear. 2010 has been no easy ride for Labour. We’ve faced challenges that no one could’ve ever imagined. The political landscape has changed – and now Labour needs to.

Yes, we achieved great things while in government, but we failed to convey our values to the electorate. We managed to deny the Conservatives a majority in the commons, but now we have seen Thatcherism re-emerge on an unprecedented scale in which the economic climate is being used as a front; a scapegoat for highly ideological policies from this government. The Liberal Democrats have been eradicated almost completely from the electorate’s choices. They have taken the brunt of the public’s dissatisfaction with the coalition, whilst the Tories have gained support since May.

So what does 2011 hold? Further sluggish economic recovery – which is ammo for the Labour Party? I think not. Unemployment will rise which will have a direct impact on people’s voting intentions but the Tories really do have it lucky – the royal wedding and the 2012 Olympics are collaboratively a massive economic stimulus package. The global economy seems to be coming out of the fallout from the banking collapse.

May elections in devolved parts of the UK, the AV referendum and local government elections are huge tests for any party – and closer to home there are big tests for Ed Miliband.

But what we can do is continue to hold the government to account and use our time in opposition to rethink, cool down – and have a fresh start to re-engage ourselves with the public, re-invent the policies which derive from our values and transform them into what Britain needs.

An optimistic outlook you might say? Well yes, for now, but what must change in 2011 is for Labour to reverse the focus of political debate – from the Tories’ having an upper hand to exposing policies that even Thatcher’s government couldn’t have dreamt of delivering.

We need to unite as a movement to create a true driving force for good in British politics.