I’m reading all the virulent Press about Corbyn being an extremist who will break the country. Every possible problem is blown into a crisis. The anti-Semitism, the cost of nationalising, the bullying tactics of Momentum, the sharing of platforms with unpleasant terrorists.
No stone is unturned as the Tory media react hysterically to the possibility of a real Labour government the likes of which we haven’t really had since the 1940s – you know – the one that brought in the NHS and Welfare State – the one that the Tory media shrieked was going to break the country and was a bunch of commies.
I think we need to put aside all this stupidity and focus on the real stuff – the policies.
Votes do matter as we see. We’ve had this bunch of unpleasant Tories in power wreaking havoc on public services, forcing austerity and creating Brexit because of the way people voted.
We really do only have a choice between two. We either get a Tory government or a Labour one. No other party has a chance of forming a government.
Ultimately it is not about personalities or all the peripherals; it is about policy.
So a comparison of policies is in order:
Tory Policy
a. Tax cuts for the top end
b. Tax cuts for corporations
c. An austerity programme for everyone else
d. Pay freezes, cuts and lousy pension changes for all public services
e. Crisis in education, policing, the courts, the NHS, councils, social services
f. Forcing people into the gig economy
g. Further cuts in welfare and a hit on pensions
h. A hard Brexit
Labour Policy
a. A progressive tax regime that will take a modest amount off the top end and corporations
b. Borrowing money while it is cheap to fund infrastructure projects and the future
c. End austerity
d. Fund public services properly and end the crisises
e. Nationalise key industries (Power and Rail)
f. End pay freezes for public servants and address the crisis in schools, NHS, police etc.
g. Fund education and invest in the future
h. Remove draconian Student loans
I. A soft Brexit
For me it is obvious. Labour policies make complete sense. They can be afforded. They are fairer and they would create a much happier country.
I think that borrowing to invest in the future and stimulate the economy will pay handsome dividends. I think these policies of Labour will address the grotesque inequality that has built up. I think nationalising will put profits into the economy and not the pockets of fat cats.
I think saddling our kids with huge debt is wrong.
I think investing in education is investing in the future.
But you can make your own choice! Just don’t preach at me with stuff straight out of the Daily Express!!