CNJ COMMENT - Problem of playing it safe while the cuts bite deeper

Published: 11 November, 2010

Which is better:

playing safe politics or engaging in the bumpier politics of principles and morals?

This dilemma is confronting all serious Labour councillors and, probably, some Lib-Demmers – councillors 

as well as members – in Camden and elsewhere.

As the steamroller of cuts approaches – and each day the scale and shape becomes clearer – the dilemma bites.

At present, Ed Miliband and colleagues are playing it by the book.

Those affected by the cuts should not take to the streets – and certainly not in the French or Greek-style – but should navigate the proper channels provided by the council. 

Safe politics to a tee.

Meanwhile, dragged to face both ways, Labour in Camden appear to be opting for a slightly low-risk strategy of bigging up the nature and size of the cuts and, in threatening to implement them, say to the people of Camden: Don’t blame us – blame the government.

This allows Labour to become a bit of a by-stander while protests, if any, are being made – though it remains at risk of losing support in the slipstream of argument.

Public opposition – excepting yesterday’s students’ demonstration – has hardly raised its head,  largely because George Osborne’s analysis of the state of Britain’s finances, overwhelmingly accepted by the media, finds fertile ground.

But sooner or later the counter-view, that the cuts are unnecessarily too deep, and are essentially counter-productive, will begin to make inroads into the public consciousness.

Slowly, there is an emerging awareness, for instance, that a serious attempt by Revenue and Customs to claw back tax liabilities of big companies would yield up to £100billion – two thirds of the deficit calculated by the Treasury.

Only when the counter-view becomes more omnipresent will it be possible to properly assess public reaction. 

Until then Labour in Camden seems to feel it is best to sit tight.   

Some may feel it should do more to throw light on the alternative picture of the economy even though the national leadership of their party appear to be indifferent to the counter-view held by eminent economists.