Chuka Umunna is right, both to criticise Cameron
for claiming to have a "One Nation vision for Britain" whilst endorsing Zac
Goldsmith`s appallingly divisive electoral campaign, and for recognising that
"One Nation" should be "more than a platitude" (Tolerance is not enough, 27th
May,2016). The problem is that his vision for the Labour party, as we saw during
the leadership contest, and in his reaction to Corbyn`s victory, is not too
dissimilar to the one the electorate rejected in the last two general
elections.
It is all very well for Umunna, and others on
the rightwing of Labour politics, to admit that they meet people who feel
abandoned "to a broken future" by those in power, but unless they offer
strategies which can change this situation, they should concentrate on getting
their leader elected as prime minister. How many white working class ex-Labour
supporters have defected to Ukip, because they felt Labour had deserted them?
How many Labour voters supported Corbyn because he offered a break from the
party`s leaders being too closely allied to big business, with policies too
similar to those of the Tories?
Ironically, Umunna quotes from the Labour
membership cards that more can be achieved "by the strength of our common
endeavour", and all Labour MPs should take note, but nowhere in the article does
he mention Corbyn! He is correct to support the concept of "One Nation", just as
Ed Miliband was, but if it is to be fully embraced, it has to offer hope to all,
not just aspiring middle-class voters in Tory-held constituencies!
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