Your recent editorial on Starmer`s leadership was far too pessimistic (Star,06/04/20). Of course, we all have some misgivings about his victory but rather than assume that he will try to "reverse support for public ownership, real action on climate change and the redistribution of wealth", why not accept his determination to avoid "business as usual" after the crisis?
He has stated already that now we know who the key workers really are, how they have been "overlooked and underpaid", and how "they`ve got to be first". That doesn`t sound too bad to me!
it would mean having future policies, in some cases, more radical than Corbyn`s. Minimum wage would have to rise inexorably, probably by over 50% for the likes of cleaners and shop-workers, whilst pay rises for nurses, carers, doctors and teachers would be also very significant. Massive ax rises for the wealthy individuals and corporations would be necessary, as would more quantitative easing.
Refusing to join any coalition during the crisis is important, but insisting that any loans and bailouts to large companies must be conditional on a whole series of targets related to carbon emissions, pay ratios, and ending tax avoidance should be an early Labour policy.
Too much pessimism these days is demoralising. Let`s hope instead Starmer can prove his doubters wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment