An everyday Labour supporters view

Firstly, what does this everyday Labour supporter look like? Well I'm a 29 year old man, a member
of our Armed Forces and serving overseas in the tropical delights of Brunei; not the most everyday
supporter I Know! I was Born in Kingston Upon Hull in the mid 1980s, schooled at state Primary
and Secondary schools in the East of the City and have never gone more then a month without a
job since I got my first paper round at the age of 13. I don't class myself as poor and defiantly not
rich! I suppose you could say I'm verging on calling myself middle class but that sounds somewhat
snobbish so I prefer to say I get what I work for. I am supported by my wife and 2 beautiful children
and try my best to instil in them all that hard work, fairness and equality is what they need to strive
for, traditional Labour values I suppose.
2010 - 2015
I was immensely disappointed in May 2010 to see an end to what I believe was, in the majority, a
massively positive step change for the UK. We saw the Minimum Wage, Education standards
rising, an NHS with the highest public satisfaction ever, Sure Start, peace in Northern Ireland and
that sense that no matter where you came from, if you put in the effort you will reap the rewards.
An economic disaster that was forced on us, not caused by us led to that coming to an end. I was a
very big supporter of Tony Blair, all the way through to the end; I wasn't however the biggest fan of
Gordon Brown but I respected him, I just found his left leaning policies hard to understand after
such a long period of owning the centre of UK politics.
The leadership race in 2010 was totally new to me, I realised i didn't have an equal say as a party
member and I was struck by the reactionary lurch to the left, caused in part by the influence of the t
Trade Unions. In the Armed Forces we don't have Unions as such, and nor should we; but I think
the everyday working man or woman needs to have a voice and for that the Unions play a vital
role. Where I have no time for them is there total belief that the labour party should jump to their
tune on demand! we are a democratic party and the voters are the people we sing to, not them.
I didn't vote for Ed in 2010 for leader, as most of us didnt; but the alternative was either to Gordon
Brown or in my opinion lacked a stable spine with no conviction. The 5 years in opposition are the
first time I have experienced it since the age of 11 and it wasn't comfortable viewing watching
David Cameron looking smug day in day out. In my view Ed was very good at showing us how the
government where not fair and were not treating people equally but seemingly failed to offer a
better alternative that appealed to the masses, again I had huge respect and admiration for the
man and his values, and in all honesty truly believed he would be in Downing Street now, but it
wasn't to be
What now?
This leadership election is either going to put us back into power or it is going to ultimately destroy
the Labour movement. The next 5 years are key and we need a strong, ambitious, firm and popular
leader to effectively project our message but do it from the centre ground. They need to take that
ground, build a fortress around it and protect it with everything in their power. I don't want to see a
leader who constantly apologises for the past, I want to see a leader that wasn't there to apologise
for it in the first place. Fresh, young(ish) and forward thinking; providing a picture for a prosperous,
secure and aspirational country is not to much to ask for.
proper opposition is not about opposing everything the government try to do! we need to accept
that even though we are ideologically opposed to the conservatives, they can actually come up up
with good policies. We should look at each policy with an open mind and objectively; if it is a good
policy that fulfils our aspirational and fairness values then support it whole hardily, if it is totally
against our values then we must oppose as strong as possible while saying why we oppose it and
what we would do differently. All of this can only be done by taking the initiative.

Policies
The next 5 years could be the most important era in modern day Britain and this is how i think we
should approach them.
European Union referendum
A huge majority of Britons see the EU as a broken organisation that doesn't represent them. This
will be the biggest challenge we face in the 2016-2017 referendum. Firstly, there will be a
referendum, we need to accept that and move on; there is no point in arguing over that fact now
when we could take the initiative. The New Labour leader needs to take the fight to stay in from
day one, show a clear vision that even conservative voters would go for. As I have eluded to
already, it is initiative and forward thinking that will make us winners again. A clear, positive
message that a Britain inside of a reformed EU has huge advantages in terms of jobs, freedom of
movement, civil rights and equality. Form a cross party committee to explore what reforms we want
to achieve and then support the government in there fight to have them implemented. Scare tactics
do not work and ultimately back fire. A combined voice for UK prosperity and power because if the
people of the UK vote to leave then we cannot blame David Cameron alone, we ourselves will
also be ultimately be responsible.
Immigration
Immigration is good, it enhances our cultural diversity and strengthens our economy. We need to
balance this against the strains on our public services though. The message needs to be about a
skilled immigrant workforce that benefits our society not lives off it. Strong non EU migrant quotes
with achievable targets and requirements along with a welfare policy that supports migrants who
work and show a clear benefit to the UK. Timeframes on claiming and access to welfare and public
services needs to be the way forward. A prosperous immigrant workforce is one that works in
tandem with British workers. We cant allow the image of Britons in food banks and immigrants in
waitrose!
Scotland
For us, the pain of Scotland is not yet over! The SNP will falter, I have no doubt, it is a matter of
when and not if. The new leader needs to offer an alternative future from the centre ground, ready
to push it through every Scottish letterbox when the day comes. Lets not be bitter right now; it was
our failings as a party and their preparedness to occupy our space that has put us where we are.
We can and will turn Scotland red again but with patience and perseverance, we don't have to
bash the SNP day in day out. Accept that Scotland is not England, they want to determine their
own future but part of the United Kingdom. If we can win back Scotland, we can win back the UK!
NHS
Labour are the party of the NHS. In opposition this has to be one of those areas where we smash
the Tories at every opportunity. They are weak and are perceived to be by the majority of the
country. Our leader cannot allow it to become a second rate, part-privatised mess. Tell the British
public everyday that in our hands the NHS can do for them what they want! simple message.
Education
every hair on my body despises the Tory Free Schools! highlighting everything that is wrong with
their education policy in one go. Continue to oppose them but highlight our long term aspirational
vision at the same time for state Schools. Better pay for teachers, smaller class sizes, new and
refurbished school buildings and more choice in terms of school placements. We should however
increase our engagement with national and local business in terms of academies, this can open up
the whole policy of youth unemployment, further education and apprenticeships. A guiding vision
that every child can aspire to not only go to college and university but can gain those valuable
technical skills through combinations of education, apprenticeships and work. I am passionate
about education and its ability to smash down social classes.

Economy
Here we look weak, not through our actions but because we have allowed ourselves to be
portrayed in that way. we need to have a pro business, big and large, image. Fair taxes and the
opportunity for expansion while protecting workers rights. Our new leader needs to make cast iron
guarantees, even in law if needed, that we will not allow a budget deficit to accumulate through
overspend; this would instantly stump the opposition argument at source! Investment in our public
services, in our infrastructure and in our young will again, in the long term, pay dividends. Living
within our means is as important now as it will ever be. In the same breath we must also remember
that welfare should not be the easiest target to cut costs as our opponents think. The economy has
to be seen to work for all, a non existent welfare state only widens the gap between the rich and
poor; strong investment in getting the poorest richer, not through re-distribution but as part of a
growing successful economy. If we allow the current Tory view of trickle down wealth to continue
then we would have failed in our economic policy.
I think these core policy visions, supported by the equally forward looking other departments can
send the British people the clear and undisputed message they want to see from a Labour
government.
The question we need to ask ourselves is, do we have a potential leader in waiting that can send
out this message with passion, integrity and popular support? Do they have the courage to not
instinctively lurch further to the left but to build that fortress in the centre?
I will always support this party because our values are for all, not a few. I will always put my cross
next to the rose in my East Hull constituency but i don't want to be the only one. I have only a year
and a half left before I move back to the UK, I only hope that by then we are back to been that
progressive Labour Part again.