Something very odd is happening. People have started joining the Labour Party again. It's a trickle rather than a torrent, but around 1,000 people a month are now being recruited. Although the trend in membership is still down, party officials are delighted that the rate of decline appears to be slowing.
So uncork those champagne bottles, membership is still declining albeit more slowly! But not according to the 'standfirst' introducing the article...
Membership of the Labour Party is, improbably, once more increasing...Only if you are suffering from self delusion.
The rise in Labour Party membership (along with the party's climb up from the mid 20s to the low 30s in the opinion polls)is the return of the party's left wing - previously disenchanted because of the 10p tax fiasco, now thrilled by the party's attempts to nationalise the UK's banking system.
ReplyDeleteA united Labour core vote seems to be around 32% - similar to that of the Conservatives, but unlike the Tories this for Labour is within only 2-3% of the total needed (subject to the other parties' standing) to form a majority government - witness the 2005 General Election. Certainly such a total would deprive the Conservatives of an overall majority at the next election.
This, along with the rise of the political classes, quangocracies and the lack of checks and balances seen in the constitutions of other countries (and the ruthless exploitation of this by NuLab) means that the political system in this country can now be seen as well and truly broken and in desperate need of repair.
In my area we are actively recruiting, and members who had drifted away are back.
ReplyDeleteThe prospect of a GE always helps to focus minds, and Bright is correct in that we're not about to let Tories stroll into Downing St. without a fight.
As for the PM's comments re Brand and Ross being judgemental and unattractive?
Seems to me he was articulating what many of us think. I listened for about 10 minutes to the recording, which was more than enough, and quite honestly, if that’s what passes for comedy; whatever your age, then God help us. They both should have been sacked. If Ross is that good, let him earn his living from other sources, not from hard pressed license payers who appear to very strongly to resent his golden handcuffs of £18 million of our money.
Anon 5.43 - get back into your NuLab hole and don't come out.
ReplyDeleteAnother entirely credible statistic from a party that only ever tells the truth. Why we bother to have other parties beats me. One ought to be enough for anyone: no wonder people are joining in droves.
Iain, we already know that NuLab can't count - this is simply a rare example that DOESN'T screw up the Economy. Perhaps we should be grateful...
ReplyDeleteMartin is not very Bright - he actually thought John Prescott should lead Labour. He also forgets to tell us that Gordon Brown only said that he would have 24 hour drinking laws reviewed - he didn't actually do it.
ReplyDeletePromising and doing are very different but not with Labour where if it is promised enough times their supporters will believe it.
The PM says many things which have no real meaning - we are still awaiting reports from over 40 of the enquiries he set up and last week's blatant but toothless threat against Osborne was wishful but dangerous thinking.
Sir Robin has given us a very perceptive analysis - Brown is achieving a totalitarian state by stealth. In this he is aided by the inertia or willing assistance of the political elite and a Press which is mostly as mentally disciplined as a terrier in a wood.
My word verification - INGIECT?
ruth kelly's plaything said...
ReplyDeleteAnon 5.43 - get back into your NuLab hole and don't come out.
As Corporal Jones in 'Dad's Army' would say.....
;0)
Some news. Labour's voting membership (those less than 6 months in arrears with their subs)is probably under 150,000 and falling.
ReplyDeleteCompare and contrast with membership of the National Trust of 3.56m, or of the Royal Horticultural Society of 370,000; actually, even the ruddy Women's Institute with 215,000 have substantially more members than the Labour Party.
It's not that people aren't interested in political issues any more, nor that they're not willing to pay subs to be members of an organisation any more - it's simply that Labour is dying on its feet. It's membership is old. It can't field enough council candidates who have mastered cursive script and can breathe with their mouths closed. It's in its terminal stages.
Nothing is going to halt its final decline into a small regional fringe party with a few MPs and a handful of councillors in the NE and NW.
And good riddance.
Meanwhile the rate of decline in Tory membership is what exactly?
ReplyDelete