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In support of further devolution

carlr
16th July 2011 at 22:35
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Don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve a growing suspicion that we will never, in our lifetimes, see a mass movement aiming to renationalise the utilities and infrastructure of the UK; that we will never see a British government that restates the need for a compassionate society and engineers the institutions to achieve this, and we’ll never see a commitment to full employment (whether 5-day week or not) and economic democracy.

Before people justifiably slate me for defeatism, I should point out whilst that I believe that such developments are almost impossible at the level of the British state, it is not impossible to state a case for social ownership at local or regional levels. And it remains vital that representation for socialist ideas in Westminster is strengthened and national activity is mobilised. Yet realistically, even after a massive financial crisis which reduced the banking system to its speculative rubble, the ideas of the left have been denied traction by a media which has successfully turned the crisis back on the public sector, aided by the controlling right-wing cabal in Labour.

It’s in Scotland and Wales, centres of power outside London, that expressions of socialist values can be seen within the political discourse. I think the LRC, and its growing network of local groups, has identified the best chance of making sure socialist ideas - which are more popular than anyone wants to admit - are expressed.

The resulting logic may be that we should support further moves towards autonomy; especially the power to set local taxes, away from London-based control - whether in Essex or Scotland. Our ultimate aim perhaps should be a replacing the UK with a commonwealth of the British Isles, with an upper Parliament serving the different national and regional parliaments and ensuring that we have an infrastructure, humane social minimal standards and a legal system which works for all of us.

Socialist ideas have been driven to periphery, yet that may be where they’re most potent, and where new models can be created.