The Labour Party once considered to be the masters of spin has become completely dysfunctional and politically illiterate. After almost thirteen years in government one would expect that their official website www.labour.org.uk would make some attempt to represent their 'achievements'.
Not a bit of it, it is headlined with an attack on Cameron for not offering a referendum on a treaty that THEY have ratified. They are trying to nail him for failing to close the stable door that THEY opened to allow the horse to bolt.
This takes them from spin into the realms of deceit. It was the Labour Party manifesto 2005 that made this pledge:
The EU now has 25 members and will continue to expand.The new Constitutional Treaty ensures the new Europe can work effectively, and that Britain keeps control of key national interests like foreign policy, taxation, social security and defence.The Treaty sets out what the EU can do and what it cannot. It strengthens the voice of national parliaments and governments in EU affairs. It is a good treaty for Britain and for the new Europe. We will put it to the British people in a referendum and campaign whole-heartedly for a ‘Yes’ vote to keep Britain a leading nation in Europe.
A pledge that they broke once it was obvious that the British People did not share their vision for Europe. That is not just my claim, they threatened to expel four of their own MPs for campaigning to honour this pledge. Of course they claim the Lisbon Treaty is very different, not a constitution at all, more spin and lies, even the authors claim it is largely the same.
Perhaps given their dire position in the opinion polls they can be forgiven for headlining their site with David Cameron, surely then they get straight into their achievements. No, not at all, more attacks on the Tories.
This time from the department of work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper with 'Cameron leaving people to fend for themselves.' This from the party who has raided billions from peoples pensions ensuring they cannot do so. She continues "David Cameron says he wants people to take more responsibility, yet the Conservatives are still voting against reforms that increase rights and responsibilities in the welfare system and that are vital to helping more people back to work."No Yvette you are wrong, if these reforms are vital to employment, why have you not made them in the last 13 years? Either you are admitting that you gave been grossly incompetent and inept or they are just vital to your 'welfare constituency'. It is the fact that Labour has failed to tackle the increasing annual welfare bill, which is expected to hit £165 billion this year that the conservatives are opposing. Not surprisingly Labour represents 189 out of the 200 constituencies with the highest amount benefits claimants.
Next comes Ed Miliband 'Overhauling Britain's Energy Infrastructure' finally ten years late Labour has concluded the blindingly obvious and supported nuclear power. Due to more than a decade of inaction to placate their anti-nuclear supporters we now have a race against time to avoid regular power outages. This is nothing to be proud of but at least Labour are talking about themselves at last.
The we get to the final 'News' item 'Gordon Brown on Remembrance Sunday' look as I might I found no apology for failing to bow at the ceremony.
The next section is called Labour Central, a strange title given it kicks of with another story about the Tories lifted three weeks ago from the Carlisle News & Star. It does then go on though to laughingly remind us that 'US foundation names Gordon Brown world statesman of the year' an award made eight months ago by an organisation called 'Appeal of Conscience Foundation' - ever heard of them?
The section ends with an article by Jack Straw entitled 'There is a choice' thankfully on this at least Labour is absolutely correct, there is a choice, and I urge everyone to exercise it when this cowardly government finally calls an election. Choose to consign this dinosaur of a political party to the history books where it belongs.
