The party of business
The Tories used to advertise themselves as the "party of business", back in the days when they could sell Thatcherism as fostering enterpreneurism, and they could confidently invoke endorsement from Adam Smith for all manner of corporate-welfare programmes, safe in the knowledge that "The Wealth of Nations" would remain on the book-case collecting dust, unread - the true mark of a "proper" education.
In about 1994, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and their chums realised that Labour were never going to get anywhere unless they were able to demonstrate their commitments to profits, income inequality (which has steadily risen since 1980) and corporate power. And amply rewarded they were.
So impressive has been "New" Labour's performance - with the PFI providing a magnificent route by which corporations can extract profits from the only resource to which they were still denied access by 1997, our public services, only the most prominent of a flood of efforts by Labour to make it easier for firms to make profits, regardless of the effects on consumers (just look at our supermarkets, transport system, hospitals, prisons and tell me taxpayers are getting value for money) that the Chief Execs have fallen in love with Tony and Gordon (it matters not whether the twain can stand the sight of each other).
Not any great surprise, then, that 63 business leaders and major Labour donors should publish a letter in the FT today, also ensuring a front-page story on the matter, to line up in support of the incumbents at the election.
Business leaders have realised that "New" Labour's real commitments aren't to social justice, equality, opportunity and dignity for ordinary people, but to corporate profits. The only puzzle to be solved is, why hasn't the electorate?
In about 1994, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Peter Mandelson and their chums realised that Labour were never going to get anywhere unless they were able to demonstrate their commitments to profits, income inequality (which has steadily risen since 1980) and corporate power. And amply rewarded they were.
So impressive has been "New" Labour's performance - with the PFI providing a magnificent route by which corporations can extract profits from the only resource to which they were still denied access by 1997, our public services, only the most prominent of a flood of efforts by Labour to make it easier for firms to make profits, regardless of the effects on consumers (just look at our supermarkets, transport system, hospitals, prisons and tell me taxpayers are getting value for money) that the Chief Execs have fallen in love with Tony and Gordon (it matters not whether the twain can stand the sight of each other).
Not any great surprise, then, that 63 business leaders and major Labour donors should publish a letter in the FT today, also ensuring a front-page story on the matter, to line up in support of the incumbents at the election.
Business leaders have realised that "New" Labour's real commitments aren't to social justice, equality, opportunity and dignity for ordinary people, but to corporate profits. The only puzzle to be solved is, why hasn't the electorate?
posted by UK plc at 2:38 AM
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