The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

How strong will the Labour left be after the election?

The far left will be in a historically weak position

By George Eaton Published 26 January 2010 17:11

It's often casually assumed that Labour will "lurch to the left" if it loses the next election, with the far left of the party acquiring disproportionate influence. But the evidence suggests this may not be the case.

The Socialist Campaign Group currently includes 23 MPs, but ten of these, including Bob Marshall-Andrews, Alan Simpson and Lynne Jones, are standing down at the next election.

Of the remaining 12, Bob Wareing has been deselected but will stand as an Independent Labour candidate and three (David Anderson, Kelvin Hopkins, Mike Wood) have vulnerable majorities of around 6,000.

Last year the Campaign Group lost two members: Ian Gibson, who resigned as an MP in the wake of the expenses scandal, and David Taylor, who died suddenly in December.

It may be that the group, founded by supporters of Tony Benn in 1981, is boosted by new arrivals after polling day, but many MPs are reluctant to place themselves in the "awkward squad" at such an early stage. Either way, it's likely the far left of the party will be in a historically weak position after the election.

Follow the New Statesman team on Twitter

Special Offer: Get 12 issues of New Statesman magazine for just £12

More from George Eaton

9 comments

Sat, 2010-02-13 21:28 — swatantra nandanwar

Anyone on the hard Left who actually believes that a spell in Opposition fo Labour would do them good, is deluding themselves. To surrender all that Labour has achieved in the struggle of the working man against for forces of capitalism and conservatism since the second world war would be a mistake. I cannot see the logic in anyone of the Left voting in a Tory Govt that would do its damnedest to trample on the rights of the workers, the poor and the most vulnerable in society. It would be a repeat of the 80's.

Tue, 2010-01-26 21:38 — saltyseadog1

I suppose the hard left in Labour is just as sidelined as the hard right are in the Tories, but if Labour don't make a swing to the left of centre then I fail to see them getting back their long term core voters like me who will in all likelihood vote tactically at the next election.
On the other hand it might be a good thing to lose the election and let the Tories in because a lot of the latest generation of new voters have only ever known a Labour government and it could possibly be the straw that breaks the Tory back when they realise that in retrospect Labour were complete amateurs when it comes to corruption,vested interests and fiddling expenses when the Tories are in power.

Tue, 2010-01-26 22:17 — jeremiah

I think that the left in the Labour party will probably enjoy a surge if the party loses power, and this is more likely if it is a heavy defeat.

In both the 50s and the 80s the left gained ground whilst in opposition and arguably kept the party from power in both decades.

However when the people see how inept a Cameron Government will be the party will tack back to the centre, after all that is where the votes are.

Wed, 2010-01-27 03:11 — Helen Wright (not verified)

It doesn't matter which side they dress on, the English voters won't tolerate another Scottish Labour government ruling over them.
The Party is dominated by Scots and their descendants now, but it will be even more obvious after the General Election Cull in May.

Wed, 2010-01-27 07:52 — riksavage (not verified)

We would need a combination of Papa Doc, Pol Pot, Kim Jung II and Mugabe to run this country any worse than the current batch of idiots. I laugh out loud when the default defence of Brown et al by the last dying remnants of loyal supporters is 'it's all Maggie's fault'. Labour, New Labour or what ever they are called post apocalypse May 2010 deserve hard labour, nothing more, nothing less! Gordon Broon needs to take a leaf out of the Pope JP's book and whip himself senseless for what he has done to the UK's economy and reputation - then again looking at his miserable grid he probably does that already?

Wed, 2010-01-27 10:38 — Tom (not verified)

The Labour party will be in a historically weak position, let alone the far "left". Apart from Bob Marshall-Andrews and Austin Mitchell, the Socialite Campaign Group is devoid of talent, ideas or principles.

Wed, 2010-01-27 10:58 — treborc

40 year in labour, I'm now voting for the Tories because labour are trying to remove benefits from the over sixty fives who have a disability.

Thats the last straw for me, a Thatcherite party with a leader who is so far gone it's hurting.

Boy ask me ten years ago if I would have voted Tory I'd knocked your head off, now it;'s the only party left

Wed, 2010-01-27 11:56 — Tim Mann

Grim news indeed about the departing lefties, but it's not surprising. Let's face it, Blair got in in 1997 by making sure the Labour Party in no way resembled the Labour Party, and didn't frighten all the conservative horses. Now new Labour is compromised, implicated in the recession, and has lost its soul to the City.
Once again, we have a general election with the only proper Labour manifesto belonging to the Green Party. Will anyone read it? No. They'll be too busy watching the (surely unconstitutional) presidential TV debates!
I give up.

Sat, 2010-02-13 19:05 — Karen Martin (not verified)

refererence to Old Bob Wareing: there is no longer the facility to call yourself "independent labour" unless he joins another political party he will be Bob Wareing: Independent on the ballot paper.

that will result in him coming 4th or 5th id think