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Rising coalition tension squeezes Labour out of the debate

The more Lib Dems and Tories feel licensed to air competing views, the more Labour looks short of th

By Rafael Behr Published 01 March 2012 17:31

The Conservative party does not like the 50p tax rate. That much is clear. It is just as clear that government policy is, for the time being, to retain the rate. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats support a "Mansion Tax", although it is not government policy to introduce one. Both parties are in office, each accuses the other of hogging the agenda, neither gets its way all of the time. That is how coalition works. It is all quite obvious really.

But one feature of the arrangement that gets less recognition is the effect it is having on Opposition MPs. Labour have complained since the formation of the coalition that two-party government squeezes them out of the news agenda. It also squeezes them out of policy debate. The Lib Dems have cultivated the role of in-house opposition within government; the Tory right does something similar. That doesn't leave much room for the views of the official opposition, which is a bit less glamorous because it is that much further away from real power.

What is more, as coalition relations get tetchier - as they plainly are - this problem for Labour gets worse. Competitive "differentiation" between the Lib Dem and Tory wings of the government will soak up ever more news time. But it isn't just about media attention. The Coalition is a political enterprise that is fundamentally distinct from the two parties that own it. That gives Lib Dems licence to explore the question of what Lib Dem views might be and Tories freedom to debate Toryism in a way that seems increasingly denied to Labour MPs.

There has been plenty of argument in about what sort of direction Labour should be taking, often identifiable by colour coding: Blue, Purple, Black etc. But that energy seems to be fizzling out.

I mentioned in my column this week the paralysing fear of schism that stops Ed Miliband from developing innovative ideas on public service reform (among other things). The Labour benches generally feel frozen with caution. The two Eds, Miliband and Balls, advance the party line in increments and then invite the party to toe it without a fraction of deviation. As a result, anything anyone in Labour says that might be decoded as new or interesting causes a sensation, which only reinforces the leadership's fear of saying anything - or allowing underlings to say anything - egregious.

Paradoxically, the fact of being bound into an awkward alliance with another party seems to have made Lib Dem and Tory MPs more relaxed about expressing their own opinions, while Labour MPs, released from the responsibilities of government, are the most cryptic and tongue-tied of the lot.

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Tags: Budget 2012 Coalition Labour

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19 comments

Thu, 2012-03-01 19:17 — frances smith (not verified)

oh well.

miliband is a bit stuck, there was new labour driving off a cliff to the right, and along comes cameron, takes the wheel, and drives even faster in the same direction.

and poor old ed just doesn't know what to do.

perhaps sometimes saying nothing is the best option, even if done in fear rather than wisdom.

Sat, 2012-03-03 16:04 — Daniel (not verified)

@ Will Slater

I hear those on the right saying the 50p rate is too high for the later curve. You're saying it's too low. Can either side give evidence to back up their claims?

Thu, 2012-03-01 20:12 — Nathan (not verified)

This problem will melt away completely once there's an election on the horizon.

Sat, 2012-03-03 17:29 — George W. Potter (not verified)

@Daniel

Well, the 50p tax rate has so far brought in an increase in revenue and there's no evidence to show that people are leaving the country because of it. The peak Laffer Curve doesn't appear to be the 50p tax rate.

Thu, 2012-03-01 20:54 — paul barker (not verified)

Nathan is of course correct but 5 years might affect the way Voters feel about the 3 Parties, perhaps making them more willing to listen to The Libdems ?

On Labours "parlysing fear of schism", perhaps people are looking back to the last time the Party lost power ? The difference this time is that half the Party wants to go Left & the other half Right.

Thu, 2012-03-01 21:02 — Freeman2

I think it's more the case that half the Labour party wants to go right and half wants to stay three quarters right.

Thu, 2012-03-01 21:29 — rob andersen (not verified)

People listen when you talk sense...

Thu, 2012-03-01 21:58 — Tesco Shelf Stacker (not verified)

Gareth @theseclouds - I agree, nice one!

Thu, 2012-03-01 22:16 — Asda Shelf Stacker (not verified)

I dont think the libdems are doing that bad. Will I be voting for them? probably not...but still...

Thu, 2012-03-01 22:23 — Asda Shelf Stacker (not verified)

just saying...I would rather have a condem/libcon then an acutal tory government.

Thu, 2012-03-01 23:28 — 19Red (not verified)

As long as the utterly talentless Ed Milliband is Lab leader the coalition can, and will do whatever they want. The unions had no right to shaft us with such an ineffective leader of the opposition. I've seen more charasmatic lamposts than this waste of political space. Step forward Chuka Umanna, your country needs you

Fri, 2012-03-02 01:22 — quattro man (not verified)

Just watched Question Time, felt sorry for Rachael Reeves, the Labour policy re the 50p tax rate is a joke and sadly I think she knows it. Game set & match to John Redwood who put forward a compelling case for abolishing the 50p tax rate... he even agreed with Gordon Brown.

Is this the lowest point for Labour in the last 30 years? Can it get any worse? I hope so, it feels sooo good to watch them in their death throes.

No policies or strategy, a useless leader backed by an equally incompetent cabinet.

If that were not bad enough for them, the Tories have hit paydirt with David Cameron, everyone loves him, and he proving to be an outstanding Prime Minister...after Blair & Brown I guess it really is 3rd time lucky for the UK.

Fri, 2012-03-02 07:20 — Luddite (not verified)

The British people have the government they voted for. The top rate of tax needs to be cut, and those earning less than £10.000 need to be removed from in-come tax altogether. It's all about cutting taxes; that's something Labour is loathed to do.

Fri, 2012-03-02 08:43 — Freeman2

That's just the point Luddite, no-one voted for this government. The Lib Dems decided for us. I'm sure you would be whining regularly if they'd gone in with Labour.

Sun, 2012-03-04 17:15 — Julian (not verified)

A good article but I'm afraid Labour have only themselves to blame for being frozen out of the policy debate for one simple reason - they have nothing to say. They have opposed the government consistently but refused to say what they would do differently. It said something sad about the current Labour party that having attacked those "idealogical" Tories and those "shameful" Lib Dems for cutting services to the same level that Labour prmosied before the election (even though they offered no specifics on what exactly they would cut), Ed M shamefully then said that he would not reverse a single cut. Until Labour recognises this utter hypocrisy in itself and starts standing for something it will deservedly be ignored in any serious policy debate.

Fri, 2012-03-02 11:47 — Robert Taggart

Even if Liebore had anything new to say - NO BE LISTENING !
After thirteen years of Liebore misrule - Blighty will hopefully overlook them for at least another generation.
Electing a stupid-boy to lead them will see to that !

Fri, 2012-03-02 12:26 — Will Slater (not verified)

Sorry but this is rubbish

There are NO real tensions, this is all part of the Liberal Democrat "differentiation policy" it is all a stunt for them to try and win votes further down the line

As with the 50p tax rate, really? Does anyone believe the words of John Redwood? He is spewing right wing spin, the arrogance of his tone makes it seem as though he has authority on the issue!

The Laffer Curve clearly shows that the top rate of tax would have to be MUCH higher to have a negative effect. This is just the rich trying to get an undeserved break

Thu, 2012-03-01 18:42 — Gareth @theseclouds (not verified)

Unless and until those at the head of Labour are able to distance themselves from the decisions made by the previous government, there can be no effective opposition.

A new leader, on the other hand, could simply say that they disagree with coalition policy, and crucially, with Labour's policies under the previous government. That cannot happen with Miliband and Balls at the helm.

Workfare is an open goal, but the powerlessness to oppose is there for all to see. The same can be said of the NHS reforms (or any reforms). There was barely a rizla paper between the parties on issues that didn't involve the economy, so those remaining can rightly be derided (ad nauseum) as "supporters of the current policy" or ritually slated as opportunists.

Nothing will change until the people change.