CRISIS IN UK LABOUR POLITICAL PARTY
It is said that history repeats itself. That stands true in the situation the labour party is facing today. Let’s go back in time when the leader of the party was Mr. Tony Blair. The party stood divided as it is today. The then Prime Minister Mr Blair had two choices. One to bow to the pressure of the group led by the then Chancellor Mr. Gordon Brown and second to sack the group led by the then Chancellor Mr. Brown. Mr Blair choosed the first one. He thought it was necessary to keep the party together and as such decided to resign from the post of the Prime Minister and the leader of the party.
What happened after words? The downfall of the party started. The group led by Mr Brown held all the important portfolios perhaps they were not fit for. Mr Brown proved that though he was a brilliant Chancellor he failed to deliver as a Prime Minister. The party stood divided even then. This was a grave mistake Mr Blair committed to leave the party when the party needed him the most.
The quality of the leader is to handle the matters under the most difficult and adverse circumstances. If the conditions are favourable, even a school teacher can handle the situations. The only difference between a leader and the teacher is that the former can handle the situations under most adverse circumstances. This is what Mr Blair should have done. He should have gone for option two. As things turned out since then the labour party lost its power and speaking frankly, there is no hope in the near future.
Now, Keir Starmer is facing the same situation as leader of the labour party. Most of the muslim councillors are leaving the party on the stand taken by the leadership on the ongoing Israel Palestine conflict. Labour activists of these areas are of the opinion that if the leadership does not change its stance on this conflict, the voters of these areas shall leave the labour party and either join some other smaller parties or may form their own. The main reason for this ongoing trouble within the party is that the leadership have taken the side of Israel on the basis that it was Hamas who attacked Israel and the latter has the right to counter attack in self defence. Moreover, Hamas not only attacked Israel, but while doing so killed almost 2000 civilians including women, children and elderly and also took about 300 hostages with them again including women children and elderly.
In today’s world of politics, there are always rebels in the party. Most of the time, these rebels are not openly recognisable as they lie low and raise their heads when they find the opportunity and try to get deals suiting their vested interests. But then the opportunity comes for every one at least once. The wise persons make use of it. In this case the right opportunity has come for Keir Starmer.
In my opinion, he should get rid of these bad eggs once for all. This is something like the disease of cancer. In cancer you have two options. One goes for the operation. This will be painful but shall cure you once for all. The other one is to take pain killers and get temporary relief. But in this case cancer is still there. And a time will come when it will be too late to go for the operation itself.
Now let’s face the facts. This is no more the matter concerning the labour party. The whole nation is watching the developments very closely. The country would like to have a Prime Minister who could take the tough and bold decisions when the situation arises. Mind you in this case the majority of the members are agreeing with Mr Keir Starmer and support his stand with Israel. Will it be wise to ignore the majority of the members just to please a few people. For what? This group of people will always be a pain in the neck of the labour party.
Moreover, we are a democracy. In democracy elections are held and the party with majority forms the government. After the government is formed then the individual MP’s and the councillors are responsible for the local welfare of their voters like health and hygiene etc. but they should not mix up these when it comes to national issues. But if they start mixing up their local issues with national interests, the trouble starts. In democracy, the majority counts. Otherwise every area of individual MP’s shall become a state within itself. Politicians need to be educated on this issue.
Let’s hope that the labour leadership goes for the operation at this early time of the disease as the disease has been detected at its early stage. It is now or never. From my side I shall say best of luck for Mr Keir Starmer.
Refrences:
https://labour.org.uk/
Very well said