Labour Party Without the Union Vote?

In an effort to expand their appeal, the Labour Party is slated to permit registered supporters to vote in leadership elections thereby diluting the influence of the unions. The move will give people who are not members of either the Labour Party or its affiliated unions a say in the choice of future leaders. The new "registered supporters" is designed to permit people who are interested in the Labour Party but do not want to become a fully-fledged member. And hey, registration will be free. Are you going to jump on board?

Purple Power in Labour Party

There was a time when public spending cuts wasn't the name of the game for the Labour Party. Those times are gone. In an age where fiscal credibility takes center stage in a struggling economy, finding ways to balance the books is more appealing to voters. Albeit, cuts to social programs isn't desirable to all, policy ideas in the Purple Book are a way to pave the path into the future for the party. Do you have a progressive outlook for the Labour Party? http://www.progressonline.org.uk/campaigns/the-purple-book/ More : http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/14/labour-party-purple-book-power

Labour on Palestine

There seems to be some consensus around the future statehood of Palestine as The Labour Party is in general agreement to recognize both the state and UN application. Not to accentuate the obvious--UK, USA, et. al . stole the land from Palestinians then armed Israel..... No point going on but one thing's for sure, the issue is so complex and a solution so far from arriving (if it ever will.) Statehood is an interesting and expected progression for Palestinians, we'll see if UK and USA permit it.

Delicious: 55% tax rate

How to save money? How to cut spending? How to reduce debt to GDP?

Well part of reducing debt is increasing revenues. What better way than to raise taxes!

Reports are coming out that the Labour Party (IRE) favour a “pretty heavy” 55 per cent tax rate.

Does one reduce spending to reach targets? Or does one maintain but increase taxes. Labour Watch says "watch out!"

Fine Gael’s target was that of the €9 billion needed to hit fiscal targets; spending cuts would account for 73 per cent and 27 per cent would come from new taxation measures without increasing the standard or marginal rate of income tax.

So forget the fact that there may be inefficiencies, the solution is to tweak spending but increase taxes.....Really?!

Cash grabs include a :

The option of a local “site sale profits tax”, levied on the profit made from the site value on the sale of a residence, could be considered by local authorities in 2014, the document states. Measures to increase taxation on “import-intensive consumption” include a 25 cent increase on the price of a packet of cigarettes in 2012 and a €1 increase in excise duty on a bottle of wine by 2014, along with an extra VAT yield from banning below-cost selling of alcohol. Increases in motor tax are also proposed. Fine Gael would increase the second home tax to €300 per annum. Carbon tax would be increased to €20 per tonne in 2012 and to €25 per tonne by 2014, with an exemption for farm diesel.

Hmmm. Count me as one who doesn't favour hidden taxation throughout my economy.

Back to Bloggin

This blog is now going to host some commentary on the latest news from Labour Parties in the UK and Ireland (maybe we'll toss in a few others too.)

It's a way to connect and discuss items slightly left of center.

Happy reading and commenting :D