Labour: not fit for government

There is a worrying trend emerging at the very centre of government. If true it threatens to critically undermine public confidence in a government already suffering all-time low opinion poll ratings and help further hinder public trust in and respect for politicians.

There is a persistent belief, voiced by shadow ministers and journalists, that Labour are pursuing – on purpose – a reckless approach to the economy, spending like there is no tomorrow so to make life very difficult for the future Conservative government that is likely to emerge after the 2010 general election. The idea being that the Tories will become so unpopular due to their drastic economic policies that after one term in office they will be turfed out in favour of a revitalised Labour Party.

Getting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to voice concerns about the Conservatives new allies in the European Parliament is another tactic that is designed solely to damage the Conservatives. This will only serve in the long run to damage diplomatic relations between two nations who rely on one another for co-operation on a huge range of international issues crucial to Britain’s interests.

Now, according to a former special adviser, we learn that it was Labour’s intention to allow mass immigration into this country aimed at socially engineering a more multicultural society so to “rub the Right’s nose in diversity”. That the Labour Party would encourage a radical social change in such a short space of time, with all the pressure that places on public services and community relations, and in doing so facilitate the rise of the BNP is reprehensible.

The idea that ministers would happily play fast and loose with people’s lives in order act out some petty political vendetta shows a callous regard for the well being and stability of the nation. The brutally casual way in which this Labour government appear to have taken critical decisions that will have a serious, long-term impact on Britain’s economy and society in order to obtain a short-term political advantage is jaw-dropping.

It signals that Labour’s decisions are motivated by a desire to damage the Conservative Party rather than a genuine attempt to do what they feel is right and for the benefit of the country as a whole. It is an alarming indication that, even when tasked with a heavy responsibility by the electorate to govern, Labour allow themselves to revert to childish student politics. Except it’s not trivial matters such as how long the student union bar is open but decisions that can affect the lives of millions.

One could reasonably assume that these are acts of a desperate government in its dying days willing to do anything to try and secure some sort of self-serving advantage. While that might be true, the revelations about the reasons behind Labour’s immigration policy date back to 2001 when the government were enjoying the confidence of the majority of the public.

Instead I believe the fundamental reason lay in New Labour’s raison d’être: to seek to win elections in order to win elections. In other words, to seek power for powers sake. When a government of any hue adopts that kind of attitude it can be all too easy to make decisions that are more calculated to harm the opposition rather than to seriously deal with problems in the nation’s interest.

Labour have behaved for the past 12 years more like a careless opposition than a responsible government…