According to this belief, there is only one true vehicle for progressive politics, the Labour party. According to Labourism, any political movement that is not subservient to either unions or party is to be treated with the greatest suspicionThe naive belief in the unique political virtue of the Labour party consistently prevents it from developing creative political strategies. Labour has never come from opposition to win a convincing parliamentary majority and then gone on to implement a radical programme. All of the European social democracies that Labour members have long dreamed of emulating use proportional representations to elect their parliaments. The Labourist ideal is for party members and supporters to campaign enthusiastically, but obediently, as directed by the party at appropriate points in the electoral cycle.

Source: The Guardian December 31, 2019 07:00 UTC