Is Labour still a socialist party?

Ok, mundane, I know, but might as well ask for some help.

The Third Way wants to achieve social justice through embracing free market capitalism - so don't sound very socialist to me.

Their support for welfare seems more modern liberal than socialist to me. Like trying to use welfare (tax credits for those who work in low paid employment) to get people into work. Minimum wage is gives more of an incentive to work. Any ideas on this?

Equality - Mandelson was saying how he didn't mind people getting filthy rich etc... Plus equality of opportunity (e.g. surestart) is another concept more liberal than socialist.

Human nature - communitarianism - sort of mix between individualism and importance of interdependence.

I dunno. Is anybody fully clued up on this topic. Any contributions would be appreciated.

Reply 1

Militantbuthopeful

Ha! Good question

Reply 2

Aj12

Miles from it, however they seem to be going back to their left wing roots.

They are communists.

They aren't socialist at all, Labour hasn't been a socialist party for nearly thirty years, the last time Labour fought an election on a roughly socialist manifesto was in 1983. They have possibly shifted slightly to the left since Blair but they are still a social democratic party of the centre rather than a socialist party.

If they were socialist they would be standing for things like -
- nationalisation of the main industries
- progressive taxation system including very high marginal tax rates
- extensive employment legislation and consultation in government with trade unions
- comprehensive welfare state including free dental treatment
- non imperial foreign policy, ie not fighting wars overseas

Reply 5

Latem

In my opinion Labour stopped becoming socialist and the incarnation of New Labour. They've lost touch with their roots by becoming more tory, I just hope this next Labour election will take them back to their roots.
The most socialist party in this country is the Greens, judging by their manifesto, but they won't get in any time soon, so Labour is as close as we'll get.