I would love to take credit for the title, but it is not mine, but was posted on Twitter when it came to a discussion about the leadership of Keir Starmer
Many do not like the move of Labour towards (but not to) the centre, when Labour was elected. And many consider Labour not to have been left wing, or Conservative light when in power from 1997 till 2010. So I think it is important to remember what Labour did in power. And it is important to remember what has not been done while it is in opposition. Back then, Labour was not viewed as a party that was antisemitic, and while Labour never was under Jeremy Corbyn, it was seen by many to be so, and the reaction of Jeremy Corbyn to the investigation of it in Labour has not helped.
1. Longest period of sustained low inflation since the 60s. (While it started under the Conservative, this continued under Labour) 4. Over 14,000 more police in England and Wales. As opposed to the way the Conservatives have Defunded the Police.
5. Cut overall crime by 32 per cent as opposed to the increase in violent crime under the Conservatives.
6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools.
7. Young people achieving some of the best ever results at 14, 16, and 18.
9. Employment is at its highest level ever.
10. Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries.
11. 85,000 more nurses.
12. 32,000 more doctors. (Though the issues with training them once qualified could have been better.)
14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament.
15. Devolved power to the Welsh Assembly.
16. Dads now get paternity leave of 2 weeks for the first time.
17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice.
18. Gift aid was worth £828 million to charities last year.
19. Restored city-wide government to London.
20. Record number of students in higher education.
21. Child benefit up 26 per cent since 1997. Compare that to how child poverty is higher under the Conservatives.
22. Delivered 2,200 Sure Start Children’s Centres.
23. Introduced the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
24. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & up to £300 for over-80s.
25. On course to exceed our Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
27. Over 36,000 more teachers in England and 274,000 more support staff and teaching assistants.
28. All full time workers now have a right to 24 days paid holiday.
33. Brought over 1 million social homes up to standard.
34. Inpatient waiting lists down by over half a million since 1997.
35. Banned fox hunting.
36. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since before the industrial revolution.
38. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals.
39. Free breast cancer screening for all women aged between 50-70.
40. Free off peak local bus travel for over-60s.
41. New Deal – helped over 1.8 million people into work.
42. Over 3 million child trust funds have been started.
43. Free eye test for over 60s.
44. More than doubled the number of apprenticeships.
45. Free entry to national museums and galleries.
47. Heart disease deaths down by 150,000 and cancer deaths down by 50,000.
48. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent.
49. Free nursery places for every three and four-year-olds.
50. Free fruit for most four to six-year-olds at school.
Yes, Starmer did not do well in the local elections earlier this year, but the incumbents did well including Labour in Wales. However, Labour have a lot to do to convince the electorate that the brand is different. Labour did that in 1997 with the New Labour brand. It look the Conservatives thirteen years to change things after the debacle of the Major years and Tory Corruption. The question is if Jeremy Corbyn has made things better or worse for the brand of Labour. If the man who lost Scotland (after winning it in 2017) again has harmed the brand, it will take a while for Labour to make progress.
