A new beginning

Hello,





I'm new to this and not quite sure why I'm doing it... but following a conversation last night with some friends thought it may be a useful way of pulling together my thoughts on matters red (i.e. socialist) and green.





Why a new beginning? Well I've just resigned from the Labour Party after 20 years. I initially decided to leave in July but have been mulling it over ever since. However the act was completed on Tuesday. Many issues could have been reasons to resign in the last 3/4 years but i have resisted to raging impulses. These impulses are usually initiated after listening to yet another New Labour minister sounding like a Tory from the 80's on the Today programme. The final act was not however an impulse, it has been germinating for many months and has been drip fed by my growing concern for matters environmental and the capacity or rather incapacity of the Labour Party to adequately respond to the impending crisis, locked as they are, within the framework of the present economic orthodoxy.





It seems to me that free market capitalism which measures success by wealth acquisition and economic growth requires ever increasing consumption to fuel that growth. If we are serious about reducing Climate Change and therefore our impact on the planet then surely we have to campaign for a change of economic system.



This should be the salvation for the British left, we have the one issue that should make socialism a logical solution for most right thinking people. However outside of the Labour Party the British left is riven with factional fights and battles that are too old and irrelevant. The recent events within Respect typify this.



I have been inspired in recent months by the writing and speeches of Derek Wall and Caroline Lucas from the Green Party. I had always perceived the Greens to be one dimensional, a bit new age and generally very nice but not a serious political force. However on closer inspection of their policies and the analysis underpinning them they are a party with a radical view across the range of policy areas. I will therefore be joining the Green Party to help campaign for getting Green councillors elected in the 2nd city. I will also be trying to make links between the Green Party in Birmingham and the wider Labour movement.



This blog will be a place for me to reflect on the next stage of my political life, to comment on issues and hopefully stimulate some discussion and debate.