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Who loves Mandy?
Posted by Adam White (@theday2day)
Tuesday, 19th January 2010
I certainly don’t. His politics (as opposed to his rhetoric) seldom show any correlation to my own, from his acceptance of ballooning wealth to his refusal to support workers in dispute. Mandy has all the political characteristics of someone who would fall foul of 
lunatics, such as myself, who adhere to crazy Socialist ideas such as criticising wealth gaps and the like.
It would seem Lord Mandelson wants to drop the new 50% tax rate, as soon as “financial circumstances permit”. This 50% tax rate has proved very popular amongst both Party members and the general public - polls have shown nearly 70% of the public support the measures. Not just is it popular, it could be the start of reforming our inherently regressive tax system. The same system that has the bottom 10% of earners paying an average of 46.1% of their income in tax, compared to the 34.2% the top 10% part with.
This is an attempt to appeal to middle class voters, obviously, but he also appears to be invoking some backwards interpretation of the Labour Party constitution, in trying to act in the interest of the few as opposed to the interest of the many. If this objective was really formed in the interest of fairness, then why no mention of returning the 10p tax band? Is it fair to decrease tax contributions of the wealthy whilst maintaining rates levied on low earners? It would lead to an even more regressive system than that which we have now, as if having the lowest earners contribute a higher percentage than the rich wasn’t bad enough!
The best argument Mandelson could muster against these progressive measures was, “If we had an ideological objection to the top rate being at 40% then why did we keep it for so long?”. Well, Peter, that’s an easy one: because we had Tony Blair as leader! Blair recently described the announcement in the Chancellor’s budget as a “terrible mistake”, so it is no wonder there was a lack of desire to change it during his reign.
The Prime Minister and Chancellor deserve our praise for this and it should be defended against pessimists such as Mandelson.
Mandelson also recently announced plans to reduce spending in the Universities budget, thereby compromising the key Blairite tenet of “education, education, education”. Apparently not, money can be saved they say, even if it means students compressing their studies into two year course or limiting access to support services. Some estimates have suggested that these cuts will amount to nearly £900 million! The Russell Group, a forum of top British Universities, said that the cuts and “efficiency savings” could possibly lead to closures of courses and even Universities.
Contacts in the University Lecturers Union (UCU), have informed me that activists are expecting up to 3,000 job cuts. Being familiar with the work of UCU in other Colleges and Universities, including protests against cuts at Saldord Uni and Manchester College, I know very well these moves will not go unopposed. Indeed, student activists I know from across the political spectrum are already planning resistance to any cuts, resistance that will likely involve Solidarity actions with striking workers and occupations. After all, the Left enjoy nothing more than a good occupation!
If Mandelson wants to take this path, then he’s going to have a fight on his hands.
