Mandelson raises doubts over Labour energy bill freeze

cenydd
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Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

Mandelson raises doubts over Labour energy bill freeze Sept 25, 2013 22:22:58 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 25, 2013 22:22:58 GMT

Lord Mandelson has raised doubts about Labour's plan to freeze energy bills, suggesting people may think it is going "backwards" in its industrial policy.

The former business secretary said he believed Labour had moved on from the days of having to choose "between state control and laissez-faire".

Ed Miliband has defended the pledge to cap price rises, saying the public supports action to make markets fairer.

But a former Labour minister says it marks a return to "tribal socialism".

The Labour leader has spent the day defending his plan to intervene in the energy market if he wins the next election, in the face of attacks from energy firms, business groups and the Conservatives.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24277925

So is it a credible plan for a possible future Labour government to enforce an energy price freeze?

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

cenydd
Reporter

Posts: 525
Politics: Liberal

Mandelson raises doubts over Labour energy bill freeze Sept 25, 2013 22:27:41 GMT

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Post by cenydd on Sept 25, 2013 22:27:41 GMT

The BBC's James Landale has addressed this very question in his latest opinion piece:

Throughout the economic crisis Labour has struggled to find an answer to a difficult question: how do they do socialism when there is no money left? In the past, there was always enough economic growth to fund the tax revenues that Labour governments could spend on their social democratic priorities. But with no growth, there is no cash.

Ed Miliband has now come up with an answer. If the taxpayer cannot fund his priorities, then business should do so instead. Where once Labour might have looked to tax credits or welfare to help people struggling with their gas or electricity bills, the party now taps up the energy firms themselves.

It is a pitch that revives the idea of active government. Are your prices too high? Don't worry, the government will pass a law to bring them down. Are property firms not building enough homes? Don't worry, the government will force them to sell their land.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24265314

It does seem to me that Labour are reverting to type, and starting to interfere directly where government has no business interfering by directly fixing and controlling markets.

A liberal’s disagreement with a socialist or social democrat comes down to this: we both seek equality, but the only equality a liberal thinks is worth striving for is an equality of freedom. A liberal’s disagreement with conservatives comes down to this: we both seek freedom, but a liberal believes no one can achieve it alone. There is such a thing as society, and government’s purpose is to shape a society in which individual freedom can flourish. (Michael Ignatieff)

iolo
Contributor

Posts: 210

Mandelson raises doubts over Labour energy bill freeze Sept 27, 2013 13:16:07 GMT

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Post by iolo on Sept 27, 2013 13:16:07 GMT

Anything Mandlestam and the Bliaries opposes is workable and good, obviously. People are sick of being robbed by these thieves, and we can soon take the power companies back without compensation if they organise power-cuts for political purposes. I'd jail a few too. Isn't it about time we insisted that no money should be paid by companies to tories unless every shareholder agrees?