We cannot rely on the Labour Party any more

Following on from Ed Balls's pro-neoliberalist speech at the TUC conference, we can see a shadow front bench who are as out of touch as Lord Snooty and his Eton elite.

We have a Labour leader who appears to be scrambling around with various policy reviews when the TUC and others have provided a wealth of policy initiatives, like the People's Charter and bringing rogue corporations under democratic ownership.

So what would Labour do if they replaced the Con-Dems tomorrow?

We have a shadow chancellor who would continue most of the coalition's austerity measures, including the public-sector pay freeze. And what about the other Tory reforms?

How many of you believe that the poisonous Liam Byrne will reverse welfare attacks on the weak and vulnerable?

That the hapless Stephen Twigg will reverse academy and free schools in favour of the democratic partnership of local authorities, parents and teachers and the useless Andy Burnham will reverse all of the NHS reforms? Will the Eagle land and recommend the renationalisation of the rail system? I very much doubt it.

And then there's the rest of the front bench, the nasty, toxic Douglas "people must pull in their belts" Alexander, the Blairite Ivan Lewis, the City apologist Chuka Umunna and the political opportunists who change their principles to suit the mood like Harriet Harman.

Will the Labour Party repeal all trade union legislation? Nah, I don't think so somehow.

Is this party the only hope that working people have? Surely our class and our trade union movement can come up with a political strategy and a new organisation that is better than these clowns.

The Labour Party started most of the reforms that we are now fighting against, so they may as well join the coalition as they are ideologically closer to them than they are to most working people.

Gary Jones

Brighton