Why New Labour is NOT Social Democratic.

  • Poverty – Between 2004 to 2008, 1.3 million lived on <60% of median income greater than 1989
  • The number of people in extreme poverty (<40% of median income) stayed constant in the first 8 years of Labour government, then rose to by 700,000 to the highest total ever.
  • The average real incomes of the poorest 10% declined by 2% form 1997 to 2007, before the recession.
  • The extra income generated by Labour has resulted in 40% accruing to the richest 10%.
  • The richest 1% have greatest proportion of national income since 1930s.
  • In 13 years of Labour government in UK, there is higher inequality than after 18 years of the Tories.
  • Labour shifted taxation from the rich to the poor.
  • Corporation Tax cut from 33% to 28%
  • Capital gains tax from 40% to 18%
  • Introduced an entrepreneur’s tax of 10% on first £2 million of capital gains.
  • The inheritance tax threshold for couples was raised from £300,000 to £600,000.
  • Raised minimum wages but blocked employment right for temporary and agency workers and preserved the opt-out clause in the EU working time directive.
  • Work place inspections were reduced; result- increased deaths at work
  • No recording of meetings between lobbyists and ministers
  • Stopped corruption case against BAE (Saudi fighter planes deal and ??bribery)
  • Private Finance Initiative; figures rigged to make the scheme appear to be value for money
  • No re-nationalisation of railways – contrary to commitment.
  • Private prisons has a higher proportion of prisoners in corporate jails than in the United States.
  • Labour has added 3,500 new criminal offences to the statute book.
  • Control, orders introduced to to place people under permanent house arrest without trial or even charge.
  • Allowed extradition to US without producing evidence of an offence.
  • UK has colluded in kidnapping and torture.
  • More CCTV cameras than any other country.
  • The DNA database is five times bigger than the second place country
  • The number of prisoners in UK is up 41% since Labour took office.
  • UK government blocked a ceasefire in Lebanon
  • Sacked British ambassador in Uzbeckistan after he complained that the government there was boiling (yes BOILING) its prisoners to death.
  • Gave aid to Colombian military that collaborates with fascist death squads.
  • Announced the intention to waste huge money replacing the Trident nuclear submarines.
  • Launched an illegal war in which hundreds of thousands of local people died in Iraq.