Miliband and Labour have lost sight of their core principles

The rift that has opened between Labour and the party’s biggest donor, Unite, was, in my opinion, inevitable.

The Labour Party was “sold down the river” by Tony Blair, and was re-conceived and subtly re-packaged as New Labour – a party that has operated more like the Tory Party.

Capping spending on selection campaigns, or any other skullduggery that has happened at Falkirk, are really not the issues. This is something of a smokescreen hiding the real issues. Many socialists – myself included – do not believe we need a policy of austerity. This has been a cleverly orchestrated Tory tactic to undermine the public sector in favour of increased privatisation.

Indeed, the TUC general secretary Frances 0’Grady, speaking recently, voiced her suspicion that the UK/US trade deal, promoted by the Prime Minister, will “open the way to the privatisation of public services on an unprecedented scale”.

She pointed out that multinational corporations – but mostly American – are “circling our public services like vultures”.

When Ed Miliband declared that an in-coming Labour Party would rubber stamp current Tory policies on public spending, he was in effect saying: “Vote Labour to continue Conservative policies.” This is the main issue. The “real” Labour Party would be declaring war on all these destructive Tory policies and putting an end to the rollercoaster of privatisation.

If Labour want to “mend, not end” their relations with the unions, they must change their ideology and become far more Left-wing.

Our public services are vital to the nation’s well-being. The health service and education are also under threat from this wretched coalition Government. The Tories are in a minority but supported by the treacherous Lib Dems. Together they are wreaking havoc.

We must never forget the Labour Party was formed out of the trade union movement, not the other way round. Therefore, what is the purpose of the Labour Party?

Its raison d’être is to protect, uphold and defend the rights of the working classes and the unemployed against unprincipled, amoral, self-indulgent capitalist organisations, such as the bankers, and international companies who deem it their “right” to exploit and manipulate ordinary workers in order to make vast profits for themselves.

The purpose of the Labour Party is to ensure fair pay, proper conditions of service in the workplace, union representation against unfair dismissal or bullying and the right to a proper pension package.

The wage freezes imposed by the coalition Government and now their intention to end the right to an automatic annual increment (rise in pay in line with years of service) flies in the face of all this.

Despite being retired, I’ve joined Unite rather than the Labour Party because this union is fighting for the rights of ordinary people. Labour, as a party, has lost sight of its core principles.

It is no longer representative of the working classes or the unemployed. It must return to its roots, or face losing the next General Election.