Owen Jones, the ubiquitous Left-wing journalist, has written a column in the Independent urging his fellow travellers to form a new political movement – a sort of non-sexist version of the Socialist Workers' Party. (The Spartists are in free fall, thanks to an embarrassing sex scandal.)
Here's the nub of Jones's proposal:
What is missing in British politics is a broad network that unites progressive opponents of the Coalition. That means those in Labour who want a proper alternative to Tory austerity, Greens, independent lefties, but also those who would not otherwise identify as political, but who are furious and frustrated. In the past two years of traipsing around the country, speaking to students, workers, unemployed and disabled people, I’ve met thousands who want to do something with their anger.
It goes without saying that a UKIP of the Left would be an absolute gift to the Conservatives since it would attract votes away from Labour – one reason why Tim Montgomerie speculated on Twitter last night that Jones may be a Right-wing agent. (To read more, click here.)
