Editorial: What the Labour Government planned to do

Labour supporters, unable now to ignore or deny the austerities the workers are asked by the government to accept, fall back on the argument that at any rate it is not worse than the Tories would have done. That, however, is not what they promised before they got power, and it is important to realise how little the reality of Labour administration of capitalism resembles what they were confident they would be able to do.

Here are a few authoritative .statements made on behalf of the Labour Party before it became the government. Here is Mr. Attlee :

“Conservatives consider that society must always be divided into classes of rich and poor. Many do so because they belong to the first class, others because they have not the imagination to conceive a different state of society from that which exists, and others because of some definite theory of human relationships. Socialists believe in the abolition of classes and in an equalitarian society. (“The Will and the Way to Socialism,” by Mr. Attlee. Published by Methuen, 1935, p. 40. Our italics).
“In the socialists’ plan there would be no little cottages and no large private houses. All would be reasonably well housed, while the only large buildings would be those owned and used by the community, in one of which the villagers would meet to settle their common affairs.” (P. 41,)
” . . . . in planning a new Britain it is necessary to have a very clear picture in the mind of the kind of community one wishes to create. It is no good making plans for the development of industries which cater for a. very small rich class if it is your intention to have no very rich people in your community. It is useless to subsidize luxury liners for millionaires if there are to be none.” (P.41.)
“Much of our production today depends on the existence of a class which can afford luxuries quite out of the reach of the majority. . . . The men and women who produce the luxuries exposed in Bond Street are as parasitic as the footmen in the big house. They are occupied in ministering to the unnecessary luxuries of the few.” (P. 42.)

Needless to say the luxury liners, the millionaires and the costly articles out of the reach of the majority are still with us, and the majority arc being urged not to press wage claims, while £5,000 and £10,000 a year jobs are handed out to the lucky few.

But this is what Mr. Attlee promised about higher wages:

“A Labour government, therefore, not only by the transference of industry from profit-making for the few to the service of the many, but also by taxation, will work to reduce the purchasing power of the wealthier classes, while by wage increases and by the provision of social services it will expand the purchasing power of the masses.” (P. 42.)

Let it also not be forgotten that the Labour Party pledged itself to introduce socialism. (That they did not understand what socialism is or how it is to be achieved is their responsibility, not ours) :

“This Conference declares that the main objective of the Labour Party is the establishment of Socialism, believing that the common ownership of the means of production and distribution is the only means by which the producers by hand or brain will be able to secure the full fruits of their industry.” (Resolution passed by Labour Party Conference, 1932. See Report, p.202.)