The resignation of both the Chief Executive of the SDLP, Conor Huston, an appointment that made little sense in the first place and now the resignation of Colm Eastwood the man who has presided over the party’s decline, gives me, someone on the progressive left some hope that from the ashes of the social conservativism and light green nationalism a real social democratic party can be born. This current SDLP has indulged in political self-harm and has failed to navigate the changed and changing political landscape. The SDLP does not understand the meaning of its name, a party devoid of the quality of leadership and insight shown by the likes of Seamus Mallon and Brid Rodgers or the foresight of John Hume. A party that should be steeped in delivering for the working class, rarely if ever uses that term and is still perceived as a party that courts the grey middle-class mass-going voter. A party that does not support a woman’s right to choose and does not believe in a secular education system. It supports vanity projects like Belfast Stories costing some £100 million and the building of Casement, at a cost of £300 million while the health and social care system is in crisis which impacts more heavily on low-income families and the elderly. They call for further devolution of tax-raising power to the Hill Billies, who cannot deal with the issues of health service reform and water rates. They continue to allow the unfair cap on rates and support free prescriptions for all. Their answer is to blame the Brits for the ineptitude of our political class. Their most important contribution to our collective future is the creation of a New Ireland Commission at a time when they have little to say about the cost-of-living crisis and other important public policy issues. New faces have come and gone but it still looks, sounds, and feels like a Sad Democratic and Lacklustre Party and that is sad because, as someone on the progressive political left, they have never garnered my vote. They call for a Marshall Plan for the health service, I think this is an opportunity to develop a Marshall Plan for their political survival and many like me who are in the political wilderness are willing to support this endeavour. However, you cannot get grumpy about constructive criticism if the goal is to broaden your political appeal. Let me tell you what your name should be about in practice. Social democracy takes the form of socially managed welfare capitalism and emphasizes economic interventionism, when necessary, for partial public ownership, a robust welfare state upholding universally accessible public services such as childcare, education and health. It also includes promoting equality of opportunity, social equality, a more equitable distribution of income, and a fair tax system where the broadest shoulders are asked to pay a bit more in the interests of social cohesion.
Be bold on a forward-facing policy platform on issues, like reform of the civil service, local government the NHS and ideas on an innovative approach to education that is fit for this millennium. Support the introduction of water rates that could generate £500 million per year, reform the free prescription for all and remove the rates cap. Focus on issues like the future of work and the reform of an apartheid education system that costs £200 million, to administer. Develop a long-term strategy to sort out an economy, where 60% of its GDP derives from public spending. Build a constituency across the working classes because the tragedy remains, that working-class Billy and working-class Kevin have nothing in common. Also vigorously advocate for a new system of government to replace the current failed oxymoronic system called a mandatory coalition. Get off the fence on a woman’s right to choose and for social democrats that is not a lot to ask. Is the above going to be easy, no, but if there is no fundamental change in where the party sits on the political landscape the picket fence party which is the Alliance Party, will continue to steal your votes and poor old me will continue to be a political orphan.
Just to finish, Claire Hanna’s interview with Paul Clarke at best, could be described as uninspiring and gives me little hope of a political resurrection. When asked what she would do differently from Colm, after some waffling in total, it amounted to absolutely nothing. When asked about her priorities, they included listening, speaking, and reaching out to the region, which included Dublin. Adding Dublin was odd as it is a constituency where the SDLP does not garner a single vote. She also pointed out the relevance of her party in that it embraces a progressive left policy platform, she clearly does not grasp the underlying principles of social democracy. An interview with no vision for our future, no concept of future challenges, no policy platform and again the failure to understand the current political landscape, I write this as tears run down my face.
West Tyrone, if only. Happy to help and support a real social democratic party, this one is close to being on DNR.
Suneil Sharma
1st September 2024
The Gob 
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