A Test of Leadership
The Westminster Parliament faces a test of its resolve and leadership tomorrow - when it debates the violence, looting and vandalism the country has witnessed these past few days.
The test is one primarily for the government, the Prime Minister - David Cameron - and his cabinet - but it is also crucial for the opposition as well.
Because just beneath the surface of the Labour party - in terms of its official public statements anyway - there is a significant body of opinion that would like to blame everything on the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.
Lots of Labour people - Ken Livingstone being a prime example - want to make political capital out of the violence and public disorder on the streets.
But that would be a big mistake - in my book anyway.
Because it would turn a serious issue - on which there are different and sincerely held views - into a tribal, partisan debate where the politicians are seen fighting with each other instead of coming up with practical solutions.
If party politicking wins out - the UK is more likely to follow America down a path where the country becomes virtually ungovernable - because society is so badly split.
Labour lost the last election because the party ran out of ideas and energy - get over it, I say - work to win back people's respect and then you might just win the next election.
But based on the election result and our 'first-past-the-post' electoral system - the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has a mandate to govern the country - and implement its legislative programme at Westminster.
If the Labour leadership believes that mob rule or violence on the streets should be able to overturn government policy - or local government policy for that matter - then it should say so.
Because if politicians don't stand together tomorrow - on how the country should be governed - then that's exactly where we're heading.
The test is one primarily for the government, the Prime Minister - David Cameron - and his cabinet - but it is also crucial for the opposition as well.
Because just beneath the surface of the Labour party - in terms of its official public statements anyway - there is a significant body of opinion that would like to blame everything on the Conservatives and the Lib Dems.
Lots of Labour people - Ken Livingstone being a prime example - want to make political capital out of the violence and public disorder on the streets.
But that would be a big mistake - in my book anyway.
Because it would turn a serious issue - on which there are different and sincerely held views - into a tribal, partisan debate where the politicians are seen fighting with each other instead of coming up with practical solutions.
If party politicking wins out - the UK is more likely to follow America down a path where the country becomes virtually ungovernable - because society is so badly split.
Labour lost the last election because the party ran out of ideas and energy - get over it, I say - work to win back people's respect and then you might just win the next election.
But based on the election result and our 'first-past-the-post' electoral system - the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has a mandate to govern the country - and implement its legislative programme at Westminster.
If the Labour leadership believes that mob rule or violence on the streets should be able to overturn government policy - or local government policy for that matter - then it should say so.
Because if politicians don't stand together tomorrow - on how the country should be governed - then that's exactly where we're heading.
