An excellent if somewhat depressing read. Teleological accounts of history that ignore the admittedly limited but nevertheless essential importance of choice fuel blind adherence to theories of change that can so easily become self justificatory.

Given the major shifts in global capitalism and the clear anger of left behind workers however, there is a need for reappraisal of what constitutes progressive politics. The support for Trump and UKIP and neo-fascist groups in Europe reflects a dangerous tide of change that if neglected will lead us who knows where.

Notwithstanding your accurate critique of Corbynism as a blind adherence to a misreading of the nature of class, the Labour Party has to accept some responsibility for the neglect of our most vulnerable communities under Blair and latterly, for a failure to present a believable radical alternative to the coalition government.

I would not necessarily fear no Labour government at the next election if the party can be rebuilt to provide a radical and pragmatic programme that defends the weak and the poor in the context of policies that can command majority support. That wiil be difficult however in the context of a consumerist culture where personal value is seen through what we own and the importance of family, community and workers standing together is either neglected or villified. I think key to progress will be first, connecting communities to an understanding of the way the economy works; second building policies with those communities that are both realistic, sustainable and redistributive in outcome. Cooperatives, credit unions and rebuilding a sense of collective responsibility at a local level can counteract the selfish and destructive qualities of consumer capitalism. That collective responsibility must however be complemented by building effective accountability into democratic decision making at a party level.

One of the negative consequences of the establishment of the welfare state was the removal from trade unions of the programmes they had designed and built to protect their members; health care; widows benefits; access to credit and so on. Trade unions were then left with a responsibility for their members terms and conditions which so easily deteriorated into a sad reflection of the selfishness of consumer capitalism. As you correctly point out the basis of the Labour Party that Corbyn wants to take forward is built on an economic model that is now defunct. Central to building a progressive Labour Party then has to be a rethinking by trade unions of their functions and of their relations with communities orther than their immediate members. Some reflection on the progressive roles they played before the establishment of the welfare state may also be helpful in guiding the way forward.

l.