Mailwatch(ed) Forum

As the title says I'm becoming disillusioned with the left. I'm not about to join Reform or start watching GB News. But I am becoming disillusioned with the left. Let me give people an example of that disillusion nationalisation of the railways, I can remember when the left demanded it happen and considered it a sign of how left-wing. Well it's happening right now and the left it seems have decided that it doesn't matter or that it isn't happening. other policies as well are just dismissed out of hand. Another area is NIMBYism look at how many left-wing people oppose development often for spurious reasons. There's other things I'm not happy aboyt either the obsession with ideological purity, embracing of conspiracy theories, support for fringe causes amongst others.

What do you all think?

It's not just on the far left. You'll find it at any extreme. The policy issues you cite are plain old goalpost moving. It happens. I'm of the opinion that the left/progressive path is always preferable to the reactionary/right one, but it's a harder sell. Sadly the right is quicker, easier, more seductive.

I think this needs a refined definition of exactly what is meant by “left”

It is disappointing that the left seem to spend more time fighting with each other rather than uniting against the threat of Reform. Whilst many on the left might not like Starmer the politics of Farage are utterly vile and need to be challenged at every opportunity.

When you largely want what’s best for yourself, it’s easy to see working with others - even those you loathe - as a means to an end. When you largely want what’s best for other people - or think you *know* what’s best for other people - working with those you disagree with on some common ground can mean you have to compromise or disagree on other common ground, which hurts both your and their aims. So it’s harder to do.

It’s why the left fight while the right unite. The goals aren’t the same but you have to play the same game to get there.

satnav wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 10:18 pm It is disappointing that the left seem to spend more time fighting with each other rather than uniting against the threat of Reform. Whilst many on the left might not like Starmer the politics of Farage are utterly vile and need to be challenged at every opportunity.

But the Corbynistas would tell you that Starmer is far worse than Farage.