There is no way forward when our political lives are divided between hagiography and hate, a division that has achieved little in the way of equality, environmental sustainability or democracy. Neither the 'right' nor the 'left' seem capable of acknowledging the complexity of humanity: that disorder is not necessarily a bad thing or that, heaven forbid, people, rather than living under a false consciousness, might actually like being middle class. Ideologies are always troubled by a shade called grey. I confess I have heard Zac Goldsmith, a conservative MP, speaking out against the third runway at Heathrow and criticising the lack of democracy in Parliament whenever whips are brought out to bring into line errant MPs who might have an independent thought. Way to go, Zac! Is he 'left'? Am I 'right'? Does it really matter? Would I disagree with him on many other things. Absolutely. Forgive me, but I'd rather be out of sync.
I have no idea at the moment what politics will look like in the future but I know it hasn't reached its potential in the present. I know the future is not a 'third way' (oh no Tony Blair, you stay down!). I know it's not just about reclaiming terms, redefining 'socialism' into blue labour or red tories. I hope it will be something like the London Citizens campaign - an unexpected coalition of all sorts that are actually achieving something on the London Living Wage Campaign. But perhaps we can start with a politics of humility. No politican should expect or get a state funeral. They should do their job, do it well, and retire and die with dignity as any one else can hope for.
