Political parties are often criticised for being “all the same”. People hanker after a simpler political era when everyone knew which side they were on.
But is that really what we want? Gordon Brown promised to put co-operation at the heart of his manifesto. This week David Cameron said so too. So, is that bad?
At one level I want to remind people that co-operation is a radical concept, supported on the left and opposed on the right. But I also want civil servants to embrace co-operative principles. In the banking debacle co-operative and mutual banks survived best, because they hadn't taken risks with their customers’ money.
Big battles of political ideas are exciting, but not always productive. Nationalisation of mines and steel was probably right in 1945 when reconstruction was the nation's business. But wasn’t it a distraction in the 1950s and 1960s, as industries swung between the public and private sectors?
With sharp divisions over the NHS and education it was easy to know which side you were on - but isn't it better to have consensus behind the NHS and universal education?
Northern Ireland reminds us what happens when everybody is on one side or the other of a big divide. Our Constitution’s curious compromises over Royalty and Parliament came about because neither side could win outright. It’s a daft compromise, but it works.
So I still value the concept of the “Third Way”. Take opposing views, ask if there is some truth in each, and take the best of both to seek consensus.
Political consensus led to re redevelopment of Cardiff. We’ve achieved consensus over the future of pensions, but not over social care.
“The language of priorities is the religion of socialism”, said Aneurin Bevan. (He also said “We know what happens to people who stay in the middle of the road – they get run down” ………. but that’s for another column).
Politics is easy when there’s a simple choice, but simple choices frequently ignore complex reality. That’s where co-operation comes in. If all parties support the Co-operative Ideal, is it the political principle whose time has come in the 21st century?