Who are the real radicals?

The Labour Party would claim this description.

The radicals are the descendants of the Levellers, the Chartists and the Suffragettes. They are concerned about the powerless, the un-enfranchised, the repression of some groups. Above all they were the democrats who wanted power to be dispersed to all the people.

How does the Labour Party measure up?
They are happy with the concentration of power in Brussels, London and regions, and the emasculation of local Government. The phrase is top-down government. Having promised a referendum on the Lisbon non-Constitution, they then chose to ignore the electorate on one of the greatest decisions in perhaps half a century.

They are disappointed that few voters turn out to vote, and fail to realise that many people feel that their vote is pointless and carries no power. Come back the Levellers et al.

Well they are the party of the poor at least! This is questionable. Having made them supplicants of the state, condemned to welfarism and loss of dignity, they have been conveniently ignored as they aimed to connect with the middle classes who had traditionally shied away from their callectivist methods. The 10p tax band scandal, and something similar on VED disregarded the position of the poor, and it has taken the other parties and some remaining radical Labour Party MPs to remibnd the establishment of the poor. Do they really have a concern for the poor when tax allowances run out well below the level of the national minimum wage, and leave the lowest eraners paying tax?

Are the Conservatives the true heirs of the Levellers, etc.?

You can make a good case:
Localism - the devolution to the lowests praxctical level, but certainly beyond regionalism, is a Conservative emphasis. Individuals know more about their own cirumctances and their community, and care more, than any bureaucrat and MP in London. Waste will be lower, transparency greater and policies more in keeping with local wishes.

Conservatives are unhappy at the remoteness of concentrated power, whether in London or Brussels, and the "one-size-fits-all" result. The protest at the lack of transparency and acoountability, and would like to put local officials under the threat or periodic re-election.

On helping the poor, under Ian Duncan Smith's seminal work policies are being developed which will make those on benefit more like people than cases. No longer will money be thrown at them at arm's length and condemning them deeper into imprisoning welfare dependency. Attempts will be made to restore the family unit, to improve parenting, and encourage and support them (back) into work.Above all teenagers of the present generation will be encouraged by a mixture of firmness and incentive to avlue themselves more highly and to have ambitions. It will not be easy, but some improvement can be made, to judge from present work in the USA and the UK.

Who are the real radicals? Is there any question? The real radicals are blue!