On Tuesday 8 February 2005 the Danes went to the polls to elect a new government. Because of proportional representation, there were about ten parties contesting for seats in parliament. Inevitably, these tend to coalesce around a right and a left block forming governing coalitions. On the left, the Social Democrats, Labour’s sister party in Denmark, form the largest party and has historically been Denmark’s leading and largest force, largely responsible for transforming a still remarkedly agriculturally-based economy on the eve of the Second World War, into perhaps the world’s richest, most democratic, radical and just society, both domestically and on the world stage. The dominance of the Social Democrats has unfortunately waned in the last twenty years, initially resulting from the onslaught of Thatcherism, and more lately because of lack of cohesion and direction on the left generally. On the right, the so-called ”Left” party (an historical misnomer resulting from where they sat in parliament, but which traditionally represent the farmers and landowners and today also the nouveau riche) is the largest party.

On 8 February the right block, in power since 2002, increased its overall number of seats by about 5% in an election which saw an overall turnout of just under 80%. Most alarmingly, the right block is propped up by an ultra rightist ”Peoples’ Party”, which also increased its number of seats, pushing an agenda of lower taxes, anti Europe and anti immigration. Such views are thus, unfortunately, now strengthened, as is support for the Iraq War.

 Lessons for the UK include the power of highly negative campaigning (especially personal attacks on the ageing but honest and highly respected Social Democrat leader) backed by a large war chest stuffed with company donations; the need to campaign on policies and show clear blue water between the two main parties which the left block deliberately failed to do; the need for a new fresh generation of talent to rise to the top in the Social Democrats (and here there is a lot of optimism); and given the electoral system greater coherence and common strategies between the left parties. This has historically been a highly successful feature of Danish politics – the open and positive attitudes to make public compromises between parties, and even when necessary ”across the middle” (between the blocks). Still today, no budget could be passed without the assent of most parties from both blocks, even though the block in power could technically win a vote in parliament. This is Danish democracy and politics at its best, and something we in the UK could learn much from. What we need to avoid is slow but inexorable rightward creep, as today in Denmark. Clear, positive messages and powerful, honest and fresh leadership prepared to compromise and cooperate is how Denmark will get out of the mud and back on track. But this will have to wait another four years.

 Jeremy Millard

LICC Secretary

8 February 2005