The Beckett report won’t help the 4.5%ers ’til they explain their own crushing defeat

Margaret BeckettIt’s unusual for a dull, internal party report to become a cause celebre, but these are unusual times. For the last week comrades who follow Progress and Labour First folk may have found them talking an awful lot about the Beckett Report. There’s even a petition about it. Commissioned to find out to explain why Labour lost the general election, it’s become something of a totem because, against the spirit of “straight talking, honest politics“, there is the suggestion Jeremy’s office has sat on it since November. The supposition is it will confirm the view that elections are won from the centre, not the left.

Anyway, save it being leaked to me, it’s all set to be published today and the BBC have had a preview. There are no rabbits out of the hat. Margaret has concluded that the party didn’t defend its record in government, and gave the Tories a free pass to pin the global economic crash on us. We didn’t connect on what the electorate – rightly or wrongly – regard as hot button issues, particularly immigration and social security. Nor, quelle surprise, was the Milibae viewed as up to the job. And to top it off the Tory scaremongering around a Labour/SNP coalition proper buggered us up. This is the thanks Labour got for saving the union. Continue reading

Would a Rachel Reeves budget yesterday have been much different?

ReevesAhead of yesterday’s budget, in which George Osborne laid out £12bn of welfare cuts, a continued squeeze on public sector pay, the abolition of student maintenance grants and higher tuition fees, Labour’s ‘opposition’ front benchers went out of their way to agree with Osborne’s narrative of austerity.

Still reeling from the General Election, or now simply given psephological cover for her views, Reeves said that Labour should set a date for getting national debt back to 40% of GDP, the level it was at before the 2007 financial crisis. It is currently double that amount, meaning the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary is advocating huge cuts, and fast. Given that she is being touted as a potential Shadow Chancellor should Andy Burnham win, this should worry those of us in the party concerned with austerity and poverty.  Continue reading

Poll: Blair & Mandelson lead the race to the bottom (in popularity of retired politicians)

BLAIRS RETURN NO THANKSTen days ago, Tony Blair offered to do “what it takes to help Ed Miliband win general election“. Michael Meacher on this site said thanks but we’d be better off without it. Today, a poll carried out by YouGov for the Times confirmed that he’s right. Asked about a number of retired politicians, Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson proved to be more unpopular with voters than all others, providing clear evidence that they are both liabilities in Labour’s campaign. The poll asked:

Thinking about retired politicians playing a role in the current election, do you think getting support from the following politicians would be an asset or a liability for today’s politicians?”

Continue reading

Battle-lines for 2015: Tory permanent austerity v Labour decent affordable society

cameron at the lord mayorsCameron, surprisingly, has really let the cat out of the bag. In his speech to the Lord Mayor’s banquet (complete with champagne, roast duck and assorted fruit meringues) he let slip to his audience that the Tories would not restore public expenditure after the structural deficit had been eliminated, but would maintain austerity indefinitely (though not of course for the worshipful dignitaries enrobed before him who’ve had a good austerity). Continue reading

Why Labour doesn’t need Jim Messina

Jim MessinaWe’re doomed! We’re doomed!” No, I’m not channelling Private Frazer’s ghost. But this sums up the deflated mood afflicting sections of the front bench and commentariat. Why? Because it appears the Tories are getting their act together. Some polls show a narrowing of the Labour lead, while others wipe it out altogether, or (confusingly) show Labour extending its lead. Either way, poll volatility is not something a party that has hitherto enjoyed a commanding lead should be relaxed about. Continue reading