If David Miliband’s intervention yesterday was supposed to inspire Labour MPs to pile in behind a nascent leadership bid, it should only serve to convince us that whoever is leading Labour, the party is now shot below the water-line and unable to right itself.
When you contrast David Cameron’s pitch to change our party with that offered to Labour by David Miliband – there are some fundamental differences which, for me, reveal why Miliband cannot revive his party’s fortunes.
1. Miliband does not display any comprehension of what has made the Conservatives re-surgent. In contrast, Cameron had a deep fascintation, and indeed a probable admiration of, Blair’s New Labour. Only by understanding your opponents’ success can you beat them.
2. Miliband doesn’t offer a credible critique of the Conservatives, that will gain traction. Calling Cameron ‘a politician of the status quo’ does not resonate at all – in fact polls show that ‘change’ is a word frequently associated with the Tory leader. Cameron, on the other hand, has found a number of easily understandable criticisms of Labour that do chime with public sentiment: that Brown is a personally awkward ditherer, who is unable to make a decision, and out of his depth; and that economically, Labour did not fix the roof whilst the sun was shining.
3. Miliband does not offer a viable alternative to the Conservatives. His ’Pursuing traditional values in a modern way’ is somewhat reminiscent of Prezza’s ‘traditional values in a modern setting’ – it does not form the basis of any policy prescription. Cameron’s ‘Social Responsibility’ – though not the easiest notion at first - is being fleshed out into a consistent approach that does resonate in modern Britain, and does deal with the problems people face.
4. Miliband is not a ‘natural’ in the way that Cameron is…those clips of him barking ‘What’s your name?’ at a kid asking for his autograph today are off-putting, that ‘pole up his spine’ pose he has in pictures is somewhat awkward, and his technical turn of phrase in interviews slightly tedious. Cameron has a disarming public demeanour, speaks a language that people relate to, and leads a life that looks not unfamiliar to many families – he even gets his bike nicked whilst calling in at the local supermarket to pick up dinner on the way home from work.
For these reasons, amongst others, Miliband is more moribund than messiah when it comes to turning round Labour’s fortunes…
Moreover, by contrasting Miliband with Cameron, we should realise that Cameron may well be one of these ‘once in a generation’ leaders with the abiltiy to bring about a paradigm shift in British politics.. on that basis, we must support him, and give him the confidence to pursue change that goes further, faster, wider and deeper, to ensure that , whenever the election comes, and whoever is Leader of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party is truly worthy to win, and ready to govern.
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In a way its regretable we are going to the ” presidential” style of politics in this country. But Blair sowed this particular seed – and now the Tories will reap the benefit
Had a most interesting chat on Saturday night with someoen who purports to be in the Political Warfare unit ( whatever that is). He says the only thing people want from Government at the moment is to be left alone and NOT have either interference or changing landscapes every few months. Labour and GB in particular are incapable of leaving well alone – hence demise in prospect.