Tony Blair memorably railed against what he called “forces of conservatism” in his 1999 speech to the Labour party conference.
This was a memorable speech not for its (sometimes offensive) partisan attacks on the Conservative party, but for its analysis on how conservatism in our public services was holding back much needed reform.
As Blair put it,
“Let us take on the forces of conservatism in education, too, the greatest liberator of human potential there is. [...]
“Not the right. But not the old Left either: no tolerance of failing LEAs.
“No truce on failing schools.
“No pupils condemned to failure.”
Philip Collins, Blair’s former speech writer, who may have written sections of this speech, has written an important piece in today’s Times. He argues that Brown has abandoned the reform agenda and surrendered it to the Conservatives.
This is an interesting time in British politics. The Cameron strategy has put us in a position to benefit from public dissatisfaction with Labour, giving us a 20-point lead. But more than this, the modernising instinct that we should support the government when it is right, is good politics from the perspective of public policy and electoral politics.
As Collins has it, Blair came to support essentially Majorite policies on public sector reform, as the means to improve these services. When David Cameron chose to support Blair’s school reforms, he was criticised for not opposing the government. But he was doing the right thing from a public policy perspective by backing necessary reform (albeit reform that didn’t go far enough).
The electoral advantage has come because Brown has foolishly backed away from the reform agenda. He has moved Adonis and lost Freud. This has allowed us to pick up the mantle of public sector reform and regain the initiative. The ideas and the energy, the momentum, in British politics is with us because we have chosen this course and Brown has roadblocked it.
All those who back the progressive end of defeating the forces of conservatism that hold back our public services have been abandoned by Labour and now have a home in the modern Conservative Party. If you’re reading this, Lord Adonis and Messrs Milburn and Field: I’m talking to you
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