Nothing sensational so far in the revised Mandelson diaries, but this passage is thought-provoking:
When Ed pronounced New Labour ‘dead’, he was not only being more categorical than was wise, but quite possibly more than he really intended. (xxi) …Even allowing for the tactical choices he had made in his bid to become leader, however, I was struck by the fact that he had given no strong clue during the campaign as to what alternative to New Labour he envisaged. He was quick to say what he was against: essentially, Tory policies and Tony’s policies. But he rarely said what he was for, apart from a belief in greater social mobility and equal chances in life for the young, more strategic government intervention in the economy, and primacy for individual rights in counter-terrorist law. I would sum up his position as being an egalitarian social liberal – different from Tony, yet not a reversion to Old Labour.
Some might say that this is still a valid criticism of the Labour leader. As Bob Crow put it to me yesterday (our interview will be an imminent Lunch with the FT): “He (Miliband) needs some steel.”
Jim Pickard
Kiran Stacey