UK Politics
A man who appreciates the malaise and the need for change
Published 14 June 2007
Brown must understand the depth of anger over Iraq. For that reason, we are backing Jon Cruddas for the Labour deputy leadership
More than a month has passed since Tony Blair set himself on his way, and what have we learned? That from the day of his announcement - 10 May - he was already gone, and all else since has been vanity; that he will not be missed; and that he remains obsessed by the media he so abjectly fears. During this period we have seen Gordon Brown much in action, indulged by a pliant press coverage that will not last, confining himself largely to easy statements of principle. And we have seen the first, tentative stirrings of a proper debate about the future of the left.
Into this mix, the race for Labour's deputy leadership has been thrown. This has been an important contest, not because of the quality of the candidates themselves, not because of the status of the position, but because of what it means for the future of the Labour Party. Deprived of a vote for the only job that really counts, the one which Brown inherits, Labour MPs, party members and trade unionists have only the proxy of the number two to fall back on.
On 12 March, after a series of interviews with the six candidates, we argued that none of the available choices had done enough to merit early endorsement. We had invited the candidates to provide candid assessments of the past ten years and appraisals of the way ahead; we had promised them time and space to develop their ideas. Inspiration came there little.
On 28 May, after a few weeks of formal hustings, we narrowed our options to three - Peter Hain, Harriet Harman and Jon Cruddas. Now, as the ballot papers are handed out, we see no reason to change that view. Of the other three, Alan Johnson has displayed a consistent lack of imagination and has disappointed most. Hazel Blears has performed with vigour, but Labour needs more than a cheerleader. Hilary Benn could, at the outset, have been our choice. He has performed admirably as International Development Secretary. But, from a man with such an illustrious heritage, his excess of caution is bewildering.
So, what are the criteria for a successful applicant? They must surely be a combination of: providing an important conduit of grass-roots feeling to Brown and the cabinet; injecting some sense of real political debate into the moribund Labour Party; acting as a useful foil to Brown among the public; and displaying an ability to influence the new PM in private.
Put bluntly, none of the three remaining candidates can fulfil all of these. A Harman-Brown ticket might look appealing at the next general election. Indeed, it is important for Labour to remember to face outwards to an electorate that has long ceased to display tribal instincts. Equally, she would work well with the incoming PM (as would Benn and Johnson, one assumes), but such is her timidity that one doubts she could really effect change. The Blair-Bush relationship has debunked the myth of public loyalty coupled with private influence.
Candour earns the electorate's respect most of all. Hain has been the most outspoken, especially in the NS. Taken in isolation, his comments about US neoconservatism and the Blair government are worthy of praise. But, seen in the context of a cabinet minister who not only voted for the Iraq war but defended it with enthusiasm, he becomes less persuasive.
That leaves Cruddas. Two factors weigh against him. He and some around him come across as machine politicians, people who use Labourspeak instead of normal English. There are signs that Brown might marginalise him more than he would any other victorious candidate. (Indeed, whoever wins, he or she is unlikely to be given the title of deputy prime minister. Brown will confide with his inner circle, now expanded to include that old survivor, Jack Straw.)
And yet, this is an important moment for Labour. The result will say as much about the direction of the party as it will about the individuals concerned. Brown must appreciate the extent of Labour's malaise and the need for change. He must understand the depth of anger over Iraq and the need for a full inquiry and long-term reconciliation. For that reason, we urge a vote for Jon Cruddas, a man who has worked closely with Blair and draws conclusions about the past decade similar to those that we do.
Something to celebrate
A year on from the launch of our redesign, the New Statesman has much to celebrate, including a series of prestigious awards. But often, for magazines as well as for individuals, the achievements we cherish most are those in which we must share the glory with a host of others.
Last June, we pledged to campaign on behalf of the casualties of oppressive regimes around the world. Since then, our human rights page has brought to readers' attention news of the likes of Sami al-Hajj, a cameraman for al-Jazeera locked up in Guantanamo; Marielos Monzón, a radio presenter who faces death threats for her feminist broadcasts; and the Christian leader Samba Momesori, imprisoned without trial in Equatorial Guinea since 2003.
In October, we published the story, written by Martin Bell, of Nguyen Vu Binh, a former journalist and an independent political voice in Vietnam. Binh, a "cyber-campaigner" for democracy, was serving seven years for spying.
Now Binh has been released, three years early. A pardon came as Vietnam's president, Nguyen Minh Triet, was due to visit the United States. Amnesty International believes that, without a public campaign on behalf of Binh, President Triet would have felt no need to make such a gesture. Binh's release is something for all who campaign for human rights to celebrate, and why we will keep our pages open to victims of oppression from around the world.
Post this article to
We want to encourage people to comment on our content and to exchange views with other readers and hope this will be done on a courteous basis. However, if you encounter posts which are offensive please let us know by emailing comments@newstatesman.co.uk and we will take swift action where necessary.
