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Tom Watson: unifying stalwart or manipulative and divisive fixer? Tom Watson: unifying stalwart or manipulative and divisive fixer?
(about 3 hours later)
Tom Watson spent so much time on the road ahead of the general election, he joked that he could not sleep unless he was in a Premier Inn bed. The MP for West Bromwich East visited 109 constituencies on the election trail, but was unable to avert what he felt was a catastrophic result for Labour. Tom Watson spent so much time on the road ahead before general election, he joked that he could not sleep unless he was in a Premier Inn bed. The MP for West Bromwich East visited 109 constituencies on the election trail, but was unable to avert what he felt was a catastrophic result for Labour.
Elected Jeremy Corbyn’s deputy at the weekend, Watson, 48, has seen a fair few Labour setbacks. He has spent three decades in the party, more than John Prescott when he took the same role under Tony Blair, and had ringside seats for the general election defeats of Neil Kinnock - twice - Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. Now his first task, many think, is to stop Labour falling apart.Elected Jeremy Corbyn’s deputy at the weekend, Watson, 48, has seen a fair few Labour setbacks. He has spent three decades in the party, more than John Prescott when he took the same role under Tony Blair, and had ringside seats for the general election defeats of Neil Kinnock - twice - Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband. Now his first task, many think, is to stop Labour falling apart.
During the deputy leadership contest his slogan was “campaigner, defender, unifier”. Given the wave of front bench resignations that followed Corbyn’s landslide victory, the latter is likely to matter most, and it will be no easy task. During the deputy leadership contest, his slogan was “campaigner, defender, unifier”. Given the wave of frontbench resignations that followed Corbyn’s landslide victory, the latter is likely to matter most and it will be no easy task.
At hustings, Watson insisted he didn’t mind who won the top job, though his credentials as a Brownite with strong trade union connections suggested he would have struggled under the Blairite Liz Kendall. He said he was relaxed about the prospect of serving under Corbyn, even though they disagree strongly on major issues such as defence, and has joked about the team becoming known as “Tom and Jerry”. At hustings, Watson insisted he did not mind who won the top job, though his credentials as a Brownite with strong trade union connections suggested he would have struggled under the Blairite Liz Kendall. He said he was relaxed about the prospect of serving under Corbyn, even though they disagree strongly on major issues such as defence, and has joked about the team becoming known as “Tom and Jerry”.
On Sunday, however, there were already signs of the power struggles to come. When Andrew Marr asked him about Corbyn’s position that the UK should ditch its nuclear deterrent, which Watson wants to keep, he said with restrained defiance: “The members have given me my own mandate”. On Sunday, however, there were already signs of the power struggles to come. When Andrew Marr asked him on BBC1 about Corbyn’s position that the UK should ditch its nuclear deterrent, which Watson wants to keep, he said with restrained defiance: “The members have given me my own mandate”.
Tom Watson’s journey to within sniffing distance of the Labour leadership began when he was 16. He left school and his home in Kidderminster, where he had been brought up by Labour-supporting social worker parents, and found a job at Labour’s London HQ as a junior library assistant. By night he shacked up in digs in Deptford and by day he gathered press cuttings for Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley in the party’s old offices on Walworth Road. Watson’s journey to within sniffing distance of the Labour leadership began when he was 16. He left school and his home in Kidderminster, where he had been brought up by Labour-supporting social worker parents, and found a job at Labour’s London HQ as a junior library assistant. By night, he shacked up in digs in Deptford and by day he gathered press cuttings for Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley in the party’s old offices on Walworth Road.
It was the start of his apprenticeship in Labour’s values as well as its systems. Senior librarians dusted off correspondence from Eleanor Marx for him, and he was immersed in the party’s history. He learned the pain of defeat too. After watching Kinnock slide to defeat in the 1987 general election, he recalls standing at the Welshman’s shoulder the morning after “a half-blubbing, mullet-haired 20-year old”. It was the start of his apprenticeship in Labour’s values as well as its systems. Senior librarians dusted off correspondence from Eleanor Marx for him and he was immersed in the party’s history. He learned the pain of defeat, too. After watching Kinnock slide to defeat in the 1987 general election, he recalls standing at the Welshman’s shoulder the morning after “a half-blubbing, mullet-haired 20-year old”.
The apprentice has now become master of the Labour machine, and the party is looking to him for stability at one of the most uncertain, as well as most exciting, moments in its history. The apprentice has now become master of the Labour machine and the party is looking to him for stability at one of the most uncertain, as well as most exciting, moments in its history.
On one level Watson is an avuncular figure, blessed with populist presentation skills. Softly spoken and quick witted, he stays up late playing computer games, and loves Twitter and indie music. He recommended the Sheffield rock duo Drenge to Ed Miliband in his letter resigning from his role as election coordinator in 2013. On one level, Watson is an avuncular figure, blessed with populist presentation skills. Softly spoken and quick witted, he stays up late playing computer games and loves Twitter and indie music. He recommended the Sheffield rock duo Drenge to Ed Miliband in his letter resigning from his role as election coordinator in 2013.
“I don’t want to say he’s old school,” said Peter Hooton, the Farm’s lead singer who has become a friend through the Hillsborough survivors’ campaign. “But he reminds of an honest politician who puts truth and justice before his own career. [When he comes to a gig] it’s like a mate at school turning up.”“I don’t want to say he’s old school,” said Peter Hooton, the Farm’s lead singer who has become a friend through the Hillsborough survivors’ campaign. “But he reminds of an honest politician who puts truth and justice before his own career. [When he comes to a gig] it’s like a mate at school turning up.”
Watson’s record of campaigns against phone hacking and establishment child abuse have also won him cross-party admiration and a public profile as a righteous crusader.Watson’s record of campaigns against phone hacking and establishment child abuse have also won him cross-party admiration and a public profile as a righteous crusader.
On another level, he is as a renowned party operator, schooled in the sometimes bruising business of party discipline, using union leverage and candidate selection. His decision to run for deputy caused concern in some parts of the parliamentary party. Critics complained he was divisive, citing his involvement in internal party politics during the most heated years of feuding between Blair and Brown.On another level, he is as a renowned party operator, schooled in the sometimes bruising business of party discipline, using union leverage and candidate selection. His decision to run for deputy caused concern in some parts of the parliamentary party. Critics complained he was divisive, citing his involvement in internal party politics during the most heated years of feuding between Blair and Brown.
“He does have a fearsome reputation on that front,” said one parliamentary colleague, who asked not to be named. “His closeness to Unite and [its leader] Len McCluskey gave him the ability to influence, or at least to give the impression he could influence, the selection [of Labour’s parliamentary candidates].“He does have a fearsome reputation on that front,” said one parliamentary colleague, who asked not to be named. “His closeness to Unite and [its leader] Len McCluskey gave him the ability to influence, or at least to give the impression he could influence, the selection [of Labour’s parliamentary candidates].
“I know at least one person who is now an MP who felt personally very threatened by going for a particular seat because Tom wanted someone else. Often [the consequences of disobeying are] left unsaid but it leaves a person very unsettled.”“I know at least one person who is now an MP who felt personally very threatened by going for a particular seat because Tom wanted someone else. Often [the consequences of disobeying are] left unsaid but it leaves a person very unsettled.”
When Labour was selecting a new Scottish leader last year, and Watson backed Neil Findlay over Jim Murphy, Ivan Lewis, a member of the shadow cabinet, openly attacked Watson. He tweeted: “I want the party to choose leaders in an open democratic way. Your problem is, this is one leadership election you can’t manipulate”.When Labour was selecting a new Scottish leader last year, and Watson backed Neil Findlay over Jim Murphy, Ivan Lewis, a member of the shadow cabinet, openly attacked Watson. He tweeted: “I want the party to choose leaders in an open democratic way. Your problem is, this is one leadership election you can’t manipulate”.
Watson denied manipulating any leadership election and does not accept his representation as a threatening behind the scenes operator. “I was a good organiser. It was my job,” he told the Guardian. “I could organise with meticulous detail, but I don’t think that ever made me threatening.” Watson denied manipulating any leadership election and does not accept his representation as a threatening behind-the-scenes operator. “I was a good organiser. It was my job,” he told the Guardian. “I could organise with meticulous detail, but I don’t think that ever made me threatening.”
His allies agree. “Someone standing for selection finding out that the famously influential Tom Watson was backing someone else might feel disconcerted,” said Sion Simon MEP, a long-standing friend. “But you won’t find any vindictive acts or cruel words.”His allies agree. “Someone standing for selection finding out that the famously influential Tom Watson was backing someone else might feel disconcerted,” said Sion Simon MEP, a long-standing friend. “But you won’t find any vindictive acts or cruel words.”
Another question for those voting in the deputy leadership contest was whether, having resigned three times from senior party positions, Watson should be given a fourth chance. The last time he quit, two years ago as general election coordinator, he told Miliband: “After nearly 30 years of this, I feel like I’ve seen the merry-go-round turn too many times.”Another question for those voting in the deputy leadership contest was whether, having resigned three times from senior party positions, Watson should be given a fourth chance. The last time he quit, two years ago as general election coordinator, he told Miliband: “After nearly 30 years of this, I feel like I’ve seen the merry-go-round turn too many times.”
Unite had hijacked the selection process for the candidate for West Falkirk in favour of Watson’s office manager, Karie Murphy. Watson told Miliband it was not “the mess in Falkirk” that had triggered his resignation, but that he wished to “use the backbenches to speak out in areas of personal interest”.Unite had hijacked the selection process for the candidate for West Falkirk in favour of Watson’s office manager, Karie Murphy. Watson told Miliband it was not “the mess in Falkirk” that had triggered his resignation, but that he wished to “use the backbenches to speak out in areas of personal interest”.
Watson’s career has rarely followed a straightforward path. He went to university in his early twenties, studying politics at Hull, where he became leader of student Labour and then the party’s youth officer. He caught Blair’s eye as he swung behind the new leader’s clause IV reform, though working at Millbank, Peter Mandelson took a dislike to him because he was too leftwing.Watson’s career has rarely followed a straightforward path. He went to university in his early twenties, studying politics at Hull, where he became leader of student Labour and then the party’s youth officer. He caught Blair’s eye as he swung behind the new leader’s clause IV reform, though working at Millbank, Peter Mandelson took a dislike to him because he was too leftwing.
He also became mentor to some of Labour’s current rising stars, including Gloria de Piero, MP for Ashfield. He also became mentor to some of Labour’s current rising stars, including Gloria de Piero, MP for Ashfield. She said: “He has the campaigning zeal. You have seen that with Murdoch and child abuse and now he wants to work full-time with the members to get the Labour party elected. He says he wants to give something back.”
“He has the campaigning zeal. You have seen that with Murdoch and child abuse and now he wants to work full-time with the members to get the Labour party elected,” De Piero said. “He says he wants to give something back.” After a spell as a trade union officer, Watson became an MP in 2001 and rose fast, becoming a junior whip in 2004 and junior defence minister two years later, when his nightly ministerial papers included details of British soldiers killed in Iraq, a conflict he voted in favour of.
After a spell as a trade union officer Watson became an MP in 2001, and rose fast, becoming a junior whip in 2004 and junior defence minister two years later, when his nightly ministerial papers included details of British soldiers killed in Iraq, a conflict he voted in favour of. Alongside Damian McBride, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, he became part of Brown’s inner circle, earning an acidic comment from Mandelson that he “would not have blown his nose without Gordon’s say-so”.
Alongside Damian McBride, Ed Balls and Ed Miliband, he became part of Gordon Brown’s inner circle, earning an acidic comment from Mandelson that he “would not have blown his nose without Gordon’s say-so”. In September 2006, Watson signed a letter calling on Blair to quit. Blair attacked the move as “disloyal, discourteous and wrong” and Watson himself resigned. By 2008, however, with Blair finally gone, he was back in the Cabinet Office, using his emotional intelligence to dig out information for Brown on the thinking inside the Labour’s warring fiefdoms. “He was a real confidante,” said Simon. “They used to talk about everything”.
In September 2006, Watson signed a letter calling on Blair to quit. Blair attacked the move as “disloyal, discourteous and wrong”, and Watson himself resigned. By 2008, however, with Blair finally gone, he was back in the Cabinet Office, using his emotional intelligence to dig out information for Brown on the thinking inside the Labour’s warring fiefdoms. “He was a real confidante,” said Simon. “They used to talk about everything”. The following year, he was caught up in a row about smears when emails from McBride to another Labour spin doctor, Derek Draper, proposed regurgitating rumours about senior Tories’ private lives.
The following year he was caught up in a row about smears when emails from McBride to another Labour spin doctor, Derek Draper, proposed regurgitating rumours about senior Tories’ private lives. One of the emails mentioned Watson. One of the emails mentioned Watson, who strongly denied any involvement, but the Sun branded him “a Brownite thug”. In tears, he “raved at the lies and bile”, Simon recalled after the story broke. He sued the Sun and won damages, but resigned, telling Brown his role was taking a toll on his wife, Siobhan, and his two young children.
Watson strongly denied any involvement, but the Sun branded him “a Brownite thug”. In tears, he “raved at the lies and bile”, Simon recalled after the story broke. He sued the Sun and won damages, but resigned, telling Brown his role was taking a toll on his wife, Siobhan, and his two young children. He thought about quitting politics but found new purpose when the Commons culture, media and sport select committee began investigating phone hacking at the News of the World. It put him “at the receiving end of the Murdoch fear machine”, he wrote in his book, Dial M for Murdoch.
He thought about quitting politics altogether but found new purpose when the Commons culture, media and sport select committee began investigating phone hacking at the News of the World. It put him “at the receiving end of the Murdoch fear machine”, he wrote in his book, Dial M for Murdoch. “As soon as we started asking questions about hacking, the word went out to get anything on us,” he said. “Were we gay, having affairs or alcoholics?” He got into the habit of memorising the number plates of suspicious cars. The pressure was intense and, by Christmas 2010, Watson’s marriage had collapsed.
“As soon as we started asking questions about hacking the word went out to get anything on us,” he said. “Were we gay, having affairs or alcoholics?” He got into the habit of memorising the number plates of suspicious cars. The pressure was intense, and by Christmas 2010 Watson’s marriage had collapsed. His big moment in the public eye came on 19 July 2011 when the select committee grilled Rupert and James Murdoch. His cross-examination was forensic and calculated to grab headlines. Watson told James Murdoch: “You must be the only mafia boss in history who did not know he was running a criminal enterprise.”
His big moment in the public eye came on 19 July 2011, when the select committee grilled Rupert and James Murdoch. His cross-examination was forensic and calculated to grab headlines. Watson told James Murdoch: “You must be the only mafia boss in history who did not know he was running a criminal enterprise.” Watson’s analysis is that Labour needs to be re-imagined as a mass movement. He thinks the party’s current stance on solving 21st-century problems is as outdated as “trying to overhaul an Apple MacBook with a spanner” and says decisions should be made by members networked via the internet rather than in local party meetings in draughty church halls.
Watson’s analysis is that Labour needs to be re-imagined as a mass movement. He thinks the party’s current stance on solving 21st century problems is as outdated as “trying to overhaul an Apple MacBook with a spanner”, and says decisions should be made by members networked via the internet rather than in local party meetings in draughty church halls.
Despite tthree resignations and his reputation as a tribal operator in the Blair-Brown wars, however, his belief in the party he joined on his 15th birthday is undimmed. “There’s power in our Labour movement that’s centuries old and millions strong,” he said. “And it will never die.”Despite tthree resignations and his reputation as a tribal operator in the Blair-Brown wars, however, his belief in the party he joined on his 15th birthday is undimmed. “There’s power in our Labour movement that’s centuries old and millions strong,” he said. “And it will never die.”