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Demoralised, dejected and defeated, Labour faces a fight for its very existence Demoralised, dejected and defeated, Labour faces a fight for its very existence
(about 1 hour later)
Two summer parties on the same evening summed up the state of British politics. On Thursday, the chancellor, George Osborne, entertained the press in the No 10 garden. The choice of location (his parties are usually held in the cold grandeur of the Treasury) was a statement of intent. Osborne – all smiles and contentment – was holding court outside on a warm evening, amid the splendour of a blooming Downing Street rose garden. He drank elderflower cordial throughout. David Cameron was nowhere to be seen. If there was a message, it was that the prime minister was lending his lawns to the man he now sees, more certainly than ever, as his successor.Two summer parties on the same evening summed up the state of British politics. On Thursday, the chancellor, George Osborne, entertained the press in the No 10 garden. The choice of location (his parties are usually held in the cold grandeur of the Treasury) was a statement of intent. Osborne – all smiles and contentment – was holding court outside on a warm evening, amid the splendour of a blooming Downing Street rose garden. He drank elderflower cordial throughout. David Cameron was nowhere to be seen. If there was a message, it was that the prime minister was lending his lawns to the man he now sees, more certainly than ever, as his successor.
Related: The Observer view on the Labour leadership election | Observer editorial
Not far away, in a soulless room at its headquarters just off Victoria Street, the acting leader of the Labour party, Harriet Harman, was holding her own end-of-term drinks. Everyone tried to be upbeat, but it was a strain. This was where Labour had planned its general election strategy and had been preparing for government only three months ago. It was also where rows of officials had watched in horror when the disastrous exit poll that wrecked their hopes flashed up on TVs at 10pm on 7 May.Not far away, in a soulless room at its headquarters just off Victoria Street, the acting leader of the Labour party, Harriet Harman, was holding her own end-of-term drinks. Everyone tried to be upbeat, but it was a strain. This was where Labour had planned its general election strategy and had been preparing for government only three months ago. It was also where rows of officials had watched in horror when the disastrous exit poll that wrecked their hopes flashed up on TVs at 10pm on 7 May.
Over beer, nuts and crisps, Labour officials said they would be vacating the building as soon as the lease was up. They longed for the day. “It’s haunted,” said one.Over beer, nuts and crisps, Labour officials said they would be vacating the building as soon as the lease was up. They longed for the day. “It’s haunted,” said one.
As she arrived, Harman deployed black humour with journalists, welcoming them to “the preparation for government seminar”. “This way!” she said with a laugh. She had just emerged from a series of discussions-cum-rows with leadership contender Andy Burnham and others about how to vote on Tory welfare cuts – a hugely divisive issue for Labour. “I need a drink,” she said, as she clutched a glass of white wine and mulled over how awful it was to lose an election in the era of fixed-term parliaments. These days, losing means a five-year sentence in opposition.As she arrived, Harman deployed black humour with journalists, welcoming them to “the preparation for government seminar”. “This way!” she said with a laugh. She had just emerged from a series of discussions-cum-rows with leadership contender Andy Burnham and others about how to vote on Tory welfare cuts – a hugely divisive issue for Labour. “I need a drink,” she said, as she clutched a glass of white wine and mulled over how awful it was to lose an election in the era of fixed-term parliaments. These days, losing means a five-year sentence in opposition.
As the Tories look forward to the summer break in the glow of their unexpected general election win, Harman’s party is facing potentially an existential crisis. On 8 May, no one thought it could sink lower. But it has. A party that won three successive elections from the centre ground under Tony Blair and thought it had found its winning formula is now deeply divided, on the floor, and largely clueless about how to pick itself up. The Tories have moved on to territory Labour believed was its own. They have stolen the “living wage”, the devolution agenda and even the one-nation slogan around which Ed Miliband tried to frame his message. Labour is leaderless and, as its MPs and supporters admit, trapped in a narrow succession contest that sets candidates against each other, promoting a sense of disunity when it needs it least.As the Tories look forward to the summer break in the glow of their unexpected general election win, Harman’s party is facing potentially an existential crisis. On 8 May, no one thought it could sink lower. But it has. A party that won three successive elections from the centre ground under Tony Blair and thought it had found its winning formula is now deeply divided, on the floor, and largely clueless about how to pick itself up. The Tories have moved on to territory Labour believed was its own. They have stolen the “living wage”, the devolution agenda and even the one-nation slogan around which Ed Miliband tried to frame his message. Labour is leaderless and, as its MPs and supporters admit, trapped in a narrow succession contest that sets candidates against each other, promoting a sense of disunity when it needs it least.
Related: Why I’m backing Liz Kendall for Labour leader
Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North and former adviser to Gordon Brown, believes the party is in a far worse place than it was even under Miliband. “Too many people seem to think our response to our disastrous defeat should be just to shout louder about how terrible the Tories are or repeat the same policies with a different accent, but it’s not just that Ed Miliband wasn’t remotely up to it. Our whole approach was wrong, too. It’s even worse now.”Ian Austin, Labour MP for Dudley North and former adviser to Gordon Brown, believes the party is in a far worse place than it was even under Miliband. “Too many people seem to think our response to our disastrous defeat should be just to shout louder about how terrible the Tories are or repeat the same policies with a different accent, but it’s not just that Ed Miliband wasn’t remotely up to it. Our whole approach was wrong, too. It’s even worse now.”
The Miliband experiment, he says, led too many in the party to think its future should be on the left. The consequence is that from nowhere a hard-left believer in a command economy and nuclear disarmament, Jeremy Corbyn, 66, has emerged as a serious contender to lead a party in which he has been utterly marginalised for most of his career. Last week there were reports of secret polls putting Corbyn in the lead.The Miliband experiment, he says, led too many in the party to think its future should be on the left. The consequence is that from nowhere a hard-left believer in a command economy and nuclear disarmament, Jeremy Corbyn, 66, has emerged as a serious contender to lead a party in which he has been utterly marginalised for most of his career. Last week there were reports of secret polls putting Corbyn in the lead.
“We spent five years telling people they didn’t need to confront reality or listen to the public,” says Austin. “It’s no surprise that so many Labour people are stuck in their comfort zone with the self-indulgent fantasy that Jeremy Corbyn could be the answer. That’s where we are now: a defeated and divided party, much weaker than when the unions made Ed leader five years ago.”“We spent five years telling people they didn’t need to confront reality or listen to the public,” says Austin. “It’s no surprise that so many Labour people are stuck in their comfort zone with the self-indulgent fantasy that Jeremy Corbyn could be the answer. That’s where we are now: a defeated and divided party, much weaker than when the unions made Ed leader five years ago.”
Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead and a member of the trade union group of Labour MPs, who is backing Burnham for leader, says he can understand why Corbyn has appeal among members and says it is a symptom of leadership failings. “I have been to some of the hustings and I can see that Jeremy’s message is getting through. The politics and economics of anti-austerity is striking a chord. In regions like mine there has been a rejection of the New Labour way. This government is rewarding those who caused the crash and our front bench is being completely sanguine about it.”Ian Mearns, MP for Gateshead and a member of the trade union group of Labour MPs, who is backing Burnham for leader, says he can understand why Corbyn has appeal among members and says it is a symptom of leadership failings. “I have been to some of the hustings and I can see that Jeremy’s message is getting through. The politics and economics of anti-austerity is striking a chord. In regions like mine there has been a rejection of the New Labour way. This government is rewarding those who caused the crash and our front bench is being completely sanguine about it.”
The prospect of Corbyn being crowned leader in September has focused minds on a crisis that could destroy the party. Last week, the Daily Telegraph urged readers to sign up to Labour so they could vote for Corbyn and kill off the party. One MP on the right of the party said it would be the end: “I don’t rule out him winning, as anything is possible. But he would not even be able to put a front bench together. No one serious would work with him.”The prospect of Corbyn being crowned leader in September has focused minds on a crisis that could destroy the party. Last week, the Daily Telegraph urged readers to sign up to Labour so they could vote for Corbyn and kill off the party. One MP on the right of the party said it would be the end: “I don’t rule out him winning, as anything is possible. But he would not even be able to put a front bench together. No one serious would work with him.”
Sonia Sodha, a former adviser to the party under Miliband, says Labour has descended from misplaced pre-election optimism at such stunning speed that it is unable to chart a way forward. The leadership process, and the hustings involving Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Corbyn, are hindering rather than helping, she believes. “Back in April the polls seemed to tell us Ed Miliband was more likely than not to be prime minister of a coalition; barely three months later we find ourselves in a position worse than in 2010.Sonia Sodha, a former adviser to the party under Miliband, says Labour has descended from misplaced pre-election optimism at such stunning speed that it is unable to chart a way forward. The leadership process, and the hustings involving Burnham, Yvette Cooper, Liz Kendall and Corbyn, are hindering rather than helping, she believes. “Back in April the polls seemed to tell us Ed Miliband was more likely than not to be prime minister of a coalition; barely three months later we find ourselves in a position worse than in 2010.
“And we’re repeating the same mistakes. Rather than focusing front benchers on a conversation with the public that’s aimed at restoring Labour’s economic credibility – the lack of which was a key reason Labour lost – the way this leadership contest has been structured has allowed the party to focus on an inward-facing dialogue about how important a task this is, without doing very much about it.”“And we’re repeating the same mistakes. Rather than focusing front benchers on a conversation with the public that’s aimed at restoring Labour’s economic credibility – the lack of which was a key reason Labour lost – the way this leadership contest has been structured has allowed the party to focus on an inward-facing dialogue about how important a task this is, without doing very much about it.”
MPs complain that the candidates pick one policy a week to focus on, as if compiling the next election manifesto, rather than asking the big questions about Labour’s future role. “We sound like we are in election mode again, manifesto mode again, when we have just suffered the most awful defeat in our history. What is that all about?” asked one shadow cabinet member.MPs complain that the candidates pick one policy a week to focus on, as if compiling the next election manifesto, rather than asking the big questions about Labour’s future role. “We sound like we are in election mode again, manifesto mode again, when we have just suffered the most awful defeat in our history. What is that all about?” asked one shadow cabinet member.
To make matters worse, none of the candidates is inspiring much enthusiasm among MPs or among party members. Senior figures freely admit that the next leader may be a “caretaker”, to be ditched as soon as he or she disappoints.To make matters worse, none of the candidates is inspiring much enthusiasm among MPs or among party members. Senior figures freely admit that the next leader may be a “caretaker”, to be ditched as soon as he or she disappoints.
“One thing is for sure,” said another shadow cabinet member. “We will not just sit back and say nothing and be loyal as we were under Ed. We have learned that lesson. We will act.”“One thing is for sure,” said another shadow cabinet member. “We will not just sit back and say nothing and be loyal as we were under Ed. We have learned that lesson. We will act.”
Patrick Diamond, an adviser from the New Labour days, says that, ironically, this should be a time when parties on the centre left can establish a sense of purpose. “Labour has a future because society and social attitudes are moving in a direction that ought to be consistent with centre-left values: of sharing and co-operation, combining personal fulfilment and autonomy with the deep desire for connection and solidarity in an age of interdependence.”Patrick Diamond, an adviser from the New Labour days, says that, ironically, this should be a time when parties on the centre left can establish a sense of purpose. “Labour has a future because society and social attitudes are moving in a direction that ought to be consistent with centre-left values: of sharing and co-operation, combining personal fulfilment and autonomy with the deep desire for connection and solidarity in an age of interdependence.”
But he does not see much sign of the party tuning in to the challenge. “Labour’s crisis is of fundamental purpose. It has no widely shared understanding of what it is for, or what the party exists to achieve.”But he does not see much sign of the party tuning in to the challenge. “Labour’s crisis is of fundamental purpose. It has no widely shared understanding of what it is for, or what the party exists to achieve.”
Diamond fears Labour will avoid confronting the scale of the challenge and suffer the same fate as other centre-left parties in Europe. “Labour’s instincts historically have too often been to bury its head in the sand, relying on a Tory implosion to provide the ‘one more heave’ it needs for victory,” he says. “The recent experience of European centre-left parties, blown away by populist left challengers, shows how unwise that strategy could turn out to be: the risk for Labour is permanent irrelevance.”Diamond fears Labour will avoid confronting the scale of the challenge and suffer the same fate as other centre-left parties in Europe. “Labour’s instincts historically have too often been to bury its head in the sand, relying on a Tory implosion to provide the ‘one more heave’ it needs for victory,” he says. “The recent experience of European centre-left parties, blown away by populist left challengers, shows how unwise that strategy could turn out to be: the risk for Labour is permanent irrelevance.”
Today the Observer publishes the results of a series of focus groups conducted since the election with formerly loyal Labour voters who switched to the Tories on 7 May. The results are sobering in the extreme. They show the extent to which switchers believed Labour has lost economic credibility and they say they lack faith that a party that chose Miliband as leader will ever find a convincing leader again.Today the Observer publishes the results of a series of focus groups conducted since the election with formerly loyal Labour voters who switched to the Tories on 7 May. The results are sobering in the extreme. They show the extent to which switchers believed Labour has lost economic credibility and they say they lack faith that a party that chose Miliband as leader will ever find a convincing leader again.
The message is that Labour may never win back this group. Jacqui Smith, the former home secretary, said the focus groups’ evidence “poses serious questions for leadership contenders and makes clear that more of the same would be a recipe not only for further defeats, but would risk the very future of our party”. Writing opposite, the former chancellor, Alistair Darling, says he is backing the candidate of the right, Liz Kendall, because she is the one who best understands the need for change.The message is that Labour may never win back this group. Jacqui Smith, the former home secretary, said the focus groups’ evidence “poses serious questions for leadership contenders and makes clear that more of the same would be a recipe not only for further defeats, but would risk the very future of our party”. Writing opposite, the former chancellor, Alistair Darling, says he is backing the candidate of the right, Liz Kendall, because she is the one who best understands the need for change.
Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Tony Blair, now a headteacher observing the party’s troubles from outside, says there is an opportunity that Labour shows no sign of grasping. “There is a gaping hole in British politics for a political movement that is optimistic, edgy and grassroots. This is a movement whose purpose is to galvanise the millions of Britons with a social conscience and an entrepreneurial spirit, who believe in both a dynamic economy and a more equal society. It is a movement that requires a leader who can speak for the whole country, forge a moral purpose that can stir the emotions, and tell a convincing story about Britain’s future.Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Tony Blair, now a headteacher observing the party’s troubles from outside, says there is an opportunity that Labour shows no sign of grasping. “There is a gaping hole in British politics for a political movement that is optimistic, edgy and grassroots. This is a movement whose purpose is to galvanise the millions of Britons with a social conscience and an entrepreneurial spirit, who believe in both a dynamic economy and a more equal society. It is a movement that requires a leader who can speak for the whole country, forge a moral purpose that can stir the emotions, and tell a convincing story about Britain’s future.
“Is Labour capable of being this fresh movement for change? On present evidence – no. It looks like we’re heading for more of the same delusional politics that only ends in one outcome – wipeout.”“Is Labour capable of being this fresh movement for change? On present evidence – no. It looks like we’re heading for more of the same delusional politics that only ends in one outcome – wipeout.”