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Tony Blair versus Jeremy Corbyn: what the newspapers say Tony Blair versus Jeremy Corbyn: what the newspapers say
(35 minutes later)
Tony Blair’s entrance into the debate over the Labour party leadership contest has ignited the story for the media.Tony Blair’s entrance into the debate over the Labour party leadership contest has ignited the story for the media.
It was the subject of headlines across the national press and John Prescott’s combative performance on Radio 4’s Today programme, in which he was unusually critical of Blair, will give the story legs throughout the day.It was the subject of headlines across the national press and John Prescott’s combative performance on Radio 4’s Today programme, in which he was unusually critical of Blair, will give the story legs throughout the day.
The drama that could well be a crisis was graphically illustrated in two left-of-centre titles. The headline on the front page of the Independent, “The greatest suicide vote in history”, was echoed by the Daily Mirror’s spread, “Left & fright.”The drama that could well be a crisis was graphically illustrated in two left-of-centre titles. The headline on the front page of the Independent, “The greatest suicide vote in history”, was echoed by the Daily Mirror’s spread, “Left & fright.”
Elsewhere, and sometimes with barely concealed glee, the headlines were devoted to the most memorable phrase in Blair’s attack on the leadership front-runner, Jeremy Corbyn.Elsewhere, and sometimes with barely concealed glee, the headlines were devoted to the most memorable phrase in Blair’s attack on the leadership front-runner, Jeremy Corbyn.
Related: Blair urges Labour not to wrap itself in a Jeremy Corbyn comfort blanket
“If your heart is with Corbyn get a transplant, says Blair” (The Times, across two full pages); “Blair: if Labour votes with its heart, it needs a transplant” (Daily Telegraph); “Blair tells Corbyn backers: if your heart is with him get a transplant” (Daily Express); “If your heart’s into Jez... get transplant” (Daily Star); and “Blair: it’s just plain daft to back Corbyn” (Metro).“If your heart is with Corbyn get a transplant, says Blair” (The Times, across two full pages); “Blair: if Labour votes with its heart, it needs a transplant” (Daily Telegraph); “Blair tells Corbyn backers: if your heart is with him get a transplant” (Daily Express); “If your heart’s into Jez... get transplant” (Daily Star); and “Blair: it’s just plain daft to back Corbyn” (Metro).
The Sun referred to it as a “Blair bomb” dropped during Labour’s “civil war” while the Daily Mail reported: “Blair: Corbyn would put Labour in the wilderness.”The Sun referred to it as a “Blair bomb” dropped during Labour’s “civil war” while the Daily Mail reported: “Blair: Corbyn would put Labour in the wilderness.”
The Telegraph, which splashed on a report that Labour was “in turmoil”, quoted Blair’s former aide, John McTernan, as saying that the 35 Labour MPs who nominated Corbyn were “morons”.The Telegraph, which splashed on a report that Labour was “in turmoil”, quoted Blair’s former aide, John McTernan, as saying that the 35 Labour MPs who nominated Corbyn were “morons”.
The Independent’s sister title, i, suggested that the two women standing for the leadership, “centrist” Yvette Cooper and “Blairite”Liz Kendall, were “trading blows” in order to avoid being required to stand down.The Independent’s sister title, i, suggested that the two women standing for the leadership, “centrist” Yvette Cooper and “Blairite”Liz Kendall, were “trading blows” in order to avoid being required to stand down.
The Guardian reported that, should Corbyn win, Cooper and Kendall would refuse to serve in his shadow cabinet.The Guardian reported that, should Corbyn win, Cooper and Kendall would refuse to serve in his shadow cabinet.
This kind of political in-fighting is manna from heaven for national newspapers (and the BBC radio’s Today programme of course). So leader writers, commentators and columnists joined in the fray.This kind of political in-fighting is manna from heaven for national newspapers (and the BBC radio’s Today programme of course). So leader writers, commentators and columnists joined in the fray.
Sketch writers also enjoyed a renewed opportunity to poke fun at Blair, but that’s a different story. The central matter in hand was treated with due seriousness.Sketch writers also enjoyed a renewed opportunity to poke fun at Blair, but that’s a different story. The central matter in hand was treated with due seriousness.
Well, serious up to a point. It is hard not to laugh at right-wing papers bemoaning the fate of the Labour party because, so they say, they want their Tory government to have a coherent oppositionWell, serious up to a point. It is hard not to laugh at right-wing papers bemoaning the fate of the Labour party because, so they say, they want their Tory government to have a coherent opposition
Here’s the Telegraph after extolling Blair’s intervention for being an “eloquent advocate of a more sensible approach to business and wealth” than the current leadership candidates:Here’s the Telegraph after extolling Blair’s intervention for being an “eloquent advocate of a more sensible approach to business and wealth” than the current leadership candidates:
“At the general election, this newspaper recommended a Conservative government, since that was, and is, in the national interest. But Britain also needs a grown-up opposition prepared to debate the issues of the day, not a populist rabble interested only in echoing the wealth-hating delusions of the disaffected left.“At the general election, this newspaper recommended a Conservative government, since that was, and is, in the national interest. But Britain also needs a grown-up opposition prepared to debate the issues of the day, not a populist rabble interested only in echoing the wealth-hating delusions of the disaffected left.
It is quite possible to wish for a better Labour party without wishing that party to be in power. Instead of pandering to Mr Corbyn and his misguided supporters, those who aspire to be serious leaders of the Labour party should confront him, reject his half-baked ideas and explain to those supporters that his path would lead the party to ruin.”It is quite possible to wish for a better Labour party without wishing that party to be in power. Instead of pandering to Mr Corbyn and his misguided supporters, those who aspire to be serious leaders of the Labour party should confront him, reject his half-baked ideas and explain to those supporters that his path would lead the party to ruin.”
The Mail agreed: “A functioning democracy requires a strong opposition – not a fractious, irrelevant rabble.”The Mail agreed: “A functioning democracy requires a strong opposition – not a fractious, irrelevant rabble.”
Really? The Mail wants a strong Labour party? In fact, its real delight is revealed in its view that the party’s “lurch even further left” in a “self-deluded trance” could lead to Labour being “out of power for a generation.”Really? The Mail wants a strong Labour party? In fact, its real delight is revealed in its view that the party’s “lurch even further left” in a “self-deluded trance” could lead to Labour being “out of power for a generation.”
The Sun also referred to the possibility of Labour taking “a further lurch leftwards under Jeremy Corbyn”, arguing that “unless it moves towards the centre ground, Labour is doomed.”The Sun also referred to the possibility of Labour taking “a further lurch leftwards under Jeremy Corbyn”, arguing that “unless it moves towards the centre ground, Labour is doomed.”
In a rare example of praise for Blair in a paper owned by Rupert Murdoch, the Sun agreed with the former Labour prime minister. Rather than get a heart transplant though, the paper said “the rebels” should get “a brain transplant.”In a rare example of praise for Blair in a paper owned by Rupert Murdoch, the Sun agreed with the former Labour prime minister. Rather than get a heart transplant though, the paper said “the rebels” should get “a brain transplant.”
The Labour-supporting Mirror was plunged into gloom: “A party which dominated the political landscape for 13 years has apparently lost the discipline, ambition and cohesion required of an effective opposition.” It argued:The Labour-supporting Mirror was plunged into gloom: “A party which dominated the political landscape for 13 years has apparently lost the discipline, ambition and cohesion required of an effective opposition.” It argued:
“The leadership contest, which should have been a chance for a thoughtful debate about the future of the party, has descended into a dispiriting exercise in back-biting and bloodletting.“The leadership contest, which should have been a chance for a thoughtful debate about the future of the party, has descended into a dispiriting exercise in back-biting and bloodletting.
Those who look to Labour to give voice to those most at risk from this Tory Government and counter its regressive polices must be holding their heads in despair.Those who look to Labour to give voice to those most at risk from this Tory Government and counter its regressive polices must be holding their heads in despair.
The candidates running for the leadership need to remember they should be speaking for the country, not just the party. But most of all they must decide if they want the purity of perpetual opposition or the chance to form a credible government.”The candidates running for the leadership need to remember they should be speaking for the country, not just the party. But most of all they must decide if they want the purity of perpetual opposition or the chance to form a credible government.”
The Independent, appearing to agree with Blair’s assessment, contended that “many voters in the centre ground will despair at the prospect of having to choose between an increasingly hard-faced Tory party dominated by George Osborne, and an impractical and economically dubious leftist agenda presented by Mr Corbyn.”The Independent, appearing to agree with Blair’s assessment, contended that “many voters in the centre ground will despair at the prospect of having to choose between an increasingly hard-faced Tory party dominated by George Osborne, and an impractical and economically dubious leftist agenda presented by Mr Corbyn.”
It recognised “Corbyn’s humane and generous-minded politics as an antidote to never-ending austerity” and did not see him as “some sort of latter-day Castro.”It recognised “Corbyn’s humane and generous-minded politics as an antidote to never-ending austerity” and did not see him as “some sort of latter-day Castro.”
But “he is not the answer to the Labour party or the nation’s problems.” After all, “a decade and more of New Labour government proved that it is possible to marry economic efficiency and social justice.”But “he is not the answer to the Labour party or the nation’s problems.” After all, “a decade and more of New Labour government proved that it is possible to marry economic efficiency and social justice.”
Blair made mistakes, concluded the Indy, “but he also made Labour electable for the first time in a quarter century, and won a hat-trick of victories. For that alone he earned his right to be listened to.”Blair made mistakes, concluded the Indy, “but he also made Labour electable for the first time in a quarter century, and won a hat-trick of victories. For that alone he earned his right to be listened to.”
Columnists from right and left also indulged in hand-wringing about Labour’s fate. The Telegraph’s Allister Heath, believing Corbyn to be a hardcore socialist, said he expounds views seemingly designed to chase away Middle England.Columnists from right and left also indulged in hand-wringing about Labour’s fate. The Telegraph’s Allister Heath, believing Corbyn to be a hardcore socialist, said he expounds views seemingly designed to chase away Middle England.
In the Express, Leo McKinstry said Labour was sliding further into meltdown and madness, as proved by the surge in support for Corbyn. If he wins Labour could fall apart or be consigned to oblivion. (Like he cares).In the Express, Leo McKinstry said Labour was sliding further into meltdown and madness, as proved by the surge in support for Corbyn. If he wins Labour could fall apart or be consigned to oblivion. (Like he cares).
The Independent’s Rachael Ward saw Corbyn’s entrance into the race in positive terms. Before that, there was hardly anything to distinguish the three other candidates from each other.The Independent’s Rachael Ward saw Corbyn’s entrance into the race in positive terms. Before that, there was hardly anything to distinguish the three other candidates from each other.
Corbyn, she argued, is demonstrably the only interesting politician among the four. None of the others have the confidence to put forward Tory-lite plans.Corbyn, she argued, is demonstrably the only interesting politician among the four. None of the others have the confidence to put forward Tory-lite plans.
In The Times, Matthew Taylor contended that Labour requires radical change, but it is simple-minded to equate radical change with left-wing leadership.In The Times, Matthew Taylor contended that Labour requires radical change, but it is simple-minded to equate radical change with left-wing leadership.