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Ed Miliband's Labour critics are a boon to the Tories Ed Miliband's Labour critics are a boon to the Tories
(25 days later)
Sometimes clever, decent people do silly things, like the summer barrage of advice from Labour people to Ed Miliband, delivered publicly through the media. We have all been around long enough to know that public criticism of Labour leaders by their own party only helps our opponents and distances our supporters. We have all seen the Labour party in the past turn inwards when it should be facing outwards, speaking to itself when it should be talking to the people. We should have learned by now how futile that is. So let us remind ourselves that, when you are in a political party, publicly offered "constructive criticism" is only ever destructive.Sometimes clever, decent people do silly things, like the summer barrage of advice from Labour people to Ed Miliband, delivered publicly through the media. We have all been around long enough to know that public criticism of Labour leaders by their own party only helps our opponents and distances our supporters. We have all seen the Labour party in the past turn inwards when it should be facing outwards, speaking to itself when it should be talking to the people. We should have learned by now how futile that is. So let us remind ourselves that, when you are in a political party, publicly offered "constructive criticism" is only ever destructive.
We should all remember that Ed has an office his critics can go to; he is highly intelligent, considerate and a good listener, a man from whom some of his recent public critics have much to learn.We should all remember that Ed has an office his critics can go to; he is highly intelligent, considerate and a good listener, a man from whom some of his recent public critics have much to learn.
There are complementary rights and obligations when it comes to the leadership of the Labour party: anyone may stand for the leadership, but once the winner is chosen, he or she is entitled to the loyalty and support of the party at every level. Loyalty is what keeps the boat afloat; disloyalty the rock against which it breaks. And disloyalty comes in many shapes, most of which artfully ape the gestures of friendship. There is, however, nothing constructive in publicly delivering "helpful advice" that could be much better delivered quietly in private. For the public, it creates an unappealing sense of toxic disunity.There are complementary rights and obligations when it comes to the leadership of the Labour party: anyone may stand for the leadership, but once the winner is chosen, he or she is entitled to the loyalty and support of the party at every level. Loyalty is what keeps the boat afloat; disloyalty the rock against which it breaks. And disloyalty comes in many shapes, most of which artfully ape the gestures of friendship. There is, however, nothing constructive in publicly delivering "helpful advice" that could be much better delivered quietly in private. For the public, it creates an unappealing sense of toxic disunity.
We are not commentators on a Westminster game of who is up and who is down, of who has coined the best soundbite or delivered the sharpest put-down. We are, rather, participants in a political contest whose outcome will affect the lives of millions of people. It is not the political class but our constituents who will pay the price if we allow David Cameron and the Conservatives another term in office – to squeeze living standards as prices rise faster than wages, to abandon families with elderly relatives waiting on trolleys in hospitals, or to take no responsibility for those of our young people who are without jobs or hope of a home of their own. Only a Labour government will bring the necessary change for them.We are not commentators on a Westminster game of who is up and who is down, of who has coined the best soundbite or delivered the sharpest put-down. We are, rather, participants in a political contest whose outcome will affect the lives of millions of people. It is not the political class but our constituents who will pay the price if we allow David Cameron and the Conservatives another term in office – to squeeze living standards as prices rise faster than wages, to abandon families with elderly relatives waiting on trolleys in hospitals, or to take no responsibility for those of our young people who are without jobs or hope of a home of their own. Only a Labour government will bring the necessary change for them.
I was elected MP for Dulwich in 1992. I have seen these summer stories before. Hardly anyone outside Westminster will have noticed the detailed ins and outs of Labour's so-called summer crisis. In truth, it is no more than a publicity stunt cunningly manufactured by the Conservative party with the unwitting help of some who should know better.I was elected MP for Dulwich in 1992. I have seen these summer stories before. Hardly anyone outside Westminster will have noticed the detailed ins and outs of Labour's so-called summer crisis. In truth, it is no more than a publicity stunt cunningly manufactured by the Conservative party with the unwitting help of some who should know better.
Ed has covered the hard yards of opposition with great energy and determination. I remember only too well the 18 long years of Conservative government and the years of Labour infighting in the mid-80s that did nothing to shorten them. I remember the consequences for the people we seek to represent – the crumbling schools, the inadequate hospital buildings, the faltering transport infrastructure, the nasty mood of get-rich-quick that incubated the mindless greed in the City, for which we are now all paying.Ed has covered the hard yards of opposition with great energy and determination. I remember only too well the 18 long years of Conservative government and the years of Labour infighting in the mid-80s that did nothing to shorten them. I remember the consequences for the people we seek to represent – the crumbling schools, the inadequate hospital buildings, the faltering transport infrastructure, the nasty mood of get-rich-quick that incubated the mindless greed in the City, for which we are now all paying.
This week, after the holidays, life for most will return to normal. The choice now for all of us in the Labour party is to join Ed and the rest of the shadow cabinet in getting across the ambition, hope and purpose of a future Labour government or to undermine and distract from that message.This week, after the holidays, life for most will return to normal. The choice now for all of us in the Labour party is to join Ed and the rest of the shadow cabinet in getting across the ambition, hope and purpose of a future Labour government or to undermine and distract from that message.
So my advice to Ed's summer critics is to spend more hours on the doorsteps of our marginal seats busting a gut to help our candidates win. That is the real frontline.So my advice to Ed's summer critics is to spend more hours on the doorsteps of our marginal seats busting a gut to help our candidates win. That is the real frontline.
Tessa Jowell is MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. She served as a minister and in the cabinet throughout the last Labour governmentTessa Jowell is MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. She served as a minister and in the cabinet throughout the last Labour government
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