Fabian Review www.fabians.org.uk Summer 2010

The quarterly magazine of the Fabian Society Volume 122 no 2 £4.95

REVIEW OF THE SUMMER Image: Adrian Teal There is an alternative The coalition’s first budget was born of political choice not necessity, and it will make it very difficult for the Government to meet its self-imposed fairness tests

2010 was the mandate-less election. This is the fairness test. Unlike to frontline services was a campaign Labour’s pitch focused so heavily on in the 1980s, when the Government fairytale. the risks of change that Gordon Brown rejected distributional analysis as Labour should offer both robust offered voters ‘more of the same’ when irrelevant, this test is not just an and constructive opposition, building they had had enough. David Cameron’s external challenge from Fabians and broad alliances in society to propose right wing blames him for not winning others on the left. It is the defining test alternatives. Greater clarity about the cuts a majority when he had the political that both coalition partners have set and taxes the opposition would support wind at his back, though much of for themselves. in order to halve the deficit would still the electorate’s hesitation reflected The budget was a bad start. Nick help it to more credibly oppose those scepticism about whether his party had Clegg proudly proclaimed George deeper cuts that are driven by ideology really changed. Nick Clegg’s poll bounce Osborne’s efforts “fair”; a claim not necessity. We should keep talking to evaporated, and his consolation prize authoritatively shredded by the Institute those more reluctant coalition supporters of Deputy Prime Minister required him of Fiscal Studies overnight, even before the socially liberal wing of the Lib Dems, to switch from his anti-political attacks considering the impact of £32 billion of and to progressive Conservatives who on the two main parties during the extra spending cuts. are prepared to acknowledge what the campaign, to a ’we can work it out’ call Any government begins with independent analysis shows: that the for a new politics. goodwill and the coalition seeks to Government must change course if it is There was no clear winner – but exploit this with the familiar argument: to take its own inequality commitments Labour definitely lost. For the Lib Dems, ‘there is no alternative’. But this isn’t seriously. every response was perilous, though true. If it were, the Lib Dem’s role in This government’s fairness test the full-throated nature of Nick Clegg’s government would be pointless, as there matters, even though it has seemingly embrace of Cameronism presents would be no way for them to make set out to fail it already. The fairness particular existential risks. The Lib Dems it more fair. The decision to eliminate rhetoric did change the terms of political are now public guarantors of Cameron’s the structural deficit in one Parliament, trade. Now the coalition dangerously central, untested, proposition: that and to pursue an 80-20 ratio of cuts to claim that it can do no other – but politics a smaller state can and will reduce tax rises, are political and ideological matters only because there are always inequality. Nick Clegg has guaranteed choices of the coalition. Osborne’s post- alternative choices. party and country that deficit reduction election frankness effectively admits will not hit the poor harder. that Cameron’s promise to reject all cuts SK

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 1 THE SUMMER IN REVIEW email your views to: [email protected]

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Membership of the Fabian Society Lord Kinnock delivered a “Can Labour speak for England?” has reached an all time high. barnstorming speech at the Fabian As the Guardian reported, Denham 440 new members joined in May Society Summer Reception in the argued “Labour needs to regain following the General Election – a House of Commons, complete with voters’ trust by rebuilding the record for any single month – and anecdotes about Nye Bevan in the welfare state around its original membership continues to expand. 1950s and the general election of social insurance model so benefits As a result, the Society had 6606 1983. He said that the future success are more directly linked to what a national members at the end of May, of the Labour Party rests on its worker has contributed.” and 6786 at the end of June: a record ability to deliver care, opportunity, in the Society’s 126 year history. security, justice and liberty. You can The previous national membership read the full speech or listen to the In our pre-election Fabian Review, peaks were 6474 in June 2009, and podcast at www.fabians.org.uk we asked high-profile experts to before that 6332 in 1972. set key “progressive benchmarks” against which the new Government could be judged. These included As an affiliated socialist society, the reducing income and health Fabians have been very involved in inequalities, bringing children the ongoing contest for the Labour out of poverty and empowering leadership. Ed Miliband (above) citizens. Six weeks into the new was booked to speak at the post- coalition government, Ed Wallis election Next Left Conference long made a preliminary investigation before there was a vacancy, but used into its performance relative to the his keynote speech to announce benchmarks and found it wanting. his candidacy. Then the Fabians You can read his analysis at teamed up with Progress, Left www.leftfootward.org Foot Forward, the Young Fabians, LabourList and Compass to host a leadership hustings in London. The You can now read the Fabian Review five candidates answered questions in full online at www.fabians.org. on Iraq, equality, gender balance in uk/publications/fabian-review. the party, political reform, socialism Shadow Communities Secretary Magazines will be put up online and their regrets from Labour’s time John Denham responded to around six weeks after publication. in government. To read reports from Labour’s dismal election showing Please do let us know what you the event and the results of our exit in England – and particularly the think by emailing review@fabian- poll, visit www.nextleft.org south – with a thoughtful speech society.org.uk to the Fabian Society which asked

2 Fabian Review Summer 2010 Fabian Review

Fabian Review is the quarterly journal of the Fabian Society [email protected] INSIDE Editor Tom Hampson Assistant Editor Ed Wallis QUESTIONS WE’RE ASKING The Fabian Essay 4 

Fabian Review, like all publications of The twelve steps the Fabian Society, represents not the How not to be an opposition: collective view of the Society, but only the views of the individual writers. The lessons from the Tories responsibility of the Society is limited to approving its publications as worthy Tim Bale of consideration within the Labour movement. The Labour leadership 8 Printed by The choice The Colourhouse STAR London SE14 6EB T Sunder Katwala Designed by SoapBox Communications OPPOSITION LABOUR LEADERSHIP How does Labour What questions The Fabian Interview 10 ISSN 1356 1812 avoid a Hague should we be asking Picking up the pieces Fabian Society moment? the candidates? 11 Dartmouth Street Mary Riddell London SW1H 9BN p4 p9 Telephone 020 7227 4900 Fax 020 7976 7153 Lessons after defeat [email protected] Living on the edge 13 www.fabians.org.uk Gisela Stuart General Secretary Sunder Katwala After defeat 14 Research Research Director David Lammy Tim Horton Research Fellow Labour’s James Gregory London victory 16 Publications Ken Livingstone Editorial Director COALITION AFTER DEFEAT Tom Hampson POLITICS How can Labour The opposition opportunity 18 Editorial Manager Could Labour ever avoid the electoral Ed Wallis work with the Lib wilderness? Steve Munby Dems? Events p10 p14 Events Director Labour needs to become Fatima Hassan a 50:50 party 19 Events Manager Richard Lane Julie Mellor Events Manager Genna Stawski Recovery Road 20 Events and Office Assistant Rachel Reeves Katharina Klebba Fabian office Books 21 Finance Manager Phil Mutero Drowning in detail Local Societies Officer Dianne Hayter Deborah Stoate LABOUR’S THE ECONOMY Membership Officer CAMPAIGN Will Osborne’s Giles Wright Where did all the budget kill the The Fabian Society Interns women go? recovery? Alex Godson Listings 23 Genevieve Bach p19 p20 Maria Arbiter Noticeboard 24 Huston Gilmore William Brett

Fabian Women’s Network Seema Malhotra [email protected]

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 3 THE FABIAN ESSAY The twelve steps How not to be an opposition: lessons from the Tories

Tim Bale is author of The Conservative Party from Thatcher to Cameron, the definitive guide to the Tories’ slow slide out of power and then their sojourn in the wilderness between 1990 and 2010. Here he draws some practical lessons for Labour from their often painful experience.

Tim Bale THREE: is a senior lecturer It’s too late to advise against rushing in Politics at Sussex University and into a leadership contest that might the author of The prevent you from conducting a proper Conservative Party postmortem on your defeat. But you from Thatcher to have to be aware of the risks. Contests Cameron can push candidates into making hasty diagnoses and recommending prescriptions that are partial or even just TWO: plain wrong. And the right solutions Even if you have to spend more money can end up being rejected simply than you’ve got in order to do so, try because they’re suggested by the wrong to find out as soon as possible why candidate. Most of all, leadership contests voters thought you were so rubbish – can encourage the inevitable tendency to and listen to what you’re told rather pin the blame for the party’s woes on the than simply stopping up your ears salesman not the product. Obviously, the or, almost as bad, only hearing what salesman matters – academic research ONE: you want to hear. Survey research and suggests that leaders do make more of a Don’t put your rejection by the focus groups aren’t everyone’s cup of difference now that ideology, social class, electorate down to the swing of the tea. But those methods are pretty much and partisan loyalty are less important political pendulum or a passing fad. all you’ve got if you want to go beyond drivers of voting behaviour. But don’t Don’t assume it was evanescent and opinion columns in the broadsheets and forget that even the most consummate only ever partial. Regard it instead as your own experience ‘on the doorstep’, marketing man finds it hard to sell the long-lasting and comprehensive. Only neither of which, however eloquent and/ electorate damaged goods. then will you do something about it or forceful they may be, are likely to tell sufficiently quickly to make a difference you anything of any great use. Paying by the time of the next election. Moreover, through the nose to be told you’re in a don’t, whatever you do, take comfort hole might not seem like an investment, from the fact that your seat share held up but if it helps you stop digging and better than your vote share. Seat share decide how best to climb out of it, then is a quirk – albeit a merciful one – of it’s money well spent. the electoral system. Vote share is the indicator you need to pay attention to. You had your butts kicked. The fact that your pants didn’t fall down as well may have preserved your modesty but that STAR means very little. T 4 Fabian Review Summer 2010 FABIAN ESSAY

SIX: Whatever the economy does or doesn’t throw up, you will have to fight on it – it is almost certain to remain the number one issue. Even in the (incredibly unlikely) event that you FIVE: manage to ensure that the next election Don’t underestimate your opponents. is fought on your issues rather than You might be able to see right through on those which traditionally favour the them, but don’t assume the electorate other side, that won’t be enough for you will get wise to them anytime soon. to win. You probably won’t be able to You might be confident that they’ll fall turn your weaknesses into strengths. But FOUR: apart in months if not weeks, but – if you will have to try to shrink whatever If the leader you do end up picking history is anything to go by – they won’t. gap exists between your ratings and the bombs badly right from the beginning, Avoid the comforting (but ultimately ratings enjoyed by your opponents on don’t rely on them to do the decent illusory) complacency into which the such issues. Aim, then, for a draw but thing and step down. They won’t, Conservatives fell back in 1997, when, expect no more than to be able to keep meaning you have to have the guts to as one of their advisors put it, they them putting too many past you; who ditch them, rulebook or no rulebook, “behaved like a disappointed middle- knows you may even nick an away as soon as you possibly can. First aged wife whose husband’s just run goal or two. Likewise, you can’t win impressions count. A bad start is almost off with his PA and thinks, ’Well, give by piling up votes where you already impossible to overcome, especially if it three or four months and when he enjoy home advantage: whether we’re it involves anything which means the needs his socks darned and a home- talking geography or demographics, you public find it difficult to take your leader cooked meal, he’ll come crawling back, can’t afford to be thought of as a party seriously; if anything, derision is even begging for forgiveness’.” Obviously, which represents only certain regions or more damaging than being despised. your opponents, just like you, are going sections of the country. If you are, they The ability to project competence, to have some tough decisions to make; will be the only places and people you strength and decisiveness matters more but they, just like you, won’t get all of will end up representing. than looking like someone whom people them wrong. And don’t, whatever you wouldn’t mind their daughter marrying. do, assume that any economic success That said, a beard is simply out of they have can’t last forever. It won’t, but the question and a full head of hair is they will probably manage to make it something of a sine qua non. Whatever last until after the next election. the new leader’s like, though, make sure they have plenty of opportunity to talk direct to pollsters who will hopefully tell it like it is. By the same token, the leader has to ensure that they extend discussion beyond a narrow circle of advisors. This also means there has to be some mechanism through which people who disagree with them can express their doubts without being thought of as dumb, disloyal or planning to launch a leadership bid.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 5 FABIAN ESSAY

You can’t afford to be thought of as a party which represents only certain regions or sections of the country. If you are, they will be the only places and people you will end up representing NINE: Do everything you can to show you realise you got some pretty fundamental things wrong, to reassure people that you’ve listened, and to show them that EIGHT: you’re changing. This means fighting the Don’t get tempted into doing anything very understandable temptation to look and everything to get noticed. Face back on, and feel pride in, your record the fact that you might be consumed in government, as well as the related both by the challenges facing you and temptation to think you have nothing the leadership contest you are already whatsoever to apologise for. If Philip SEVEN: embarked on, but that the public Gould’s classic ‘concede and move on’ Whether you shift left or right, or (and quite a few formerly friendly New Labour mantra was good enough whether you believe they’re both old journalists) won’t, for the most part, give (eventually) for the Tories, then it should hat and you should move beyond them, a toss. Trying too hard to make them certainly be good enough for you. do so in the direction of the electorate – notice you, particularly by adopting and, while you’re doing it, stress you’re headline-grabbing populist positions setting up camp on the centre ground, is not only pointless but positively which after all, is where (like it or not) counterproductive: it’s all too obvious the vast majority of voters think they what you’re trying to do and you end are. If you like your politics a little more up adopting stances that you can’t row complicated and think of competition as back on and even have to ramp up. That having two dimensions – a state-market said, there’s nothing wrong with a few one and a libertarian-authoritarian one – carefully-considered, counter-intuitive do bear in mind that most voters, while initiatives – indeed, there’s nothing like they tend slightly toward the state end them (if used sparingly) to encourage the of the spectrum, are even more firmly electorate to reassess you. persuaded (whatever the evidence) that authoritarian solutions to, say, crime and immigration, are the way to go. Given the obvious electoral importance of the so-called C2s, for whom this is mostly the case, one shouldn’t really need to spell out the implications of this. But politicians have some pretty heroic, and therefore unrealistic, assumptions about how persuasive they can be. Clearly people are influenced by what politicians say – underlying preferences like these are endogenous as well as exogenous, if you’re into the jargon. But it is probably better to admit sooner rather than later that they will have to be accommodated rather than believe that you can do much to shape them.

6 Fabian Review Summer 2010 FABIAN ESSAY

TWELVE: Finally, avoid the cardinal error of thinking that success in referendums and second order elections – by- ELEVEN: elections, local authority, European While you should pay little or no – means that you must be doing attention to parties and pressure groups something right. This is hugely that might steal an ultimately marginal important. Winning them is helpful in share of your more radically-inclined so far as it maintains the morale of TEN: voters, don’t forget – and how could your troops. Indeed, given the extent to Don’t let anyone – especially the big you after all that’s happened – the Lib which the activist-base of British political beasts (presuming for the moment that Dems. Don’t assume that, even as you parties is composed of councillors (and you have any) – turn down a place on read this, their voters are flocking to you. their friends and families) and wannabe the front bench, whatever their excuse. Behavioural psychology suggests that MPs, they may actually provide you You need absolutely everyone you’ve most of us are strongly inclined to fool with troops. But such contests, not least got on deck, manning the guns, hoisting ourselves into thinking that whatever we because they are affected by protest the sails, and repelling borders. Anyone did turned out for the best: even some of voting and poor turnout, are unreliable who declines to serve – especially if the beard and sandals brigade, assuming guides to how you are really doing, they’re talented and/or highly regarded for the moment that you want them in especially when compared to opinion (or just recognised) by the public your big tent, will be prepared to give polls. If you let them, second-order – will simply convey the impression Clegg and co. the benefit of the doubt for elections will flatter to deceive – snares that there’s something wrong with the quite some time. ‘Love-bombing the Lib and delusions all. By all means take leadership and direction you’ve decided Dems’ – telling their voters that, unlike pleasure in them, but not comfort. The on. Or they’ll look lazy. Worse still, the leaders they trusted, you really are only contest you should be thinking of they’re wasting a Commons seat that on their supposedly progressive, fresh- is the general election, so keep your eyes might otherwise go to someone who thinking wavelength and that you on the prize. gives a damn – someone with a future genuinely care about their concerns – is rather than a past. vital, as long as it doesn’t lead you to start talking about amnesties for illegal immigrants or scrapping the nuclear deterrent. I’d advise, too, against picking up and running with a campaign against university tuition fees – not because it’ll drive universities into penury and prioritises a middle-class rite of passage over the majority who never have been nor ever will go to university, but because it will be a transparent attempt to jump on a bandwagon. Opportunism is one of the few upsides of being in opposition, of course, but like most privileges it is easy to abuse – a weapon that one should use both sparingly and stealthily.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 7 THE LABOUR LEADERSHIP

more, earlier to challenge unearned the rest remains. So how does Labour rewards at the top of society, and think we should pay for public The choice was too timid in pursuing an elected services – and how should this be Lords and having more faith in reflected in challenges to spending local democracy. The party should cuts? Which is a credible strategy pursue equality in representation, to win public support for defending This summer’s contest isn’t and must shift its internal culture to universal provision given tight fiscal just about picking a Labour become a movement campaigning in pressures? Do we need to think more communities for change. about hypothecated taxes, as on leader – it’s about debating If every candidate can agree on all social care? When is charging users the state of the party, its of that, the question remains what they a legitimate option for some services, distinctively offer, beyond differing in and where should that line be drawn? vision and values, its record their personal approaches to leadership. in office, and its future Party members have thought 3 Where do environmental choices it important to debate what New place limits? direction. Sunder Katwala Labour got right and wrong, though A credible red-green social assesses the race so far. some have found the debate too democracy would needs a stronger retrospective. David Miliband told environmental agenda than New the Fabian hustings and several later Labour had. Assuming that this events that “we have spent a lot of rejects the proposition of zero growth, time debating a better yesterday, and the credibility of an agenda for green I want to debate a better tomorrow”. growth depends on being clear about But the record matters – and the point where there are real trade-offs. Where Sunder Katwala of interrogating it should be to inform does this place limits on particular is General Secretary the future. The question is less how far types of consumption or sources of of the Fabian Society 13 years in power left the glass half- growth? And how would Labour full or half-empty but how Labour mobilise effective political coalitions now ‘defines the break’ with its recent to defend those choices from affected It was important for Labour to hold an past. The failure of Labour’s attempts interests? extended leadership contest. A snap at ‘renewal’ in office was to talk about contest would suggest the party had ‘change’ yet to fail to define it clearly. 4 What does ‘movement politics‘ mean learnt nothing from the 2007 coronation The candidates – and next leader for party democracy? of Gordon Brown. The early stages have – will also need a response to several Every candidate wants Labour to be a engaged party members (including questions which have yet to figure political movement. But there is a lack 25000 new members) but have inevitably significantly in the campaign: of clarity about what this means for received less attention beyond the party the future model of democracy within in a World Cup summer where the 1 What is Labour’s response to economic the party, with some tendency to see media classes remain fascinated by the insecurity? that as a navel-gazing alternative to new politics of coalition. The main point of contention in the reaching out. If there is frustration, The contest has shown there are no contest has been over immigration. It is but an acknowledgement that new great ideological fissures in the party. unconvincing to say this is the primary structures lack transparency or Jack Straw – on the right of the party cause of Labour’s electoral defeat, and credibility as ways in which members’ – was among those to nominate Diane more so if the suggestion is that the voices can count, how does a party Abbott to ensure the Campaign Group failure was simply to communicate a empower its own members as part of candidate made the ballot. The absurdly good policy effectively. Social democrats a broader advocacy movement? exhaustive series of 59 hustings debates should believe in managing immigration, have been good humoured, and with concern for how the impacts of 5 The future of the unions. demonstrated much common ground. gains and losses are distributed across The candidates have tended to stick to On these points, the candidates society. This is part of a broader gap in platitudes while seeking the votes of agree: Labour is a party defined by its Labour’s agenda, which did too little trade unionists. But taking movement values – and its core commitment to to speak to lower and middle-earners politics seriously should mean turning narrowing inequalities in opportunity, for whom the age of affluence brought the link with unions into a source income, wealth and power. Labour increased economic insecurity. of political strength, rather than of should be proud of much of its record, potential vulnerability, sometimes but it lost touch over time by becoming 2 How do we pay for our social goals? on both sides. How can industrial too managerial in office. The Iraq The UK is currently taxing at 37 per and political leadership reinvent the war would not have happened if the cent of GDP and spending at 47 per public face, and perceived legitimacy, Government had known Saddam did cent. Cyclical factors are unlikely to of unions to make the relationship a not have WMD. It should have done close more than half of this gap but source of political strength for the left?

8 Fabian Review Summer 2010 The Fabian Society has been taking soundings from members and others If you become Labour party leader, what“ will you do to ensure Labour becomes about the questions you want to see more open and democratic in party addressed in the leadership race. Here structure, to ensure Labour never becomes is a selection of contributions from the out of touch with members, movement, and the public while in office? Fabian blog, www.nextleft.org, and ” some of the candidates’ answers at the Fabian hustings. There is no “contradiction between movement politics and power

“How should we cut the deficit over the next few years?” politics”

“I would tackle the deficit For too long, by coming out of Afghanistan, we“ have said we slashing the defence budget have decided and and scrapping Trident” then we ask the members to agree”

One hundred years on from the height of the Suffragette movement, it remains“ nothing short of scandalous that we have such unequal representation of women at the top of business and the top of politics. How will the leadership What steps would candidates address this once and for all and in what timeframe? the“ candidates take to ” rebalance the British economy so that manufacturing and the regions become In light of overwhelming The gap does matter: as important to the evidence“ of the social harm done it“ is not just about economy as the City by income inequality, do you the floor, it is about of London’s financial agree that promoting greater inequality too sector? ‘equality of outcome’ (rather than ” ” merely ‘equality of opportunity’) should now move to the very top We still live in a of Labour’s agenda? And how “country where life do you think greater income chances are unevenly equality could best be achieved with public support?” distributed” “Do you support the UK joining the euro?” The Labour Party is Which should take now“ the only party with priority“ under the law: a significant presence in the civil liberties of the each of England, Scotland Fabian members will receive ballot papers in individual, or the right and Wales. What creative the affiliated societies section of the Labour of the state to maintain ideas do the leadership leadership contest. Before you cast your vote, log on to www.fabians.org.uk to read new its own security? candidates have for the essays from the candidates. ” future development of the Union? ” Photos of the candidates at the Fabian Hustings by Mousetrap Media Ltd. Summer 2010 Fabian Review 9 THE FABIAN INTERVIEW: JOHN DENHAM

© Rex Features One of the few adornments in John Denham’s sparse new office is a policeman’s helmet. This, he says, is a gift from officers during his time as a Home Office minister. “I didn’t nick it on Boat Race night,” he explains. While no one would suspect the former Communities Secretary of such unruly conduct, nor is he the most biddable of politicians. Mr Denham is a quiet rebel. Or, more accurately, he declined, through Labour’s 13 years in power, ever to become a follower of any leader’s camp. That independence carried a price. Is there any truth, I ask him, to a rumour that he was once given the post of Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Tony Blair, only to have the offer countermanded by Gordon Brown, who wanted his own appointee? “I was certainly told that Tony Blair was minded me to offer the job and that Gordon vetoed it. I have to add that Gordon denied [intervening], so I’ll never know the truth.” Subsequently, Denham was offered a “not very exciting” ministerial post, which he turned down, preferring to remain chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee. That episode, in 2006, did not much trouble Denham, who went on to become Secretary of State, first at Innovation, Universities and Skills and then at Communities and Local Government. He does, however, acknowledge the downside of rejecting patronage. “The cost of independence of mind is that you Picking up tend to exclude yourself from influencing policy. If I have a frustration, it is that fairness, in general and [specifically] in the labour market have been themes of mine for many years. The price of the pieces independence is you don’t have traction John Denham’s quiet independence may have cost him the in those debates. I’m by no means the only person to have those reflections. odd promotion in government, but it makes him invaluable Others had a contribution to make that in opposition. He talks to Mary Riddell about electoral wasn’t recognised or engaged. The lesson to learn for the future is that sort of defeat and recovery, and how Labour could never now factionalism is enormously damaging to work with Nick Clegg. the intellectual health of a political party.” There could be no more damning indictment of the cabalistic style of Labour’s last two leaders, or of its cost. With the party still stunned by its worst defeat since the universal franchise, senior figures are assessing what went Mary Riddell so wrong and what Labour must do is a columnist for the Daily Telegraph to make itself electable again. Denham, unburdened by Blairite or Brownite

10 Fabian Review Summer 2010 FABIAN INTERVIEW baggage, is central to that process. As who weren’t. We’re going to have to National identity is a central part part of his contribution, he is helping look much more carefully at fairness at of Denham’s bid to make the south Ed Miliband develop policy, but he work and at looking at support when love Labour again. And so, before stresses that the issues we discuss bear things go wrong. That involves reviving the election, he compiled a “modest his imprint alone. the idea of the contributory system.” proposal” for local celebrations of St In other words, you get out what George’s Day. This scheme, accepted “I think people do you put in? “Yes, there should be fairer across government, finally reached rewards for what you’ve paid in. The No 10, where it was instantly canned, understand that we lost principle of ‘I’ve paid in all my life’ still presumably by Gordon Brown, on the runs very deep, not just among people grounds that it might cause trouble in very, very badly. It’s less who bought stamps but a younger Scotland. clear that they realise how generation.” “Whether it was Gordon… It was The discontent of voters who deserted a staff position, rather than Gordon much we have to change Labour has been crystallised, in the minds personally. I think,” he says tactfully. of the leadership candidates, into unease Irrespective of who imposed the veto, to win again” on immigration, with Ed Balls going so Denham reacted with what sounds like far as to suggest that the EU directive on uncustomary fury. “Was I put out?” he Has the party even understood the the free movement of labour should be calls to his aide, as if this euphemism catastrophic nature of the defeat? “I reworked. Where does Denham stand? cannot begin to describe his rage. “I was think people do understand that we lost “It’s quite difficult to explain why you driving when I found out, so I didn’t very, very badly. It’s less clear that they pay benefits to children who don’t live actually break anything. realise how much we have to change to in this country and never will. I don’t “We didn’t lose the election for lack win again and how big the challenge believe for a moment that Poles came to of St George’s flags, but it [the Brown is. There’s pretty much a consensus my constituency [Southampton Itchen] to ban] illustrated the gap between [No on who didn’t vote for us.” Denham claim benefits. But they did claim, and it 10] and the popular culture which means the C2 unskilled workers or, as was a source of resentment. We’ve lived was illustrative of a wider lack of he prefers, “the Mosaic groups, hard- through a decade in which numerous contact.” In other words, the Brown working families who play by the centre left parties have suffered because team was completely cut off? He does rules and pay their taxes. They didn’t of immigration. In principle it would not deny this suggestion, saying: “The get a great deal back, their pay hadn’t be ridiculous to say that the rules of emergence of English identity has increased much, and they thought there migration, from within the EU as well been steady for some time. It’s not was a fundamental unfairness about the as outside, shouldn’t be an issue for the the old, narrow, race-based thing, but welfare system.” European left. it’s contested territory. This festival Denham’s analysis revolves round “It’s not a Little Britain thing, but for all who feel English was seen as the “south question”. In his argument, I’m not opposed to saying: let’s look at running up against the idea that we’re Labour can never recover without how this thing operates and [whether] all British – which had been promoted regaining its lost sway in the more rules designed many years ago still work by Gordon. You could be Scots or affluent regions of England. To that today.” So he’s with Ed Balls? “You Welsh Labour, but not English.” end, he has suggested compensating can’t rule out in principle opening up Given the disconnect Denham for the greater cost of living with higher the debate,” he repeats. “But it would alleges with the public mood, does he tax credits and allowing the south to be wrong to think it the only issue that think Brown was ever the right leader? keep more of the revenue it generates. needs to be addressed.” Despite the usual caveat that no one “There are some specific things, but He cites the Labour government’s could have handled the economic crisis we have to rethink the last 13 years. slowness in signing up to the EU better, he does not sound enthusiastic. We achieved a great deal, but it was directive that allows local wage rates “Of course the leadership was an issue, built on a model of economic and social to dominate and the lack of British and of course he wasn’t suited to the change that can’t be repeated – that companies “capable of winning prime modern media world. As you saw in the you run a free market economy with contracts in oil refineries and so on. You Gillian Duffy [affair], it was not so much a very flexible labour market that runs can open up a debate about whether the [his] words as his incomprehension. efficiently enough to provide growth rules of migration are fair, particularly Hers wasn’t an extreme or a bigoted and fund redistribution.” when you have disparities in welfare view [on immigration.] The result, as he says, was an systems. But unless you have British “I and others were regularly pilloried “unbalanced economy with far too companies capable of winning contracts, [by commentators] for failing to get rid much dependence on the financial you can rewrite the rules as much as you of Gordon. If you ask whether there was sector”, plus a disenchanted core vote. want and it won’t make a difference. ever on offer an alternative leader who “And thirdly, the type of redistribution Even so it’s patently unfair to much of would have done better, there were no we did, mainly through tax credits, the electorate that this [undermining the candidates.” magnified the cliff edge between those indigenous workforce] happens at all… Now, with no shortage of contestants, who were getting support and those So we need to deal with it.” those involved in the leadership© Rex Features race

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 11 FABIAN INTERVIEW agree (without providing a convincing party now, so many years on, [on] who chances of a Labour/Lib Dem deal. explanation) that Labour’s initial verve was right and who was wrong … What “Others wanted to do that deal. The degenerated into the technocratic worried me was where the point was Clegg part of the Lib Dems didn’t. language and managerial style that where we could have stopped it. There But we weren’t in a psychological or estranged voters. I wonder whether the was no such moment. There must never emotional state to do it. [The issue Blair/ Brown feuding meant that each again be policy by drift.” wasn’t] what David Blunkett or John hard-fought agreement was expressed Although he thought the Afghan war Reid said. The reality of that weekend in the strangulated language of dissent, wholly justified, he is more circumspect was that the Tories and the Lib Dems but he says: “I was never close enough than former colleagues, the candidates were disciplined and Labour were all to them to say: ‘Yes, that’s the reason.’ I included, about the prospects of a good over the media. What that told you would point to a few others. Quite soon outcome. “I don’t at the moment see an was that this was a party that couldn’t, after 1997, we stopped presenting New alternative [to the current policy.] The however much it wanted it, pull it Labour’s case as values-based. We started trouble is that it is not a strategy you can together and make that deal work.” to segment the message – something for pursue with confidence. No one thought It sounds as if he lays heavy blame the Mail, something for the Mirror, with we’d lose the Iraq war.” on his two old Cabinet colleagues for the things hung around notions of what Mail With so much at stake, from foreign failure of a Lab Lib deal. Was their conduct readers wanted to hear. policy to the economy, is Labour simply indefensible? “It wasn’t necessary. The “The values diminished, and we a self-indulgent sideshow, engaging cabinet had taken a unanimous decision found [for example] it was hard to rethink in the navel-gazing of a protracted to go into negotiations, and it was a our relationship with business. It was so leadership fight? “No. We’re staking out shame we couldn’t rely on people in the set that we mustn’t be unfriendly that we our positions for where we need to be in wider party to respect that.” found it hard to see where we should be 2014 or 2015. I think the Coalition is more Does Denham think his fissiparous critical. Also, we never had a consensus likely than not to last ... for a considerable party will rally behind the alternative on public service reform.” Although he time, if not the whole five years. We will vote that many regard as being an argues that services are “immeasurably” have to have a very compelling story to essential element in Labour’s revival? better, the dithering over reform was, in tell, which requires a long leadership He discloses that, during a fierce battle his view, “debilitating.” race. By the way, I also think Harriet between senior figures who favoured On the Iraq war, the single most is doing a very good job. It’s not as if keeping first past the post and others damaging venture of the Labour years, there’s a vacuum.” advocating PR, Gordon Brown turned Denham played an exemplary role, There is however, a gaping hole to him for advice in the middle of an resigning his ministerial post at the same where the prospect of a centre-left electoral reform committee. time as Robin Cook. Denham struck alliance promoted by Denham and “Gordon said: ‘What do you think, no poses and claimed no virtue, either others once resided. Is there any chance John?’ and I told him some change was at the time or in the intervening years. now of resurrecting such a dream? “The better than none. Labour duly settled on But now Iraq is back at the forefront Lib Dems have ceded all right to say holding the referendum on AV that is of the leadership debate, with Ed Balls they are a progressive party. If we use now a point of Lib Dem dogma and the declaring the invasion wrong and Ed the next months and years to address the key goal holding the Coalition together.” Miliband acknowledging its catastrophic parlous state of the Labour Party, and For all his animus, Denham will be consequences for the party. if, as a result, the Lib Dems change, that backing Clegg on an issue he sees as Does Denham recall any whisper might open up possibilities. Labour’s “triumph” and urging Labour of dissent at the time from these two Does he mean that the Lib Dems MPs to do likewise. This, he hints, may influential if still unelected figures? “I would first have to ditch Nick Clegg? not be easy. “I wish the party was united, don’t think it would be fair [to comment]. “It would require a new leader and a but that was not what the manifesto said. These weren’t conversations I had with new politics. The idea that the Lib Dems I will be working for a Yes vote.” them at the time, so I’m quite prepared can do this now and then, in a few Early on in the election campaign, to take what they say as the record. I years, say they’d like to be friends with Denham warned Lord Mandelson of have no reason to believe that either Labour when they are fundamentally the discontent among the voters who is saying something untrue about their unchanged is out of the question. Many ordained Labour’s defeat. “His reaction views at the time. Everyone was in a people, including electoral reformers was very positive, but then the leaders’ difficult position. like me who always thought there debates started and the whole dynamic “One reason I haven’t dined out on could be a centre left coalition with changed. Those issues about fairness it is that I respected the position [of the Lib Dems, have to understand they should have been addressed years those who voted for the war.] Lots of have taken a historic position which before.” Though not a self-promoter, John people had deep reservations.” Some, he puts them outside that game until they Denham believes that his prophecies on implies, voted for an invasion they did change profoundly.” Labour’s follies went unheeded by his not support. “They took a wider position But Denham also has stinging party’s leaders and all those in their about what the Government was trying criticism for Labour’s post-election role, thrall. It is too soon, in his view, to think to achieve and all that was at stake. and in particular for David Blunkett of resurrection. The post mortem is only It’s very important we don’t divide the and John Reid, who talked down the just beginning.

12 Fabian Review Summer 2010 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

and the referendum on the European Quick response and flexibility Constitution – and we decided that The leadership debates introduced Living on basic constituency interests will always a new dimension and changed the come first. political landscape from one week to the So whatever ‘personal vote’ there is next. We didn’t finalise the text for our the edge needs to add to the overall vote, without leaflets and direct mail letters until the taking away from the Labour vote. last moment. Page 1 would be printed in one room whilst we were still writing The future is much more important the text for page 2 in the other room. On Labour’s remarkable victory than the past several occasions the night shift would in Birmingham Edgbaston We did tell people about what we’d run the printing press, with the morning achieved locally, from the new hospital shift taking over to get letters folded and wasn’t supposed to happen to the new school crossing, but they were stuffed for the afternoon shift to take – Gisela Stuart explains how used to illustrate my ability to deliver them to deliverers. The sleeping bag on and keep promises. the floor upstairs started to acquire an she did it and what it means Almost two years before the iconic status. for the future. election we had began a process of pulling together what would People make the difference eventually become ’Gisela’s local It’s not so much a question of ’how manifesto‘. Surveys and meetings on many’ volunteers, but a question of subjects including immigration, how whether the volunteers are a part of the much MPs should be paid, and new team, are able to make decisions, deal tax proposals enabled us to articulate with problems and motivate others. what local people wanted. The ’Team GS’ website was a Gisela Stuart useful tool to pull people together is MP for Edgbaston Run the best campaign possible and alert the ever-widening volunteer rather than focus on winning base to when there would be a street It was not about winning, but about stall, when we needed people to come Edgbaston was won in Labour’s landslide running the best possible campaign. in and stuff envelopes, deliver letters, in 1997. In 2010 it was widely predicted This may sound counterintuitive: , but make calls or join door knocking the Tories would retake the seat as the best campaign is one that involves sessions. But it was the individual people turned against Labour nationally. people, motivates them and gives approach and personal commitment Edgbaston was number 38 on the Tory them a reason to vote. The message is which made the difference. target list. The Tories needed only a 2 per important, but there must be content to cent swing to win the seat. what you say. * * * On election night in May the list Perceived wisdom is that you of Tory target seats which did turn should identify those who are for you. Is that how we will fight the next election? blue was a long one, but Edgbaston We turned this on its head and only Well, I doubt it. The key lesson is that stood out as one of the few little blobs excluded those who were against us – trained and empowered local volunteers of red. We were among a handful of the rest were part of the pool of people who have a deep understanding of seats, including Westminster North and we talked to. campaigning and the local area need Hammersmith, to buck the trend on And we spent considerable to be able to adapt to circumstances swings of less than 1 per cent. So how time recruiting and motivating which change around them. 2010 will did we do it and can other constituencies local volunteers – they are voters, never happen again: Facebook, Twitter, do something similar? ambassadors, spreaders of the message emails and automated calls will play a and helpers. greater role. But at the same time we’d The party and the candidate both anticipate that having a local message have to offer something distinct to The candidate should only do what and community engagement will the voters only the candidate can do increase in significance. Our slogan was “Gisela Stuart. I’m I focused on talking to those who thought We learnt a lot in 2010. We fought Labour, my values are Labour, but I that I’d done a good job as an MP, but it as if it had been our own by-election think for myself”. Most people vote weren’t sure whether they’d vote for – which coincided with a national for the party first and foremost. All me. Their reasons varied, but we had election. candidates love to think that there is proper conversations which involved So personalities matter, there is no a massive personal vote out there, but really listening. room for prima donnas (even if they are that’s rarely true. I would talk to the press, attend the candidate) and consultations have We focused on the constituency hustings, go to two school gates every to be genuine endeavours to find out work, the odd occasions when I thought day – but would let the team get on with what people think as well as offering the party had got it wrong – like 10p tax the rest. leadership and your own values.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 13 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

We lost the election and we could be out should have had a leadership election of power for a generation. What will in the first place. Within a year we had After determine our future now is how deeply the election-that-never-was. We were left we rethink and how quickly we regroup. with a government that lacked popular The new political reality is this: the legitimacy. defeat new coalition government has done Even in our dying days in more to modernise and rebrand the government, there was no sense that Conservative Party than anything since MPs, let alone party members would be Margaret Thatcher. Cameron is no consulted on what kind of deal could In a brutally honest look at longer the prisoner of his party’s right be offered to the Liberal Democrats. I where Labour went wrong, flank. He has the chance to earn the trust supported talks over electoral reform – of the British people in government. but we are a democratic party and yet David Lammy outlines the We must also recognise the again we forgot that. changes the party needs to significance of our own defeat. We lost This political culture hasn’t just nearly one hundred seats. We dropped stifled our electoral prospects, it is make so that “we can be to third place in a further eighty-one. We suffocating our party. Before the election, ready to serve our country lost vast swathes of the south. Nationally membership had reached rock-bottom. it was our worst result since Michael Members feel disempowered. The again”. Foot. The Tories need a swing of just 2 Parliamentary Labour Party feels its per cent more to gain an overall majority. voice is not heard. Our volunteers are It wasn’t the armageddon that some wonderful but our candidates are still expected but let’s not kid ourselves: this selected by fewer than a hundred people was a resounding defeat. sitting in a room. David Lammy There are a number of temptations We need to renew our trust in is Labour MP for for our party now. Blame the Lib Dems. democracy itself. In the leadership Tottenham and Blame our party’s leadership. Blame the election we should introduce a fourth the former higher electoral system. Blame the electorate. electoral college: the public. One fourth education minister If only it were that simple. Instead we of the votes, alongside members, need to ask ourselves some searching MPs and affiliated groups, should go questions about who and what we stand to the people who will elect the next for in the twenty-first century. Only then government of this country. We should will we earn the right to govern again. not fear enfranchising them. In the longer-term we need a new democratic Democratising our party culture within our party. We must put The first lesson must be that when the long shadow of the 1980s behind us parties act undemocratically it comes and give our members a proper voice back to haunt them. This is one of the in their own party. Members should great lessons of New Labour: a project be balloted over policy for our next that hung on to a command-and-control manifesto, for a start. If we think this style of politics until the last. is just about leadership, we have big A deal in an Islington restaurant in problems. 1994 led to the creation of two different tribes at the top of the party. It damaged Beyond managerialism our government and we cannot let it The election itself proved that we haunt us in opposition. In 1998 the same stopped listening not just to our own mistakes were made, this time to prevent members but also to the country. Going Ken Livingstone from becoming the into the election 80 per cent of the public Labour candidate for London mayor. He said that they wanted ‘change’. Our ran as an independent and won. message: more of the same. In 2008 when the party needed We warned people not to risk what renewing we had a coronation rather they had, but forgot to offer hope of than an open debate. I was one of the something better. We spoke about the people who was part of that. I share the economic recovery but never reform. blame with the other 300 MPs who made The implicit message was that we would the same decision. go back to the status quo. But people Even now some will argue about wanted more than this. The financial whether we should have changed the crisis revealed that markets are amoral. leadership of our party last year. The People wanted ethics, not just economics. truth is that no-one really knows. We For the campaign we should have run,

14 Fabian Review Summer 2010 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

takeover deals for their own gain; a cap on the interest charged by lenders; tougher licensing of betting shops and casinos; measures to stop the commercialisation of childhood; mutuals and cooperatives that bring together workers and consumers to stand for the common good. We should revive a labour tradition that speaks to the idea that workers are people who must be respected, not merely commodities to be exploited. That means a place for employees on the boards of companies; policies for a © Mousetrap Media Ltd living wage; and taxes that focus more Diane Abbot and David Miliband speak to over 900 people at the Fabian on wealth and less on work. Leadership Hustings We should revive a communitarian tradition that speaks a language of anyone should watch Gordon Brown’s simply wait for the coalition to collapse. obligation as well as entitlement. That speech to Citizens UK: passionate, Some will think we should just oppose means more policy focus on parenting; idealistic and reformist. This should Tory cuts and wait for the electorate to having something to say about have been our message throughout. return to us with open arms. That would fatherhood and family breakdown; a Similarly, we allowed Cameron be a colossal mistake. Instead we need benefits system that does not entangle and Clegg to claim the mantle of to focus on reconnecting with the ideas people in welfare; a character-building political reform. This despite the fact and values that are authentically Labour. national civic service; and, on migration, the Tories had to be dragged, kicking clarity that people are joining a and screaming, into a referendum We need to renew our community not just a job market. on a new electoral system – which, These lost traditions must sit of course, they will oppose. Why trust in democracy itself alongside Labour restoring our claim did this happen? Because we had to a proud place in the liberal tradition, already passed up the opportunity in The precondition for that is to drop committed to human rights and government. The debate we are now some of the old labels that are no guide pluralism. We pioneered this country’s having illustrates how important our to our political future. Most obviously liberalisation on race, gender and gay government’s modernising mission ‘New Labour’ has become a meaningless rights to which others have now adapted, was – and how damaging it is that it term and should be confined to history. but we must now demonstrate ourselves was never seen through. No-one in the party wants to re-write to be less casual with civil liberties too. The tragedy is that we even had Clause 4. And no-one seriously wants If we do that we can rediscover a some decent policy in the manifesto. to reheat the policies, the language and vocabulary and set of ideas that we lost. A levy on the banks. A cap on interest the political methods of the last decade. We can begin talking not just about the rates for loans. Electoral reform. Tough, We must move on. Similarly, there can ‘empowerment’ of the individual to do mandatory regulation of lobbyists. no longer be ‘Blairites’ and ‘Brownites’. as we please but also of love, obligation, But rather than offering a story about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown both cooperation and compromise. Britain’s future, our manifesto read more served our party, but neither is now like a telephone directory. It was a long active in British politics. We must not Conclusion list of disconnected proposals. collapse into old factions and infighting. All is not lost. We are not in government Those of us who have been ministers The truth is that our party is itself a but we need not enter the electoral have swallowed too much of the coalition – of trade unionists, Christian wilderness. To avoid this fate we must language and culture of the civil service. socialists, NGOs and local community not fear change. We have become too managerialist and activists, human rights campaigners, It is time to start to imagine a new technocratic. For Labour’s next generation environmentalists, feminists and anti- governing project. We need to become this is the moment of reckoning. We racists. We are at our best when we draw a more open, democratic party, not cannot simply offer the public shopping from all these traditions. Of course there centralised and controlling. We must lists of carefully targeted policies. Policy will be disagreements but renewal must become a more forward looking party must be underpinned by a wider vision take place in that spirit. that offers vision and reform rather than of social justice that people can buy into, We should revive an ethical socialist defence of the establishment. And above whatever their circumstances. tradition that asserts moral limits to all we will only rebuild our governing markets: the idea that there are some coalition by rediscovering our own Rebuilding our coalition ways of making money that societies unique identity. Achieve this and come With the Lib Dems propping up the should not accept. That means stopping the next election we can be ready to Tories there will be a great temptation to speculators in the city from rigging serve our country again.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 15 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT Labour’s London victory

Despite widespread gloom for Labour on election night, it was different story in London. Ken Livingstone explains why.

and Dagenham council, but they went Even worse for London’s long term down to a crushing defeat which will prosperity, Johnson has followed the most probably mean Nick Griffin being classic pattern of political cowardice challenged for the BNP leadership. – which disfigured so many previous All my political life London has governments – by concentrating his Ken Livingstone tended to be broadly in line with the cuts in the investment programme is former Mayor of national swing, occasionally a little where there is no immediate voter London bit more Tory but, significantly, often kickback. Literally every capital project prefiguring the swing at the following under development at City Hall which To say that the London Labour Party was general election. Ever since the present was not contractually committed has ecstatic with its results in the general London boroughs were established in been scrapped. Not just the smaller election is only the mildest exaggeration. 1964, the party that won control of Ealing projects which made the city a nicer The last time the Tories had a seven per has gone on to win the subsequent place to live, like improving 100 city cent lead over Labour nationally – in general election, which is good news squares, but the transport investment John Major’s surprise 1992 upset – they for all the Eds and all the Milibands. which is crucial to London’s continuing had an eight percent lead in London. It also means that when Labour and competitiveness against other great But at the 2010 general election, where trade union members cast their votes to world cities – the DLR extension to once again the Tories had a national elect the next leader of the Labour Party Dagenham Dock, a new bridge linking lead of seven per cent, they were two they need to be sure the person they are Newham with south east London, the per cent behind Labour in London, voting for is ready to be prime minister, cross London tram, high speed bus and Labour won a clear majority of as they may not have much time to grow routes in the Thames Gateway and parliamentary seats. into the role in opposition. – just to show that voting for Boris The media has largely ignored this So what, if anything, can the Labour brings no rewards – he scrapped the story, but the fact is that if Britain had Party learn from London’s success? It proposal to extend the Croydon tram swung like London, Labour would still be may simply be that like the devolved to Bromley (the borough that gave him in government with a working majority. governments of Scotland, Wales and his biggest majority). On the day of the general election, all Northern Ireland, the establishment Like so many in the new Con-Dem 32 London borough councils were also of the Greater London Authority cabinet, Johnson’s personal wealth up for re-election. Labour had expected has allowed Londoners to develop a insulates him from the daily struggles that to win three or four boroughs back distinct political culture. Alternatively define the lives of the majority. London simply because the elections in 2006 were it could be that as Londoners have is a city where half the population live on fought under terrible political conditions had two years of experience of Tory under £25,000 a year (in one of the most for Labour: John Prescott’s affair, Charles government under Boris Johnson, expensive cities on earth) and a third Clarke’s mistaken early release of several they had a clear warning about what of children live below the poverty line. hundred murderers and rapists, and the would befall them if Cameron got in Johnson himself does understand the imminent bankruptcy of a large part of to Number 10. Savage fare increases, struggle to make ends meet. Facing what the NHS. So as the results came through which have been concentrated on must be at least £25,000 a year for his with Labour winning a clear majority of the poorest who use the buses, were children’s school fees and the mortgage London boroughs – including Enfield only to be expected. But even Boris’s on a new £2 million Islington home there and Harrow and, of particular interest, admirers were shocked to discover was no way he could survive on his take all those boroughs run by Tory/Liberal he was cutting the police budget, home pay of just £100,000 a year, so he’s coalitions – no-one could really believe reducing the number of police officers been forced to moonlight at the DailyRex features it. Just a few weeks ago many were by over 400, and refusing to guarantee Telegraph who pay him a quarter of a nervous that the BNP might even win the future of the dedicated beat police million pounds for the onerous task of a narrow majority of seats on Barking teams in every ward. writing one column a week.

16 Fabian Review Summer 2010 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

It will be tempting to believe that decade. As well as running well ahead the top ten per cent earned four times Labour’s excellent showing in London is of the national party two years ago, the income of the bottom ten per cent. merely a backlash against the excesses of London did dramatically better than Today that figure has risen to eight Boris but we would be fools to assume anywhere else in England except for the times and many middle class families that the mayoralty will just drop into north east in last year’s Euro elections. only sustained their quality of life by Labour’s hands in two years time. With Londoners look at the Labour Party borrowing heavily. uncritical coverage from the majority of and see MPs and local councillors who Over the last 30 years the proportion the media, Johnson will spend much of have taken positions well to the left of of GDP paid in wages has been cut from the next two years posing as a defender the party nationally, not just on Blair’s 67 per cent to 54 whilst income from of London whilst surreptitiously ill-judged wars but on the key issues dividends has soared. While the new passing on the cuts. The mayoralty is a of class and redistribution of wealth. government plans £6 billion of extra sufficiently high profile post that many Labour’s internal and private analysis cuts this year, the Guardian reports that judge it on the merits of the candidates of voting trends over the last decade bankers’ pay and bonuses in the four rather than simply voting the party line. show that the big collapse in the Labour months to April has climbed back to Two years ago, whilst Labour nationally vote was in 2001, where Labour got £20.5 billion, just £4 billion less than at the was winning only 24 per cent of the three million fewer votes than in the height of the boom in 2007. Over the next vote in the local elections, in London I 1997 election. A further million votes few months and years this government managed to get 47 per cent of the vote to were lost in 2005 and again in 2010 but will make savage cuts in the wages, Johnson’s 53 per cent. the trend over this decade has been that pensions and services that sustain the It’s never possible to prove there is we have haemorrhaged votes amongst vast majority of the population whilst the one main reason to explain an election poorer families. financiers who landed us in this mess are outcome but my instinct is, whatever It’s important to spell out that we are going to continue in the lifestyle to which the impact of Boris’s administration on not simply talking about the traditional they have become accustomed. Whoever the voting figures, the biggest factor working class but also those lower becomes the next Labour leader needs to was the distinctly more radical and middle class families whose income rediscover the politics of class, not just socialist image that has been built up by has been painfully squeezed in recent because it is right but because it is the the London Labour party over the last years. When Thatcher came to power only route back to power.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 17 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

work, not just in our own ward but across the city. Councillors were all assigned The opposition to target wards well before elections and in safe wards we were expected to do the minimum at election time: we opportunity should have done enough in the other nine months of the year to keep our seats safe. Candidates were increasingly recruited from local community activists Steve Munby looks at how Labour has rebuilt itself locally and we won back wards by a clear after defeats and explains there is power in opposition if focus on local issues. Telling voters the Labour government was doing a good you know how to use it. job didn’t work, convincing voters the Labour candidate would do a good job clean up wards. Labour Councillors for their ward did. have worked with leaseholders to One of Labour’s biggest failings in form networks of residents’ groups government was to focus too much on Councillor and eventually the largest federation of hard power – legislation, command Steve Munby leaseholders in the country. All of these and control through targets and is Cabinet Member are experiences we can build on now we contracts. We didn’t spend enough for Neighbourhoods, are running the city. time on delivery through soft power – Liverpool City Council We were out of office for twelve years building relationships with residents, so perhaps others can learn as much partners, and members to solve local from our mistakes as our successes. But problems. This is even more vital in In May, Labour won back control of there are certain obvious things we did opposition. MPs, councillors and the Liverpool council from the Lib Dems that should be basic for any local party party have to use their time and skills after 12 years in opposition. This was wishing to win elections. The leader, Joe to deliver in opposition. a remarkable achievement given Anderson, has been like fish and chips – This will require MPs and councillors the national political context – the never out of the papers. Not just on party putting politics first, ahead of legislation unpopularity of the Labour Government political issues – but most memorably in and administration. I don’t mean simply and the supposed ‘surge’ in Lib Dem the brave campaign to free Liverpool fan negative campaigning – though this will support. Much has been made of the Michael Shields from jail in Bulgaria. We be vital – but political organising to solve importance of ‘the local’ in providing used other publicity tools to reconnect problems facing our communities. Large this election’s surprising swing, and here tracts of our major cities could become in Liverpool you see it in full effect: Labour in opposition wastelands as regeneration projects Labour reversed its electoral decline by needs to find ways of grind to a halt. We can’t just leave virtue of hard work, knowing your area, them to become tips while complaining and earning voters’ trust. providing better services about the cuts; we need to work with This election in Liverpool has local communities to find interim or provided a testing ground for the ways for less that can convince cheaper solutions, like food gardens, in which Labour needs to reconnect the public we’ve learnt allotments, and play areas. We can be nationally and how to use this period in proud of Labour’s record in government opposition. One of the things we’ve learnt from our mistakes in investing in public services. But our is that being out of office does not make record of managing them was not so you powerless. You can achieve results with the voters. Every councillor is good. Labour in opposition needs to find at a ward level that matter to people. For allowed to send a certain number of free ways of providing better services for less example, in some areas where the Lib letters to constituents every week, as that can convince the public we’ve learnt Dems cut the youth service, we’ve used long as they are not political in nature. from our mistakes and prove we have a the ward councillors’ neighbourhood So we write to them about licensing better model for public services under a fund to put youth workers on the streets and planning applications, drug-dealing future Labour government. at evenings and weekends, who can and anti-social behaviour, bins, dogs, We need to take Cameron and Clegg talk to young people hanging around buses, landlords, leaf fall, quad bikes, at their word on the ‘Big Society’ and on street corners or in parks. We’ve and parking. It’s far more effective than devolving power, and come up with done this in partnership with housing leaflets and a lot less work, but it needs local solutions like Lambeth’s model of associations and the police, and in the to be kept up month after month. ‘mutualism’ that show Labour can do process have slashed rates of anti-social For much of the time the party better. That’s a big shift for the party behaviour. Where the council’s private in the city was fairly moribund. Our – but we need to do it to win back the contractors failed to keep the place clean, big campaigning resource was our confidence of voters and protect our we’ve used local social enterprises to councillors and we were expected to people from the tough times ahead.

18 Fabian Review Summer 2010 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

women particularly worrying. At the bucked national trends and increased last election Labour haemorrhaged Labour’s majority. We can learn from Labour support everywhere, but it was the the magnificent campaign of Margaret loss of women voters of all ages that Hodge to boot out the BNP in Barking. was most striking and will prove most She listened to people’s local concerns needs to parlous to Labour’s long term electoral and followed through with action health. If we don’t take radical action to so voters saw real improvements on become more representative and show issues they had raised. Gisela Stuart’s we understand the reality of the lives campaigners in Birmingham Edgbaston become that many women lead, it will be a listened to voters, and drew up a local long time before Labour emerges from manifesto in response to what they opposition. heard, as she reports in this edition of a 50:50 This is an important moment: Labour the Fabian Review. These campaigns can must capitalise on the growing desire for attract more women to become involved constitutional and electoral reform, and on local issues that matter to them, and party respond with radical and imaginative can turn them into Labour supporters ideas to build a representative party and party members. capable of winning women’s votes again. Labour faces real challenges to its The last Government did much parliamentary representation if the With disappointment to tackle inequality and to support number of seats is reduced. But let’s about the low visibility families, and made significant not allow that to be an excuse for a improvements to parental leave and brake on the very gradual increase of Labour women on the in childcare provision, to take just two in women MPs that we have seen. It campaign trail becoming examples. Yet Labour lost votes in is easy to see how turnover could be the election because we had collective reduced as current MPs compete for an increasing factor in the amnesia about those achievements and fewer seats, creating less room for current leadership race, the failed to show we understood what new and diverse candidates. Instead matters to many women. we can call for informed debate on party now needs to work We know that many women say how to avoid such a negative effect. much harder to become they want to see more ‘people like me’ For example, if we had mandatory in politics. So it was deeply frustrating open selections and twinning of seats more representative says to see women relegated to the sidelines (with the selection of one man and one Julie Mellor. during the general election campaign. woman to each) we could transform Many people across progressive politics our parliamentary representation were left angry and confused – had we overnight. learnt nothing from the last century of In her new book, Talking to a campaigning for greater representation Brick Wall, Labour pollster Deborah Julie Mellor and visibility? In addition, while I was Mattinson says many voters would was Chair of the aware that only 31 per cent of Labour welcome electronic voting in the Equal Opportunities MPs are women, I was shocked to learn Commons so MPs can spend more Commission that only one in three party members are time in the constituency; add to this job between 1999 and 2005 women. We are unrepresentative from sharing for MPs and you would have top to bottom. a package that makes the job more This is why women activists are family friendly for all MPs and makes Labour can’t win elections without challenging leadership candidates to it easier for more women to enter and women’s votes. The party won power produce their own plans for building stay in politics. in 1997 by turning around a post-war, that representative party. The quality Failure to act now would be a pro-Tory bias among women that had of their plans will help us judge their travesty. At a time when the voters strengthened during the Thatcher ability to renew the party and make us are demanding reform and the years and maintaining this advantage electable again. coalition Government is planning was key to Labour’s electoral success We will be looking for urgent and sizable constitutional and electoral in 2001 and 2005. Indeed, in 2005, comprehensive plans for action on local change, we would be throwing if men had been the only voters we campaigning and party membership, on away a golden opportunity to make would have had a hung parliament ensuring priorities for women voters a step change towards becoming a and if women had been the only voters are Labour’s priorities too and on 50:50 party. A party which better Labour would have had a majority of achieving parity in our parliamentary understands the reality of women’s more than 100 seats. representation. lives is better able to respond to the All of which makes the decline On local campaigning we can build issues that matter to them and better in support for Labour amongst on the constituency campaigns that able to win women’s votes.

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 19 LESSONS AFTER DEFEAT

local people a true sense of control over their own economic future. Recovery road Critical to this are the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). An independent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers showed that, With an unprecedentedly austere budget not only on average, every £1 spent by the RDAs threatening economic growth but a double-dip recession, generates an extra £4.50 for their regional economies. RDAs can lead rejuvenation Rachel Reeves says the Government needs to take the in a way that Whitehall simply can’t. regional route to rebuilding the economy. They are closer to the businesses and people they are supporting, and can be far more targeted. In Yorkshire and the Humber, for example, there is the supportive government that works with clean coal experiment in coal fields in business to realise this vision. South Yorkshire, and wind technology But this new economy will not development on the Humber Estuary. happen by chance. It will need These investments could have gone investment – in skills, training, research, anywhere in the world. The fact that infrastructure, and finance. And it is this they have come to Yorkshire shows Rachel Reeves that not only justifies, but necessitates, a what can be achieved when business is MP for Leeds West strategic role for government. works together with central and local Where the market fails to provide government. Other regions will have finance for innovative companies, the other ambitions that they pursue, George Osborne is right to make Government must assist. The new linking a regionally and sectorally reducing the deficit a priority. He is Government’s decision to overturn a diverse economy that is good for the wrong, though, to think spending cuts loan to Sheffield Forgemasters which regions and good for Britain. But the and tax increases are sufficient to achieve would have produced key components new government are now scrapping the this goal. The surest way to reduce the for the nuclear industry is a depressing RDAs and the support they provided for budget deficit is to help the economy example of this laissez-faire approach, jobs and growth. return to growth, with the lower benefit and is a decision which will mean Britain Re-balancing the economy must also payments and higher tax revenues that losing out on an opportunity to develop include a bold approach on skills. The would ensue. high quality jobs and investment. While outgoing Labour Government made Just look at the evidence from around the Government talks about a more substantial investment in workplace the world: the debt burden in Japan at diverse economy, they will not back up skills, vocational diplomas in schools 190 per cent of GDP, for example, reflects their aspirations with polices to achieve and colleges, and in the successful a recession that continued, on and off, them. apprenticeship schemes. In Leeds and for over a decade. Unless we ensure a While we have faced a global across West Yorkshire, the impact is sustainable recovery, the budget deficit recession, the routes out of it will be local clear. At Leeds College of Building, 400 will inevitably grow. The greatest risk we and regional. For this to happen, every people have started an apprenticeship in face right now is a double dip recession part of Britain must have a strategy for this year alone, while in my constituency – with the job losses and higher budget re-building our economy, based on local of Leeds West more than 200 people deficits this would bring. A hands-off strengths. Although national policies for graduated last year (three times more approach to the recovery will put Britain supporting the economy are critical, jobs than a decade ago) with apprenticeships in the slow lane in the world economy. and industries need a local framework. in a range of industries including In short, the Government must In Yorkshire we have huge pride engineering, electronics, printing, have a clear and coherent vision for in our industrial past: the Victorian catering and design. Scrapping the tomorrow’s economy. buildings which adorn our towns and RDAs, abolishing the Future Jobs Fund At its best this new economy will cities are a testimony to the riches and and cutting funding for universities be built on our strengths in high-end the confidence of that era. Our purpose and colleges risks our long-term manufacturing, creative industries, our now must be as bold and as permanent competitiveness. great university and research traditions, – to put Yorkshire back in charge of its We must seek to ensure that while and green technologies. It will require own economic destiny. One of the most the coalition focuses on bringing down investment in skills, infrastructure, invidious effects of the recessions of the the budget deficit, this is not at the science and technology and in order to 1980s and 1990s was to rob communities expense of rebuilding the economy. be strong and sustainable it should be of the sense that they could build a better Labour must hold the new Government regionally and industrially diverse. It future for themselves. The true test of the to account – to ensure it embeds the will require a responsible banking sector success of our local economic strategies fragile economic recovery that the last to provide finance and stability, and a today will be whether they can return to Government achieved.

20 Fabian Review Summer 2010 BOOKS

Pugh’s book was never likely to receive a (Pugh never recognises his courage in friendly review from this former General facing down Militant) and John Smith is Drowning in Secretary of the Fabian Society, saying condemned for his “innate caution and as it does that the “Fabian Society was even complacency”. Mr Pugh is a hard detail once thought to occupy a major role in man to please. the emergence of the Labour Party... But despite the book’s shortcomings, this reputation now seems greatly there are snippets of relevance today. exaggerated”. Pugh recalls the importance of Obscure facts and More problematic is that the book religion to the party development, and never decides what its audience is – to the emergence of socialist pioneers questionable judgements new party members, Labour MPs or – in skills as well as the concern for mar Martin Pugh’s major perhaps Lib Dems now in the Coalition others. Ethics were central, as Ramsay Government. It is certainly not for novices MacDonald said: “If [socialists] are to new history of the Labour to history, introducing unexplained be unscrupulous, where are we to look Party, says Dianne Hayter. names, little context and too much detail. for scruples?” Yet it was his award of a Yet for us anoraks, who love the detail, baronetcy to a personal financier which there is little new analysis. presaged the end of his government. What there is by way of thesis – The role of temperance in the growth that Labour usually chooses the wrong of working class “respectability”, leader and keeps them too long – is political outlook and living standards Dianne Hayter deeply questionable, whilst the book is well documented. Working men is a former General FatimaSecretary Hassan and offers little assistance to whoever will needed freedom from alcohol in order isChair Events of Managerthe Fabian at emerge as Labour’s next leader. to have the money to sponsor the theSociety Fabian Society Pugh considers that Labour “for once” friendly societies, trade unions and co- picked the right leader with MacDonald ops that sustained labour politics. Keir in 1922, whereas in re-electing Attlee Hardie, Arthur Henderson, George in 1935 “the party chose a mediocrity Lansbury and Herbert Morrison were Speak for in preference to the talented Morrison, all prominent abstainers – some having Britain! A New though the consequences of this error witnessed the effect of men’s drinking History of the were not to be fully apparent until on their mothers, which also made them Labour Party 1950”. Attlee “suffered some crippling sympathetic to women’s equality and Martin Pugh defects… He became too absorbed by their vote. government and too detached from An ongoing issue for Labour that Bodley Head rank and file”, misjudged the timing of Pugh details is the party’s various £20 elections and ministerial appointments, struggles with reform of the House of ignored party morale, and was a lousy Lords, which began in 1884 when the campaigner (never mind that he won Lords tried to block the extension of a higher share of the vote, albeit fewer the vote to manual labourers. Richard seats, than the Conservatives in 1951). Pankhurst campaigned for its abolition in Quite an indictment of the man many 1895 and by 1922 Labour was committed regard to have been Labour’s most to ending hereditary peerages. In 1923 successful leader. Meanwhile, Gaitskell Arthur Ponsonby MP introduced a bill brought “poor judgement… to the party to abolish all hereditary titles. But Labour leadership”, made grand mistakes over dropped the pledge to abolish the Lords Clause IV and defence, failed to take in 1928 and after Attlee created 82 advice and had a poor grasp of tactics. hereditary peerages in 1945, pressure for Labour “made a shrewd choice” reform declined. This perhaps provides in selecting Harold Wilson, an some solace for those in the last Labour outstanding Leader of the Opposition government who failed to finish the job. and vigorous Prime Minister, before his Voting reform has had a similarly own insecurity, and desire for control, long and checkered history within the led to fatal mistakes. His wish “to win labour movement. The TUC voted in a reputation for respectability and favour of proportional representation competence by conforming to existing in 1911, but the wider movement practice” took over. Callaghan was “tired was suspicious of this middle class and bereft of ideas”, Foot unequipped preoccupation whilst others feared its to handle Labour’s internal problems challenge for party management, and or appeal to the electorate, Kinnock it was defeated at the 1914 Conference. failed to achieve One Member One Vote In 1930, MacDonald rejected the

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 21 BOOKS

Alternative Vote, fearing it would allow representation, particularly after the When Germany overran the Low anti-Tories to vote Liberal as first choice, 1901 Taff Vale judgement which ended Countries in May 1940, the NEC met destroying Labour’s chance of winning union immunity to damages due to the in the Highcliffe Hotel, Bournemouth a majority and forcing it into governing actions of their members. However, it (during Conference) and agreed by in coalition. was partly the costly misjudgement of 17:1 that Labour should join a coalition The party’s ambivalence over the Southampton Liberals not to back provided it was not led by Chamberlain, defence is continuous throughout MacDonald in 1894, leading to his who thus stepped aside. In 1944, the Pugh’s telling of history. From the First brilliant 1903 electoral pact with the NEC decided the post-war election World War onwards, Labour faced Liberals, which effectively killed off the would be fought as an independent division – between pacifists, those who Liberal party and allowed Labour to party and in May 1945 pulled out of the objected to the alliance with the czarist blossom. coalition before the Japanese surrender. regime, and supporters such as J.R. Decisions and political horse- One can only ponder whether the NEC Clynes, who opined that the choice was trading around coalition and minority would have had any role in a Lib-Lab “no longer between peace and war, but governments were not, however, pact in May 2010. between peace and submission to the solely a matter for the Parliamentary But despite touching on these war-maker”. (After the war, MacDonald Labour Party. In 1915, Labour only fascinating areas, the book fails to address advocated a levy on fortunes above entered Cabinet for the first time after the constant – and unresolved – tension £5,000 – £500,000 in today’s money – to the NEC overturned its initial 9:8 that exists between leadership, party pay off the national debt.) rejection. When MacDonald formed members and electorate. Sometimes Relations between – or distance a minority administration – the first ahead of their voters or leader, sometimes from – other parties feature in the book, ever Labour government – in 1924, behind, the labour movement has yet to starting with the Independent Labour this required the support of the decide where the balance lies between Party using “independent” to signify NEC, though Bevin unsuccessfully vision, programme and propaganda; its separation from those who took tried to commit Labour never to take how to rank the achievements of Labour the Liberal whip. Unions increasingly office as a minority again at the 1925 governments; and, vitally, how to secure wanted their own parliamentary Conference. their re-election.

Fabian Quiz

At the beginning of the 1970s, Britain seemed to be tottering on the brink of the abyss. Under the ungainly figure of Edward Heath, the optimism and prosperity of the Sixties had become a distant memory. In State of Emergency The Way We Were: Britain, 1970-1974, Dominic Sandbrook recreates the gaudy, schizophrenic atmosphere of the early Seventies: the world of Enoch Powell and Tony Benn, David Bowie and Brian Clough, Germaine Greer and Mary Whitehouse. He takes us back to an age when the unions were on the march and the socialist revolution seemed at hand, but also when feminism, permissiveness, pornography and environmentalism were transforming the lives of millions.

PENGUIN HAS GIVEN US FIVE COPIES TO GIVE AWAY – TO WIN ONE, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

Under what slogan did Ted Heath fight the 1974 election?

Please email your answers to [email protected] or send a postcard to: Fabian Society, Fabian Quiz, 11 Dartmouth Street, London. SW1H 9BN. Answers must be received no later than Friday 17th September 2010.

22 Fabian Review Summer 2010 FABIAN SOCIETY Listings

BIRMINGHAM DERBY Maloney on 07757 952784 or email READING & DISTRICT All meetings at 7.00 in the Regular monthly meetings. Details [email protected] for For details of all meetings, contact Birmingham and Midland Institute, from Rosemary Key on 01332 573169 details Tony Skuse on 0118 978 5829 email Margaret Street, Birmingham. [email protected] Details from Claire Spencer on DONCASTER AND DISTRICT NEWHAM [email protected] New Society forming, for details and For details of this and all other SHEFFIELD information contact Kevin Rodgers meetings Ellie Robinson on Regular meetings on the 4th BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT on 07962 019168 email k.t.rodgers@ [email protected] Thursday of the month, 7.30 at the 25 June. Gordon Marsden MP on’The gmail.com Quaker Meeting Room, 10 St James Politics of Connection: Thoughts for NORTHUMBRIA AREA Street, Sheffield S1. Details and a New Parliament?’ EAST LOTHIAN For details and booking contact Pat information from Rob Murray on All meetings at The Friends Meeting 1 August. 10th Annual East Lothian Hobson at [email protected] 0114 2558341or Tony Ellingham House, Wharncliffe Rd, Boscombe, Garden Party. For details of this and on 0114 274 5814 email tony. Bournemouth at 7.30. Contact Ian all other meetings contact Noel Foy NORTHAMPTON AREA [email protected] Taylor on 01202 396634 for details. on 01620 824386 email noel.foy@ New Society forming. If you are tesco.net interested in becoming a member of SOUTH EAST LONDON BRADFORD this new society, please contact Dave 28 July. Speaker from Stop the War New Group forming. If anyone is FINCHLEY Brede on [email protected] Campaign. interested in joining, please contact Enquiries to Mike Walsh on 29 September . Speaker tbc Celia Waller on celiawaller@ 07980 602122 NORWICH 27 October. Lord Alf Dubs blueyonder.co.uk Anyone interested in helping to re- For details of all future meetings, GLASGOW form Norwich Fabian Society, please please visit our website at http:// BRIGHTON & HOVE Now holding regular meetings. contact Andreas Paterson andreas@ mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/ 18 July. Annual Garden Party hosted Contact Martin Hutchinson on headswitch.co.uk selfs/. Regular meetings; contact by Baroness Joyce Gould. Guests of [email protected] Duncan Bowie on 020 8693 2709 or honour are Mr David Lepper, Dr Des PETERBOROUGH email [email protected] Turner and Ms Celia Barlow. Details GLOUCESTER Meetings at 8.00 at the Ramada and tickets at £7.50 from Maire Regular meetings at TGWU, 1 Hotel, Thorpe Meadows, SOUTHAMPTON AREA McQueeney on 01273 607910 email Pullman Court, Great Western Peterborough. Details from Brian For details of venues and all [email protected] Rd, Gloucester. Details from Roy Keegan on 01733 265769, email meetings, contact Andrew Pope on Ansley on 01452 713094 email [email protected] 07801 284758 BRISTOL [email protected] New Society formed. Contact PORTSMOUTH SOUTH TYNESIDE Ges Rosenberg for details on GRIMSBY Regular monthly meetings, For information about this Society [email protected] Regular meetings. Details details from June Clarkson on please contact Paul Freeman on from Maureen Freeman on 02392 874293 email jclarkson1006@ 0191 5367 633 or at freemanpsmb@ CANTERBURY [email protected] hotmail.com blueyonder.co.uk Please contact Ian Leslie on 01227 265570 or 07973 681 451 or email HARROW [email protected] Details from June Solomon on 0208 428 2623. Fabians from other areas CARDIFF AND THE VALE where there are no local Fabian Details of all meetings from Societies are very welcome to join us. Jonathan Wynne Evans on 02920 594 065 or wynneevans@phonecoop. HAVERING coop Friday 10th September @ 7.30pm, Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham CENTRAL LONDON discusses the election results. Venue Regular meetings at 7.30 in the Cole tbc. Room, 11 Dartmouth Street, London John Cryer MP will speak in SW1A 9BN. Details from Ian Leslie October – details tbc. Contact David on 01227 265570 or 07973 681451 Marshall for further information: email david.c.marshall.t21@ CHESHIRE btinternet.com tel 01708 441189 New Society forming in Northwich area. Contact Mandy Griffiths on HERTFORDSHIRE [email protected] Regular meetings. Details from Robin Cherney at [email protected] CHISWICK & WEST LONDON 8.00 in the Committee room at ISLINGTON Chiswick Town Hall. Details from For details of all meetings contact Monty Bogard on 0208 994 1780, Jessica Asato at jessica@jessicaasato. email mb014fl362@blueyonder. co.uk or 07939 594 634 co.uk MANCHESTER COLCHESTER Details from Graham Whitham Details from John Wood on 01206 on 079176 44435 email 212100 or [email protected] [email protected] Or 01206 212100 and a blog at http://gtrmancfabians. blogspot.com COVENTRY and WARWICKSHIRE New Society forming. For details MARCHES contact Ben Ferrett on ben_ferrett@ New Society formed in hotmail.com Shrewsbury area. Details on www. MarchesFabians.org.uk or contact DARTFORD & GRAVESHAM Kay Thornton on Secretary@ Regular meetings at 8.00 in the marchesfabians.org.uk Ship, Green Street Green Rd at 8.00. Details from Deborah Stoate on MIDDLESBOROUGH 0207 227 4904 email debstoate@ New Society hoping to get hotmail.com established. Please contact Andrew

Summer 2010 Fabian Review 23 FABIAN SOCIETY

SUFFOLK TYNEMOUTH Contact the Secretary Cllr Professor WIRRAL For details of all meetings, contact Monthly supper meetings, details Alan Townsend, 62A Low If anyone is interested in helping Peter Coghill on 01986 873203 from Brian Flood on 0191 258 3949 Willington, Crook, Durham DL15 to form a new Local Society in the OBG, tel, 01388 746479 email alan. Wirral area, please contact Alan SURREY WEST DURHAM [email protected] Milne at [email protected]. Regular meetings at Guildford The West Durham Fabian Society co.uk or 0151 632 6283 Cathedral Education Centre. welcomes new members from all WEST YORKSHIRE Details from Maureen Swage on areas of the North East not served Details from Jo Coles on Jocoles@ YORK 01252 733481 or maureen.swage@ by other Fabian Societies. It has a yahoo.com Regular meetings on 3rd or 4th btinternet.com regular programme of speakers from Fridays at 7.45 at Jacob’s Well, Off the public, community and voluntary WIMBLEDON Miklegate, York. Details from Steve TONBRIDGE and TUNBRIDGE WELLs sectors. It meets normally on the New Society forming. Please contact Burton on [email protected] All meetings at 8.00 at 71a St Johns last Saturday of alternate months at Andy Ray on 07944 545161or Rd. Details from John Champneys the Joiners Arms, Hunwick between [email protected] if you on 01892 523429 12.15 and 2.00pm – light lunch £2.00 are interested.

These pages are your forum and we’re open to your ideas. Please email Tom Hampson. Editorial Director of the Fabian NOTICEBOARD Society at [email protected]

FABIAN EXECUTIVE ELECTIONS AGM RESOLUTIONS Call for nominations. Any full member, national or local, may Closing date 16th August 2010 submit a resolution to the AGM.

Nominations are now invited for: The deadline for resolutions is 16th August 2010. • 15 Executive Committee places They should be addressed to the General Secretary at the • 4 Local Society places on the Executive Fabian Society or emailed to [email protected]. • Honorary Treasurer • Scottish Convenor Resolutions will be circulated in the Autumn issue of Fabian • Welsh Convenor Review and amendments will be invited. • 12 Young Fabian Executive places Please contact Phil Mutero at [email protected] or Election will be by postal ballot of all full national members phone 020 7227 4911 for more information about the above. and local society members. Nominations should be in writing and individuals can nominate themselves. Local society nominations should be made by local societies. At least two of the 15 national members and one of the Membership rates four local society members elected must be under the age On 14 November 2009 the Annual General Meeting of the of 31 at the AGM on 13th November 2010. Nominees Society agreed an increase of £2.00 in annual subscriptions for both national and Young Fabian elections should to help fund our programme of events and publications. submit a statement in support of their nomination, including The annual rates are now: information about themselves, of not more than 70 words. Cheque/Standing Order Direct Debit Nominations should be sent to: Fabian Society Elections, Ordinary £37.00 £35.00 11 Dartmouth Street, London SW1H 9BN. Or they can Reduced £19.00 £18.00 be faxed to 020 7976 7153 or emailed to phil.mutero@ fabian-society.org.uk. Please write the position nominated for Retired members, students, unwaged and unemployed at the top of the envelope, fax or subject line of the email. members may pay at the reduced rate. The closing date for nominations is 16th August 2010. The six-month introductory offer remains at £9.95 (£5.00 for students).

Fabian Fortune Fund FABIAN FRINGE Winners: Join us at the Fabian fringe at Labour Party Mark Abbott, £100 & C.J.D. Walsh, £100 Conference 2010. Half the income from the Fabian Fortune Fund goes to support our research programme. Forms available from To read our full up-to-date conference programme visit Giles Wright, [email protected] http://www.fabians.org.uk/events/events-news

24 Fabian Review Summer 2010

DIANE4LEADER

“I want to rebuild and revive our party. I am the only candidate who has been a councillor; a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party; an MP for over 20 years who doubled their majority at the last election. I am the grassroots candidate who can convince the public that Labour is ready to turn the page. I can bring people back home to Labour. I will fight the cuts, stand up for public sector workers and offer an economic alternative. I will listen to the Party and learn from the voters. I have stood up for people all my life. Now I want to do the same as Labour Leader.” www.diane4leader.co.uk