More of the same won’t work, Hain warns Labour
The Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain has warned Labour they must change or risk another election defeat.
In contrast with the prime minister’s insistence that Labour has a “good springboard” for a general election win, Mr Hain admitted the party “had a bad kicking” in last Thursday’s triple election.
He predicted voters are eager for a change and warned “more of the same is not going to be a winning formula”.
In an interview we’ve the Daily Telegraph, Mr Hain said: “We are 10 years in power, we’ve had a pretty tough year and voters have passed their verdict on that. There is not outright hostility but there is grumpiness – particularly over Iraq.”
Reflecting on last week’s election losses, he denied declining support for Labour could be blamed wholly on Tony Blair, maintaining that his poll ratings is still “relatively strong” and voters are well aware of the prime minister’s intention to step down.
Rather, Labour’s soul-searching should be directed at the entire party, he admitted. Allegations relating to the cash-for-honours inquiry have “taken the shine off the Labour party in a way which troubles everybody.”
Ahead of Mr Blair’s long anticipated departure, which he is set to officially announce this week, the Northern Ireland minister said the change in leadership should herald a new style for the party.
Senior officials should move towards inclusive leadership, he argued, vowing to “listen more and lecture less”.
He called on the party to rediscover its “political passion”, clarifying this was not a call for a return to old Labour, but rather for “real Labour renewed”.
“It’s important that we re-inspire people with our values – fairness, liberty and democracy and protecting human rights… We need to bind together the New Labour voters and the traditional voters. People have peeled away from both camps,” Mr Hain concluded.
Gordon Brown could help Labour rediscover its passion, he indicated, describing the chancellor as the antithesis of David Cameron’s style over substance.
As Mr Brown considers his future Cabinet, Mr Hain called on potential ministers to promote liberty and view equality as a moral issue.
Mr Hain is hoping to be elected deputy leader when John Prescott steps down alongside Mr Blair. If appointed, he insisted he would act as a mediator between Number Ten and the party’s grassroots, warning that Labour has lost touch with its membership.
A YouGov poll yesterday found ten per cent of voters would be more likely to vote Labour in the next general election if Mr Hain were deputy prime minister.
This made him joint second-favourite for the position alongside Hilary Benn. Harriet Harman emerged as the electorate’s favourite on 14 per cent.
