Ryan laments poor Labour showing
Labour has lost its connection with voters, a senior member of the party’s campaigns team has said.
The party’s campaigns vice-chair, Joan Ryan, admitted in a meeting in Westminster held by Progress that “I just don’t think we’re connecting on the doorstep”.
When questioned on where the party should go next, following the loss of 331 council seats across England and Wales on May 1st, the MP for Enfield North stressed the importance of rebuilding the “relationship” with voters.
“Perception is all. Unless you’ve got a relationship, you can’t deal with perception.. Our number one issue must be the same as that of the voter,” Ms Ryan said
Her comments were echoed by those of innovation, universities and skills minister John Denham and former home secretary Charles Clarke, who were also speaking.
Mr Denham, recalling Labour striking a chord “across a great swathe of southern voters” in 1997, said it was important “to tell that story again. to show we can make [Labour’s policies] work in a much more competitive economy”.
And Mr Clarke – who disappointed those expecting he would attack Gordon Brown’s premiership – said Labour needed to “regain their confidence” after the “slap in the face” election results of May 1st.
“The chancellor showed the way [on income tax reform] – in the same spirit we have to deal with all the other problems which are around,” he said.
“We have to make sure we act quickly.”
The meeting came hours after Labour rebel Frank Field apologised in the Commons for personally attacking Gordon Brown, amid concessions from the prime minister which prompted widespread relief from Labour backbenchers.
Progress members’ questions were immediately pressuring the panel on whether or not they believed the prime minister was the right man to lead Labour into the next election.
“I think it is damaging. and fundamentally wrong,” Mr Denham added. “If we continue to make this issue an issue, we damage ourselves.”
Mr Clarke said Labour needed to “face up to our failures. and retain our unity”, while YouGov president Peter Kellner called for the party to “get away from self-indulgent crap about Gordon”.
Ms Ryan also acknowledged her opposition to attacks on Mr Brown, explaining “nothing turns the electorate off more than disunity”.
But her response to one question – which she answered almost verbatim to the question itself – suggested otherwise.
“I do think Gordon’s more or less likely to win the next election,” she said, smiling mischievously.
