WHATIF: 1997 Left Wing Revolution

[Colr]

I think this Guardian thought piece is an interesting window on the position of the Labour Party and their stance on their three terms of government as well as their rationalisation of the party's role in the 2008 crash.

Its less the article than the comments. Basically, the line is that Labour would have won a landslide majority in 1997 if it had maintained a left leaning agenda and that New Labour policies/spin call it what you will had little or no impact on the outcome. Therefore, if they had stuck with the John Smith/Kinnock approach, they would not have experienced the 2008 crash and (important to the left) would not have got involved in Iraq and Afghanistan (and presumably would not have intervened in the former Yugoslavia either to halt the genocide there).

Thing is, I don't remember it that way at all but maybe its just me. 2015 will provide some kind of answer.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/01/dear-tony-blair-electorate-shifted-left-ed-miliband

[Hibby Bairn]

There was a lot of buzz created around New Labour at the time which was an attractive version for the voting masses. Celebrity parties, photos with pop stars and footballers etc. It appealed to the general public wanting change and new possibilities. And it brought business and wealth creators on board too.

I think Blair led that well at the time.

Not sure Kinnock or Brown would have pulled it off in the same way with wider left agenda.

[Colr]

There was a lot of buzz created around New Labour at the time which was an attractive version for the voting masses. Celebrity parties, photos with pop stars and footballers etc. It appealed to the general public wanting change and new possibilities. And it brought business and wealth creators on board too.

I think Blair led that well at the time.

Not sure Kinnock or Brown would have pulled it off in the same way with wider left agenda.

Personally, it was his emphasis on aspiration and support for education which I found particularly attractive, electrifying even at the time.

[Hibby Bairn]

Personally, it was his emphasis on aspiration and support for education which I found particularly attractive, electrifying even at the time.

Blair and New Labour introduced a lot of excellent policy themes around inclusion and opportunity for all but a lot has been forgotten because of Iraq. Some really good ministers around as well but also partly forgotten due to dominant forces of Blair, Brown and Mandelson.

[Geo_1875]

Blair and New Labour introduced a lot of excellent policy themes around inclusion and opportunity for all but a lot has been forgotten because of Iraq. Some really good ministers around as well but also partly forgotten due to dominant forces of Blair, Brown and Mandelson.

Many goid ministers who sold their souls to hold onto power.

[hibsbollah]

I think political historians underestimate the void that the death of John Smith left in the Party. I believe he could have brought along apocryphal Middle England into the gang while not abandoning the Labour movements principles.

[Colr]

Another view on the subject

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/04/tony-blair-vacuum-british-politics-centre-ground

. Ed Miliband has given the impression that he regards everything about New Labour as an embarrassment and Mr Blair as the black sheep of the family that no one speaks about. Mr Miliband was bound to put distance between himself and some of the unpopular legacies, but suggesting that he thinks the entire period was one epic mistake has prevented him from taking ownership of New Labour’s achievements and what was admired about them.

[BroxburnHibee]

John Smith - would have walked the General Election.

Such a sad loss

[snooky]

I remember reading that The Sun came out saying it was supporting Labour in that general election. I thought that very odd at the time.
I wasn't sure if they knew Labour were going to win and clung on to the shirt tail or whether a deal had been done twix Murdoch & Blair.
I'm still wondering which one it was :hmmm: