Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole?

Peter Kenyon Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 06:26:48 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Last week's Labour Party National Executive Committee considered the next stage of policy-making. Since the launch of Partnership in Power in 1997, the internal processes have developed what astrophysicists refer to as "black hole" characteristics.



A spirited attempt is being made by Election Manifesto supremo Ed Miliband MP to defy gravity and show that policy ideas don't get sucked into the vortex that is the Labour Party controlled by No. 10 Downing Street never to be seen or heard of again. Over the next six weeks, when not campaigning for Ken, I and others will be testing the strengths and weaknesses of the forces that have shredded members' confidence in Labour Party policy making, reduced membership by more than 50%, halved Labour representation in local government and left the Party languishing in the opinion polls (not to mention its finances).

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Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole? | 3 comments (3 topical)

Re: Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole? (#1)

by LabourOutlook on Mon Mar 24, 2008 at 11:40:16 PM GMT

Ed Miliband's speech at conference certainly implied that he had an open mind on policies.

He also touched on a few things, like social care and constitutional reform, that haven't been top of our agenda but seem to be becoming more so.


Re: Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole? (#2)

by Rathfelder on Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 12:33:33 AM GMT

This seems quite important.  I didn't always like where Blair took the Party, but at least I had a sense that it was going somewhere.  Now it doesn't appear to be going anywhere.  


[ Parent ]

Re: Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole? (#3)

by grimupnorth on Wed Mar 26, 2008 at 12:57:16 PM GMT

Three thoughts.

1. How are you  going to  test it?
2. We should  not have  a "Manifesto supremo." What goes into the manifesto should be decided  by   a broad church  of the Members  and PLP. Labour Party    policy  was  once agreed at  conference. Now it  is  on the hands of a small  New Labour  clique,  of which the Milibands are a  part.So.
3. I do not believe that  Ed M  is "defying gravity" in any sense. He represents the "command and control" strategy which surely  believers   in democracy for  ordinary Party  members should   oppose.


Can Ed Miliband defy Labour policy blackhole? | 3 comments (3 topical)