Tag: centre-left
Why the centre-left needs to back Brown
Free Radical Tue Aug 05, 2008 at 10:20:23 PM GMT 
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I have never been a big fan of Gordon Brown, though I always thought he had his good points. Within the terms of the job, he was a brilliant Chancellor of the Exchequer. I also believe that he is essentially principled and not in any sense corrupt. But, I have never been a big fan because Gordon Brown, just like Tony Blair, was one of the main architects of so-called “New Labour.” He is fervently pro-market, championed things like PFI, didn’t oppose the Iraq invasion, wants ID cards and 42 days detentions without trial, and, essentially, I see him as a kind of neo-liberal with a reforming bent and a little dash of social democracy about him. Politically there has never been much to choose between Blair and Brown, though of the two I preferred Brown. At least he lacked the frightening megalomania of Blair – at least he doesn’t see himself as The Nation personified.
It’s not a ringing endorsement of our leader and Prime Minister, I admit. But, given all of this, I want to explain why the centre-left in the Party needs to back Gordon Brown in the current circumstances.
