Labour could have been honest in 2024. They claimed, (and still do, Duty Minister on Radio 4's "Today" this morning) an “extraordinary and emphatic victory” in that election, but it was nothing of the sort. Rather it was an emphatic rejection of the Tories after a decade of disasters. Labour itself had received only a third of the votes cast and, given the low turnout, this amounted to the support of only a quarter of the population entitled to vote.
It was in no way an endorsement of Labour’s programme or confidence in their ability to implement it.
Labour could have done the decent thing - recognised the paucity of their support and, noting that with the Liberal Democrat and Green votes, together with theirs, they would have the support of the majority of those who voted, invited representatives of those parties (and possibly some nationalists) into their Government to form a Coalition of the Willing
When I argued this case at the time a close friend, former Labour Party stalwart and now a supporter of the Greens, commented: “Maybe true, but it isn’t going to happen.”
And, of course, it didn’t. The opportunity was missed and their government has blundered into the ground.
Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation and the anticipated succession Andy Burnham gives them, and more importantly the country, a second chance.
The new government will face exactly the same problems as Sir Keir’s did: probably getting even worse. I suggest Mr Burnham promises, in the campaign for the succession if there is one, that he will recognise the truth and offer to share some posts with other “progressives.”
Why not offer Liberal Democrats, given our concerns for liberty and international development, the Home Office and Department of International Development (reconstituted and split off from Sir Keir’s Foreign Office).
A Green MP would put in charge of the Department of Environment (releasing Ed Miliband to serve are Chancellor of the Exchequer?) along with cabinet posts for the nationalist leaders in the Scottish and Welsh Offices.
That wold signal genuine change, and give the new government the “oomph” that the present one lacks.
Not only that, but it would anticipate the future, rather than leaving the UK to be reluctantly dragged into it, as has been the norm in the past..
Mr Burnham is in favour of proportional representation and that will almost inevitably lead to coalitions in the future.
On present expectations PR is not to operate until the next General Election but one, but it could be brought forward. Even if it isn’t there is no reason why a coalition should not be tried before Labour is forced to participate in one.
We’ve had “winner takes all” for all of this century and seen where it has landed us.
Mr Burnham should take the lead and offer to bring in the future now.
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