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Written by Austin Mitchell
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18 September 2003 |
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It’s time for a change in policy. Sadly that means a change in leaders. Not now. Next year before the election. I’ve been and still am Tony’s greatest admirer. He’s a brilliant performer. We owe so much to him. However the party must come first. Leaders are disposable. The party and its mission to serve the people goes on.
No one else will be as presentable, as skillful, and as articulate as Tony. But almost everyone else will know how to lead us to the better, fairer, and more equal society that the Labour party is really about.
It does me no good to say this. I’m nervous about the consequences but I’ve got to say what’s right. It’s now time for a change. We’ll win the next election whoever leads us. Yet we’ll win better and give ourselves a serious mission, distinct from just enjoying power and showing how clever we are. If we win on a Labour programme for higher public spending, higher growth, and a programme for building a fairer more equal society. We do what is right. Let the others in office, and out of it, set out the stalls. Let the party, the unions, and the nation choose. That will be a genuine Peoples’ PM. |
