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    David Miliband calls on Labour to reject 'big state'

    Politics.co.uk – Thu, Feb 2, 2012

    By Alex Stevenson

    Labour must shun its ideological heritage of reliance on the 'big state', David Miliband has urged, in his first major intervention about the state of the party now led by his younger brother.

    The former foreign secretary used a comment piece in the New Statesman newspaper to attack what he labelled the "Reassurance Labour tendency" of reverting to ideological views about the uses of central government power.
    http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2012/02/labour-social-government-party

    Mr Miliband claimed the 'big state' is a "dead end", writing: "The public won't vote for the prescription that central government is the cure for all ills for the good reason that it isn't."

    His critique of former deputy leader Roy Hattersley's assessment that Labour should shun "'news value' in favour of ideology" is being seen in some quarters as a subtle undermining of Ed Miliband, who was vocally supported by Mr Hattersley during the leadership election.

    "Reassurance Labour feels good. But feeling good is not the same as doing good - and it gets in the way when it stops us rethinking our ideas to meet the challenges of the time," Mr Miliband wrote.

    "And now is a time for restless rethinking, not reassurance. Ed Miliband has shown he understands this with the policy review now under way."

    Ed Miliband's narrow victory over David Miliband in the 2010 leadership election was the direct result of union support. The elder brother had won majorities of both the parliamentary party and the broader party membership.

    Since then the leader of the opposition has not shied away from confrontation with the trade unions who brought him to power. Last month Unite general secretary Len McCluskey criticised Ed Miliband for not pushing the coalition hard enough on spending cuts.

    David Miliband's article is being seen as a response to the trade union leader quoted by former leader Neil Kinnock as saying "we've got our party back", however.

    He wrote: "Active government is important beyond the demands of a minimal state. But it will only be effective when it mobilises people, whether as patients or parents or employees or citizens, to make choices and take decisions that reshape their own lives.

    "That is why we are enjoined on our party membership cards to put power as well as wealth and opportunity in the hands of the many, not the few."

    He called on Labour's frontbenchers to be less apologetic about their record in government.

    Ed Miliband has openly criticised many aspects of New Labour's policies, despite David Cameron repeatedly pointing out in prime minister's questions that he was a key player in their development.

    "Our attacks on the Tories will not work if we are not clear about what we did," Mr Miliband added.

    "We should say loud and clear where we made mistakes, but we should also insist that the list of gains far outstripped the mistakes. After all, even David Cameron said on coming to office that Britain was better in 2010 than 1997."

    David Miliband acknowledged his brother had done well to achieve "unity" in the party since the 2010 general election.

    But his article concluded with the confrontational claim that placed his argument in direct contrast to those of Mr Hattersley.

    He finished: "The problem with the definition of social democratic politics by the Reassurance Labour tendency is not just that it reduces our chances of election, but rather that its vision is too narrow, its mechanisms too one-dimensional, and its effectiveness too limited.

    "The debate is not whether one side is unprincipled; instead, it is who is right."

     

    16 comments

    • GOPHAR CORFE
      GOPHAR CORFE  •  3 months ago
      ah the other half of eric an ernie,
    • Gargletrope
      Gargletrope  •  3 months ago
      Does this mean that the 4,300 new "offences" that Labour bought in during their Office...will all be repealed..??
      -
      Without the ability to "tell everyone what to do"..Labour could not function.....
      -
      It's the socialist way....
    • Chelsea Tractor
      Chelsea Tractor  •  Barcelona, Spain  •  3 months ago
      Given that both of them are inextricably bound up in the government that created the conditions for the financial collapse, they should both do us a favour and retire to somewhere obscure, never to be heard of again...
    • ABC
      ABC  •  3 months ago
      David Milliband says "Big State is a dead end".
      I agree totally with that statement.
      Trouble is that most labour supporters don't agree with it.
      And no Government since the War has made any real progress in scaling back the monolithic British State system. Least of all a Labour Government. This monolith has dragged on our economy and put millions out of work for decades.
      I'm not at all sure the majority of the British people are brave enough to call for a reduction in State power.
      The perennial contradiction is, that the people want the vast State safety net, but they don't want to pay for it.
      Or, let's be honest, more accurately, they want somebody else to pay for it.
    • Steven
      Steven  •  London, England  •  3 months ago
      More Labour ideological claptrap. Oh for a pint of Top Totty.
    • Mark
      Mark  •  Cwmbran, Wales  •  3 months ago
      David`s ego has been bruised by his brother.It`s a mistake to come up with a seven point plan:he should know his place.He`s not going to oust his brother:his timing is out in any case.At one stage he was called a "rising star" but not any more.Neither are good enough to be PM.What message do Labour project when it`s as if one has to come from a highly privileged background to even aspire to becoming PM?
    • ABC
      ABC  •  3 months ago
      David Milliband is not a natural Labour supporter.
      The quantity of Socialism in his veins must be measured in milligrams.
      His talent would be better served in a different party.
      Leave Labour to the supporters of big Government.
    • Thoughtful
      Thoughtful  •  Hounslow, England  •  3 months ago
      Labour built the big state so they should know how to pull it down
    • Walter b masson
      Walter b masson  •  Manchester, England  •  3 months ago
      Dross that pair of nutters
    • Robert
      Robert  •  Hounslow, England  •  3 months ago
      Neither of them have the charisma required to be leaders,and its hard to pick out an alternative who has it either.Just like the rich kids who have hijacked the tory party there is no really inspiring option available to the people,possibly because we tend to supress and get rid of anyone who has gret ability and might upset the apple cart.Churchill found that,and only got power when things got desperate.Perhaps someone else might emerge now,but I doubt it.
    • boingsplat
      boingsplat  •  Linlithgow, Scotland  •  3 months ago
      I don't think anybody is suggesting "that central government is the cure for all ills". Some people believe that our: electricity; gas; rail; health; water; sewage; emergency service and postal grids should be owned and operated by us the taxpayer. Since they are all: essential, ready made, social sector, monopolies; it is (was) unwise to sell them off to private owners. These grids underpin society and profits and share dividends are simply a tax. Selling off the profitable parts of the social structure: adds complexity; leads to variable levels of service and the companies/ cartels/ individuals who own parts of these monopolies invariably require tax payer subsidies or to run to the taxpayer in times of trouble. This adds a drag to the economy as can be seen in our overpriced rail prices (compared to other EU countries.).
      Old Labour would have re-nationalised the above industries, but (new) Labour appear to view them in terms of capital; if so, then just vote Tory because there is no longer any Westminster party that represents the people. Too much money in politics is subverting the capital v labour balance and tipping it to what amounts to a fixation on money.
    • Realworld
      Realworld  •  3 months ago
      Oh!...No! Big bro. is on the street again. He's got even less credibility than little Ed.
    • russ
      russ  •  3 months ago
      dave millipede...Mr.Potato Head...the brother of red ed millipede...or Mr. Plasticine Head...
    • GEORGE
      GEORGE  •  Sunderland, England  •  3 months ago
      not bad for someone who with his wife transfers money off shore to save paying tax
    • petro
      petro  •  3 months ago
      What labour needs is to forget these type of self gain politicians and get back to the realities and its core values and its voters they have totally lost the plot. We need strong opposition to this lunatic so called government we have now before they totally destroy this old country.
      • Gargletrope
        Gargletrope 3 months ago
        Think you will find Labour have already achieved your last sentence for us..
    • Sue H
      Sue H  •  Birmingham, England  •  3 months ago
      I would like to see David Milliband as leader of the Labour party, I think that the way his brother Ed won the top job only as a result of trade union support was a regrettable mistake, I think that the union leaders have realised this now and I'm watching to see how they are going to tranfer their support away from Ed and so get David back in the driving seat, I just hope they don't leave the move too late as there's a lot of work to be done. I think David is the Labour Party's only hope of returning to power at the next GE
      • Gargletrope
        Gargletrope 3 months ago
        I was in a Union to ensure my employment rights were adhered to.
        -
        I was not in it for them to take a general political stance on anything or establish and fund a political Party to follow there bidding.
        -
        The reason for that was simple. I did not vote for them to "represent" me on political matters.
        -
        I already have a vote in elections..thank you..
      • MISHA-GOODFROG
        MISHA-GOODFROG 3 months ago
        As a union member you have allways had the right to opt out of the political subs, why are you making this comment ? please check your rights and facts.
      • robster
        robster 3 months ago
        Gargletripe is a Cameronian....you know the Tory party whos biggest donor is Lord Ashcroft-the notorious tax-evador now under investigation for non-declaration of buisness interests-well done Panorama-wonder what other shady characters the Gargletripes Tories are funded by....As Gargletripe is a true blue Tory-him being a union member is nothing but lies....nothing but a load of GargleTRIPE from them as usual
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