Apart from the obvious need to avoid triumphalism and to make real progress in the Middle East, Labour’s leaders should do two things. First, they need to remind us of where Labour is trying to take Britain – how would we know whether Labour had succeeded at the end of its third term?
This means ministers talking about destinations and the real challenges they face in reaching them. How, for example, are we going to meet child poverty targets, or the aim of reducing economic disparities between the north and south of England? Being inspired by ambitious objectives will help to overcome rows about the means (like foundation hospitals and higher tuition fees) used to get there.
Second, Tony Blair and his advisers have to recognise that effective leadership is about being bold and about winning elections, but also about maintaining the loyalty and commitment of your supporters. As John Major found out, party division and decline will eventually damage electoral prospects. Yes, the party needs to be challenged in both its thinking and the way it organises, but it is much more likely to respond well if it feels its leaders respect it.
Matthew Taylor is director of the ippr
On the domestic front there should, of course, be evidence of sustained government funding for health and education, and a clear definition of the priority we give to public services, and also to redistribution. Winning back the confidence of Labour party members that their government has listened to them will mean a ‘no’ to foundation hospitals and to top-up fees.
On the effects of the Iraq war on party members, I can only say that in my 42 years as a party member, I can’t remember such strong feeling as was so evident when members perceived that they were being led into a war against their better judgement.
Now there has to be confirmation that future policies will reflect our support for multilateralism, and for strong international institutions backed by international law and by clear global rules.
Our relationship with the United States must be more discerning. The Prime Minister, with our European partners, will need to take a central role in the efforts that have to be made to repair the very fabric of international relations that have been so damaged.We in the party know about the level of cynicism amongst the British people towards all things party political. We will need to prepare our approach to encouraging more participation in our democracy.
That will mean motivating people and convincing them that our Labour policies, our values and our principles are as strong, and as resilient, as they ever were.
Glenys Kinnock is an MEP for Wales
In time, Iraq will be seen as the watershed for this government – either the point at which things began to fall apart, or when New Labour came of age. I believe it will be the latter – but it’s up to all of us who want it to be that way to work at it. That responsibility falls most on the PLP. There can be no doubt that the Iraq crisis put us all through the wringer, straining friendships and testing loyalties. But we got through it and, now that national insurance increases have taken effect, we must get our eye firmly back on the ball of this second term – reforming public services. Those who seek to derail the government made foundation hospitals the next rallying point after Iraq and, having failed there, will now turn to top-up fees. Theirsis a dangerous game and it’s up to the moral majority in the PLP to see that it fails.
Andy Burnham is MP for Leigh
Now that the war is over, for good or ill, and the rebuilding of Iraq can begin, it’s time to return to the domestic agenda. Tony Blair may have earned some short-term advances in popularity but the issue of public service reform will continue to haunt him in the run-up to the next general election.Unison has stated consistently that we are not opposed to reform. We have believed from the outset that if the government were able to harness the talent and imagination of public service managers and frontline staff they would have been able to use the extra resources to build the world-class provision we all desire. Instead, the government have looked to the discredited private sector to drive reform through the privatisation and PFI schemes.
The end result, six years into a Labour government, is that people are still searching for the improvements. So, if I have one message for the Prime Minister it is this – face up to the fact that the private sector is not delivering for you, cut out the bureaucracy of contract bidding and performance targets and give the resources direct to the local representatives, staff and users to spend on public service improvement in their locality. If you do this, Labour will deservedly win the next election.
Dave Prentis is general secretary of Unison
The Iraq vote is not the sole or defining symptom of our internal tensions (this, in any case, is not the 1970s, with two ideologically separate Labour parties fighting to occupy one space). The same sense of pressure to support action – the aims, objectives and methods of which had been determined by others – can be found in domestic policy.
Despite six years in power and the dominance of New Labour’s overall values and message, there are probably fewer people involved in shaping Labour policy than at any time in the past ten years. Policy may arrive ‘fully-formed’, with little or no opportunity for refinement or development.
New Labour’s priority is to reinvigorate itself for a third term. A clear signal that we have rediscovered the confidence to involve a wider audience in this would do much to bring the party together. Most people who feel excluded from Labour’s discussions don’t want ‘old Labour’ back, and we must avoid treating them as though they do.
John Denham is MP for Southampton Itchen
The horrifying images of lives lost in Iraq remind us why war must always be a last resort within international law. The range of powerfully held views within the country and the party over Iraq must be recognised and respected.
But we need Labour to be people’s positive choice. And we must remember that our party’s greatest achievements – the health service, the welfare state – came about when all parts of the party had a common purpose.
The first-ever national minimum wage introduced the universal pay decency threshold, something we can be proud of. But wider private sector involvement in public services and restricting employment rights do not inspire: they divide.
Dignity in retirement is one issue that has the potential to unite generations. By ensuring adequate employer and worker contributions, halting the ditching of final salary schemes and linking the basic pension to pay levels, Labour could inspire the party and the nation.
Diana Holland is National Organiser of the Transport and General Workers Union and NEC Chair
What could the government do to overcome the divisions in
the country and the party caused by the Iraq war? Acknowledge that the divisions will exist long after the bombing has stopped. Remember that not every party member thinks they did the wrong thing by going to war. Accept that some people feel very, very angry that they did. Appreciate that even those who felt that the decision taken was the best of a few bad options still worry about the impact it will have on our fight against global poverty, violence and injustice – causes which brought many of us into the Labour party.
Engage in a debate about what it now means to have a progressive, internationalist agenda. Keep a focus on resolving the Israel/Palestine situation. Ensure our commitment to international aid and the relief of poverty far outstrips our investment
in military action. Speak loudly about our belief in a multicultural society here in the UK, to ensure the BNP and other racists get no further foothold. Give a few signals to reassure us that, the needs of international diplomacy aside, our Labour Prime Minister would still much, much rather have a Democrat in the White House.
Ruth Turner is a vice chair of Progress
Progress and a member of the NEC