I’m sorry to see my former cabinet colleague – and friend – David Miliband leaving parliament and the UK. He’s one of the few politicians I worked closely with who could apply Labour values in a way which felt fresh and innovative. Tony Blair was the master at this, but it is wrong to think of David as simply continuing Tony’s work or views. He maintained the modernising approach by applying values anew to the challenges that emerged during and after Labour’s period in government. I’ll miss him. More seriously, so will the Labour party and the country.
However, unlike many of the reports of his decision, I don’t see his decision as some sort of political ‘death’. Attitudes to David’s departure tell us something rather worrying about the narrowness with which we often view political activity. Values, ideas and talent matter outside Westminster – and even the UK – as much as they matter within the traditional political world. It was David, himself, during his leadership campaign who introduced Labour to the strength of community organisation and proposed the structures which now make up Movement for Change. This is a recognition that political action in the broadest sense should be encouraged and shared throughout communities and among a much wider range of people – not just seen as the prerogative of ‘professional’ politicians or representative bodies.
In a democratic system, it should always be our priority to win political power through election. We should strain every sinew to ensure that Labour’s period in opposition is as short as possible. I want David’s former colleagues in parliament to be government ministers and I want Ed to be prime minister – and I expect them to make an enormous difference when they are. But they won’t achieve that job on their own. Leadership is crucial, but don’t we spend too much time focusing our hopes and criticism on a small number at the top of our party when our political values can be put to work every day – in making the case for Labour, but also in the way we live and work. I made a difference as schools’ minister, but so did the teachers, the governors and the charities who shared our view that education should enable all to make the most of their chances regardless of where they start in life. Crime came down while I was home secretary, but that was also due to the police officers, the local people not willing to put up with antisocial behaviour, those working to turn around the lives of offenders. Many of these people wouldn’t want to think that they are acting ‘politically’, but nevertheless their values reflect ours and we wouldn’t achieve our political objectives without them.
And for an internationalist party, shouldn’t we be proud that one of our best will be putting his talent to work for people in the most desperate need across the world? The nuances and gossip of Labour leadership battles seem very insignificant in the light of these challenges.
Thank you David for what you’ve done for this country and Labour. This is not an end of your political life, but a new chapter – and thanks in advance for how you will demonstrate that political values continue to make a difference outside parliament and even outside the UK.
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Jacqui Smith is former home secretary, writes the Monday Politics column for Progress, and tweets @smithjj62
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thank you for this lovely article. I am pleased for David Miliband but he will be sorely missed.
He has done nothing for three years and contributed zero to the political life of this nation, lied about illegal rendition. He will not be missed. And I write as a life long Labour supporter. Read Aditya Chakrobortty’s piece on him. Spot on http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/01/david-miliband-british-politics-mps
Did you not notice the soap opera waiting to run?
How could he get involved without unsettling his brother, and the party?
Every turn of the head, scripted!
Please explain your solution to that conundrum.
He has made many insightful comments, particularly about the middle east. Did you miss those?
He deserves maximum credit for not harping on about the invalidity of the election that saw his brother elected. Does loyalty count for nothing?
On rendition, no doubt he had difficult decisions to keep quiet about. If he objected he would be gone in minutes and that would be one less to defend the moral high ground. It’s so easy for us.
He is powerful advocate for better politics and I am sure he will be back.
You are absolutely right. A new chapter is already being written. It does not involve you. A quiet revolution is in progress. The guardian articles epitomises the very thing that is wrong with the Labour Party.
It will and is starting to change. Fortunately Blairite philosophy is dead. David Miliband like many ex ministers have more healthier bank balances then when they started. This does not go down well with grassroot activists.
Blarites must go from the cabinet. The question is Ed Miliband brave enough. My guess he is and he will make some changes to his cabinet very soon.
The author of the Guardian article has agenda, before he even starts he says “David Miliband is typical of the gilded class who masquerade as our delegates in Westminster.” So we know where he is coming from.
The author goes on to dream up candidate MP Karen:
“Karen is a bus driver with a disabled husband, who has lived in a three-bedroom home for years – but the coalition thinks they have too much space and has cut their housing benefit. So when Karen attacks Cameron’s bedroom tax, she draws on personal experience of being forced to downsize.”
So she is vulnerable and a victim of this policy, but we don’t need single issue candidates. If she is a bus driver trying to weave through traffic 8 hours a day, does she have the experience to work seasoned arguments against opposition politicians? Her ability was not mentioned.
In a meritocracy we should disregard backgrounds and judge candidates on ability and beliefs. That’s it!
The author goes on to say how past politicians have found alternative, lucrative, employment. So what! It would have been nice to have been so lucky. What matters is: “Did they get there by unfair advancement or was it truly on merit?” If we start bumping people up the ladder only because they tick all the minority boxes we are sunk as a nation. We need brains, experience and beliefs.
This author has no credit. I say that as a Guardian reader.