It’s my birthday this week – I’m 51. This is not a cheap attempt to garner birthday wishes and lavish presents, although feel free if the spirit moves you. I’m pondering the benefits of experience and whether, in the political world, the pendulum has swung too far towards the cult of youth.

This was also prompted by Jack Straw’s announcement that he’d be standing down from the Commons at the next election. I gained enormously from working with him in the cabinet – he was leader of the House while I was chief whip and justice secretary while I was home secretary. In our two double acts, he was wise, supportive and fun! Whatever the future holds after the Commons, I wish him the best. However, I hope and expect that he’ll take a place in the Lords so will still be around for wise counsel. He has an enormous range of experience in government and in opposition and that is something which we dismiss at our peril.

It is wholly understandable in the era not just of 24/7 media attention, but a ‘Twitterverse’ where an hour is a long time in politics that youthful energy and speed of reaction are key attributes for a modern politician. But as I plodded round my distinctly middle-aged run this morning, I was thankful that I am no longer followed by photographers. Even a relatively youthful David Cameron had to face unwarranted mockery for displaying a middle-aged chest on a public beach. Don’t we need more from our senior politicians than a six pack and an ability to be photographed running or playing ‘keepy uppy’?

When I first became a minister, I was the youngest in government for a short period. But that’s the sort of attribute which is inevitably time-limited. I was a much better minister at the age of 45 than when I was first appointed. I can understand why Ed Miliband wanted to promote – in both senses of the word – Labour’s next generation, but I was also pleased to see that Charlie Falconer will have a role advising on the transition to government. There are very talented experienced politicians – Margaret Beckett, David Blunkett, Alistair Darling, Alan Johnson who sit outside the shadow cabinet, but should play a big part in getting us back into government.

The chair of Redditch constituency in my five general election campaigns was a man called Albert Wharrad. He had been the chair of the CLP for 50 years. On occasion, though I was frustrated by what I saw as his old-fashioned ways, he was endlessly patient and supportive with me. Looking back I know that it was his experience and calm stewardship which ensured that I had one of the hardest-working and most cohesive constituency parties around. He has died now and I still miss him.

There is also a wealth of campaigning and political experience in the MPs who left parliament in 2010. I know from talking with them that there is an enormous amount of ongoing commitment to getting Labour re-elected even from those who aren’t interested in standing again. This has largely been ignored by the party as a whole.

In government, we strengthened age discrimination legislation. With Patricia Hewitt, I introduced a ‘right to request’ the deferral of enforced retirement as a first step towards removing compulsory retirement. In policy we believe in the contribution which can be made by older people. We need to put that into practice in our own party and structures.

I suppose my conclusion then is that getting into and succeeding in government needs the strongest possible team and the widest range of attributes and experience. Adding wise older heads and a long-term perspective to energy, innovation and youthful enthusiasm is the best way to ensure future success. I hope we’ll see that in the battles ahead.