Ed Miliband’s tone was exactly right on Friday when he came to the west Midlands to recognise the successes of the council elections. In Birmingham, where Labour had regained control, he spoke of the Labour councillors working every day to repay the trust placed in them. In Worcester, where Labour had made gains but not quite taken control, he said ‘What we’ve seen is a good result for Labour but my message here is clear – there is a lot more work to do.’
This measured and non-triumphalist tone was the right approach for our national representatives. However, in a totally undisciplined way, can I just say how very chuffed I was about Labour taking control of Redditch borough council having fought a great campaign. This is one of those west Midlands seats that we need to regain for a Labour victory at the general election. Well done Rebecca Blake and the team!
Labour made 824 gains. It was both the number and location of gains that was important. Redditch, Worcester, Reading, Plymouth, Norwich, Harlow and many others were parliamentary seats Labour won in 1997 and lost in 2010. And they represent a reawakening of the Labour vote in the south and non-metropolitan west Midlands.
The measured tone was ably echoed by the Labour representatives doing that unenviable all-night rota on the results shows and over this weekend. However, I do have a criticism of our response to the results. As Lambeth Leader, Cllr Steve Reed pointed out on Twitter, ‘Why is Labour only putting up national politicians to comment on local election results?’ In reality, many of them were waiting nervously at their counts and weren’t available. However there were people like Steve himself who could have been used. This points to a wider issue about the significance of Labour local government. We must widen the focus beyond Westminster politicians.
We must now give a national showcase to our existing and new local government leaders. First, because they are strong and successful Labour voices. Second, and even more importantly, because they will be the evidence and manifestation of the difference that Labour can make in power.
Lambeth has led the way in developing the idea of the cooperative council where some of the most interesting ideas about devolving power and budgets are being explored. In Redditch, they campaigned with a clear pledge to develop new apprenticeships and job opportunities for young people. An activist national industrial policy could be informed by successful economic development initiatives from Labour-led cities. Labour local government is developing the models for innovative social care, housing, community safety, leisure and young people’s services.
Of course, the reality for many of the new councillors will also be that they will need to make the decisions which stem from the Tory-led government’s spending cuts. But this is also an opportunity. Our national argument is that we would also be making cuts, but we could and would make different choices about how to cut the deficit. In town halls across the country Labour councillors will be able to demonstrate those choices.
Labour is at least three years away from national government, but thanks to last week’s elections, we can now begin to show the difference Labour makes in communities across the country. Let’s hear more from those Labour politicians and learn from their success and decisions over the coming years.
—————————————————————————————
Jacqui Smith is former home secretary and writes the Monday Politics column for Progress
—————————————————————————————
The Liberal Democrats are learning a lesson we should take on board or rather our leadership. If you jump into bed with a leader who is miles apart from the ideology of your grassroot membership the consequences will be painful and will distroy the very fabric of your membership. Nick Clegg jumps into bed with Cameron in order to gain power–a once in a lifetime opportunity for The Liberal Dems and it will clearly never happen again. Clegg sent his fellow Lib Dem members down the river without any consultation. He failed to see the damgers and the consequences of his action–The membership and core vote were hurt. We were in the same position when Tony Blair jumped into bed with Bush without any mandate from the party membership or The Electorate. He dirregarded his membership and core voters and again sent many collegues down the river when the local elections arrived. Nick Clegg should have taken a lesson from what happend to Blair. Jumping into bed with a leader of a party that is opposed to your own ideology will not go down well with your core supporters. Nick Clegg and his party will realise the reality of being in Government and his membership will rebel. I doubt Nick Clegg will retain the confidence of The Lib Dem membership for the course of this Parliament.