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One of the Cabinet's most senior figures today launched a battle for "middle Britain" - saying that New Labour needed to reconnect with voters to have a chance of winning the next election.
In an wide-ranging interview with the Standard Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, said: "We are in power because of the support of middle Britain. We have to return to the battle for middle Britain. That is the battleground."
Asked if Mr Brown's position was hopeless, as new polls showed Labour still flatlining against the Tories, Mr Straw said, "That's not a word I would use at all. But people do feel destabilized and unhappy and understandably, the Government is first among their target. They are used to relatively good times and when the difficult times come, it is destabilizing. It does require a rethink."
However he ruled out New Labour ditching its leader, s saying "We have already changed our leader and it was the right change. It has become fashionable to have a go at Gordon at the moment, but that will burn itself out."
As the oldest member of the Cabinet, Mr Straw is expected to play a pivotal role in the future of New Labour if Mr Brown fails to lead the party out of its poll slump.
Asked if he considered the Foreign Secretary David Miliband, tipped as an alternative to the PM, a plausible future leader, Mr Straw was lukewarm: "There is a lot of talent in the Cabinet".
With many internal critics claiming that New Labour was weakened by failing to hold a leadership contest, he defended Mr Brown's unopposed elevation to the job saying, "There was a contest - in that the Labour Party is perfectly capable of nominating alternatives, as its history hows. In this case, it did not do so because there was such a wide spread of opinion that Gordon was the best leader that a contest didn't take place."
The Justice Secretary did, however, admit high levels of dissatisfaction with New Labour admitting: "If you have been in power this long then people do blank out many of the good things you have done or take them a bit for granted. My view is that we face difficulties because the country faces difficulties."
Throwing down a challenge to the New Tories saying that the next election was "still Labour's to lose - because our fundamentals are much more solid than theirs".
"I think the Conservatives are making a big mistake by sounding presumptions.: parading for the Tatler as the next Government and so on. I remember the Sheffield Rally (when Neil Kinnock's triumphalist speech backfired.) They are running the risk of their own Sheffield rally."
Mr Straw used the interview to spearheaded what is expected to be a series of attacks by senior Labour figures on David Cameron's shifting position on tax and spending.
"If you look at what they are offering, I'm very unclear about what vision they have that holds it together. They promised the same level of spending but increasingly George Osborne is caught in a trap of his ideology. The Tory shift this week raises big questions about public spending. If they no longer match Labour, then what will they cut? They have already pledged to increase spending on prisons and the police as well as making a big commitment on Inheritance Tax Relief. Can they maintain these pledges?"
"Our spending has raised the living standards of middle Britain and those below it. We will take the fight back to them on fairness They are not really committed to a greater level of fairness in the same way Labour is. If you ask black and Asian people who has really taken action to secure their equality in society, the answer is Labour. It is less probable that the Tory party will do that."
However he hinted that the Government needed a change of tone and emphasis to re-engage disaffected voters.
"The ethical framework is the same but you do have to think about how you implement it. The challenge of governing in a downturn is different."
STRAW IN HIS OWN WORDS...
On the Tories
"They are a more effective opposition than two years as and David Cameron is a more effective leader than his many predecessors. But they are still a rightwing party"
On state schools
"I don't think there is a crisis of faith in schools. I don't have a problem with people choosing private schools, but I do believe, if they have done that, they should spare the state system - which has much greater challenges - a knocking. I sent my own children to so-called "bog standard" schools and they did very well. Plenty of my friends sent their children to private schools. But if you look at who performs well at university, it's often not the force-fed private schools which get the best results."
On the Human Rights Act
"What we did not anticipate was the way that 9/11 would shifted the environment of the argument about human rights I would say in hindsight that we need to project more clearly that the act comes with responsibilities as we'll as rights attached. People complain about the HRA, but look what wold happen to any government that tried to take it away!"
Reader views (37)
Labour disconnected from me as soon as they raided my pension fund (and then used it to guarantee the pensions of state employees). They have made no attempt to reconnect, rather the opposite.
Nao
- Naomi Sajeri, Manchester, 15/09/2008 10:07
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Re connect with me Jack give us the referendum you promised.Cut council taxes.Abandon the endless fines for motorists.And abolish the human rights law.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 15/09/2008 09:40
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Hi Jack this is middle England- We want to hear: stop immigration stop immigration stop immigration stop immigration- Hey JACK we cant hear you IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?..............
- Steve, bromley, 15/09/2008 09:26
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I am working class and they can kiss my .......
- Frederick, London, 15/09/2008 07:42
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The best for middle Britain is that Nu Labor resigns. They should resign and let Tories sort it out!
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London, 14/09/2008 22:24
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Jack, go home, look in the mirror and tell yourself the truth. Just make sure that no one can overhear you though,in case McBrown gives you the sack for getting real. Middle Britain (along with the rest of long suffering Britain) will soon confine you and your asinine bunch of no hopers to the political dustbin.
- John E., Northants, 14/09/2008 20:50
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Hit the road Jack, and never come back no more.
- Steve, swansea uk, 12/09/2008 18:26
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Oh so Jack Sprat now wishes to listen to middle Britain .........could be that Nu Labour needs cremating??
- Andy, sussex, 12/09/2008 17:57
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Maybe if we all stop using supermarket plastic bags, everything will be OK...
- Stephen, Sussex, crawley, england, 12/09/2008 17:50
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Jack Straw says we have forgotten the good things that labour have done.! declared war on a third world country Or maybe not allowing us a referendum.or just maybe taking away the 10p tax band from the poor.We remember alright Jack.
- Dave Smith, Croydon, 12/09/2008 17:42
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Too late Jack. You (Labour) didnt listen and the electorate will make you pay for the damage you have done.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants, 12/09/2008 17:28
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To Mike ,London Absolutely spot on.New Labour came to power in 1997 and left in 1984.
Jack Straw you're deluded.
- Martin, London, 12/09/2008 17:26
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Too little too late. "We shall be judged by our performance" said a Labour minister on TV yesterday. Yes well, you already have! [glanced at an opinion poll recently?]
- Marianne, SW France, 12/09/2008 17:17
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Reconnect ? He's having a laugh. NOT one thing they promised on education,education,education or tough on crime tough on the causes of crime through to promising us a vote on the european constitution has been kept. Why would anyone with half a brain vote for this bunch of losers ever again ?
We're all struggling with this lot, close your curtains, turn off your lights and hope they disappear-forever.
- Michael, London, 12/09/2008 16:46
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I am sure most Labour MP's are seathing with rage and fear, not least because 80% are looking at the dole queue. Straw is right to hum and ahh, that Brown is still the man, as who wants to step into a dead mans shoes... there is no coup, because who wants to be totally humiliated when the next election is called. Its better that Brown is seen as the disaster. One day after the next election we will see the labour wolves hungry for blood and Brown will be gone.But for now hush hush. Shame on them for not speaking louder and sooner. These MP's were not elected to think of themselves, but to serve the electorate
- Bondy, london, 12/09/2008 16:44
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Why just middle Britain? The Scots don't want them. Londoners don't want them. They aren't wanted in the Scilly isles or in East Anglia either.
They should try just reconnecting with Britain. All of Britain, that is. Or even better, just go, now, before they do any more damage.
- Nigel, London, 12/09/2008 16:38
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The only part of the middle class that this hapless buffoon is likely to connect with is the huge boot that is on a collision course with his backside!
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 12/09/2008 16:26
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I thought Labour were the rightwing party.
Soon we'll all have criminal records and they'll need to introduce a star rating system. A one star criminal record will mean you put the rubbish out on the wrong day, whilst five stars means you committed murder.
- Alan In Bow, London, 12/09/2008 16:23
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No - be fair. They do need to connect with Middle (and elsewhere) Britain.
...an election would be a great way of doing just that. Then they can get all warm and fuzzy over the contact they'll have at the hustings.
Or not.
- Rogan, DFW TX, 12/09/2008 16:13
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"People complain about the HRA, but look what wold happen to any government that tried to take it away!"
What, like kick out preachers of hate, deport illegal asylum/economic migrants, remove the so-called rights of criminals.
Tell me Jack, what would happen to any Govt that took away the HRA? Maybe gain the support of the minority, law-abiding and tax-paying electorate?
- Scott, London, 12/09/2008 16:13
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Forget Middle England Jack,as seen by the comments here they have reverted to their usual greed driven nature.Look after your core support because Lord Snooty and co certainly wont.
- Colin, barking essex, 12/09/2008 16:13
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Jack Straw - Labour's Douglas Hurd - and not in a good way!
- David Lewis, Chipping Norton, UK, 12/09/2008 16:12
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Middle Britain would quite like to re-connect with some of its taxes actually, Jack. Not too bothered about connecting with your shower though.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 12/09/2008 15:53
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Further proof - if it is needed - that these idiots do not have any clue whatsoever as to how the Middle Class feel. Liebour always have been, and always will be, the party that wants to destroy this country, it's institutions and it's way of life by deliberately destroying the Middle Class. I hate, loathe and detest Labour - always have done and always wiil do.
- Roger, England, 12/09/2008 15:05
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"Our spending has raised the living standards of middle Britain"
Yeah right.. where's the proof. Our disposable income has been eroded. Where does this cretin gets his data from. "Oh sorry" forgot, it's lost with numerous other databases.
They [Labour] share little in common with the Joe Public. Their nose is too deep in the trough to realise or understand what is going on in the real world.
- Asw, Hong Kong, 12/09/2008 14:56
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Jack Straw must have lost the plot if he thinks that anyone will be as stupid as to vote for Nu Labour ever again!
All Nu Labour M.P.s should start looking a new job, whenever gutless Brown, decides to give it up, and call an election!
- Peter, n1, 12/09/2008 14:44
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I guess the final comment here is proof positive that Jack Straw is clueless about the public mood. Repeal of the Human Rights Act would be slam-dunk winner for any party that advocated it.
- John Punshon, Milton Keynes, England, 12/09/2008 13:36
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"If you have been in power this long then people do blank out many of the good things you have done" like what Jack? Spending does not equal achieving anything. As for the economy then as you are telling us now, it was out of your control!
- Mark, London, 12/09/2008 13:05
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After a decade of arrogantly tax abusing the middle class and absolutely abusing every voter's trust, it's damned insolent and more than just a little bit vacuous to disingenuously pronounce that totally inept McLabour intend to alter this insulting habit, in order to win support and ensure re-election.
I mean it's all a bit too obvious and crass, even for our very own 'artful dodger' Jack Justice, a rogue who has been found to have cynically mislead parliament on at least one occasion over the past few years.
- Dave, cumbria, 12/09/2008 13:03
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Labour have taken an arrogant,distant and selectively deaf approach to any uncomfortable issues that members of the public care to raise, whether eroded public transport being snipped isolating rural communities from their park and ride, local health care or just doing their bit to cut down car use. Bring up something as dangerous as a school contract bus narrowly missed by a train, due to dangerous driving, despite the public and local professionals reporting awful behaviour putting children at risk going back years, also report very poor front line medical care, causing a wide bypass pattern in a community putting terrible strain on other services and undermining the health of a community, and adding further uncessary carbon footprint and labour will very carefully spin complaint out of the way and ignore further. If they paid more attention to basic infrastructure which makes the life of the public easier, they might not lose so many hard won votes, and vital funds might stop leaking rapidly from NHS services.
- Mary Foord-Brown, suffolk coastal, 12/09/2008 12:55
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Hello London,
Reply to Mr Jack Straw M.P.
New Labours plans, what plans you have lost the plot, and thrown the baby out with the bath water?
Just like "SAT NAV" you have sent us all in the wrong direction and "COMMON SENSE" has gone out of the window.
New Labour..New Leader ..Bad Choice we did not vote for this man, and as for a fourth term in office, well I'll eat my hat if you do get in Labour will have to make some smart moves to convince me of voting for them. If they should return to there roots and see why a Labour Party was formed in the first place and come to the aid of many who struggle in life then I might think about it, until then I will hold fire, but remember the pen is mightier than the sword?.
- J.L., Scarborough. N. YKS., 12/09/2008 12:49
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You Mr Straw and Nu-Labour have made the White Working Poor of this country 2nd class citizens. Nu-Lab gave to anybody who wasn't White and divided this country on race, colour and religious grounds. They've unleashed vile murderous groups who think they have a grievance through Multicultural believes. You may not pay the full price personally for the damage you started but we will! Nu-Labour is evil.
- Mike, London, 12/09/2008 12:45
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Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Toooo late mate!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/09/2008 11:43
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Labour have absolutley no chance of connecting with Middle England.
Middle England drives cars - They are taxing them to death and trying to introduce congestion charging in order to fund the poorer parts of society
Middle England works - They are being taxed to death to fund benefits and mass immigration
Middle England is generally white, family orientated and christian - Labour has disregarded these groups for too long.
Middle England looks forward to comfortable retirement - Labour has stolen money from pension schemes to fund the workless.
Middle England get cold in the winter - Labour is offering no help except to the poor under it's new plans.
Straw says "If you have been in power this long then people do blank out many of the good things you have done"
Name one.
Minimum Wage - Doesn't help middle England
Tax Credits - Doesn't help Middle England
Olympics - Doesn't help Middle England
I'm struggling
- M Spanner, Ilford, 12/09/2008 11:38
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if you think middle Britain is likely to vote for you lot think again. Deluded fools.
- Fly, london, 12/09/2008 11:37
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The best way for Labour to 'reconnect with middle-Britain' is to call a general election. Middle-Britain will then demonstrate that how it wants to disconnect from New Labour and all who sail in her.
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 12/09/2008 11:26
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If Mr Straw really wants the middle-class vote, let him prove it. I invite him to cut fuel duty by 50%, repeal RIPA, and abandon the ID cards scheme.
- Clive Allen, Brighton, UK, 12/09/2008 11:21
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