Blair warns Starmer of ‘Long Corbyn’. What about Long Blair?
The Times (12th February) reports that Tony Blair had discussion with Keir Starmer at the recent Davos gathering of some of the world’s wealthiest people, or at least their bag carriers. He warned Starmer of the dangers of ‘Long Corbyn’, the influence of the left in the Labour Party and the problems this might cause in his view for a Labour Election victory. He also reportedly opined that he wished he had dealt with the Corbyn issue when he was leader, an impressive piece of post-hoc rationalisation.
There are several ways this can be looked at. Firstly that thousands of those on the left have departed the Labour Party disillusioned with Starmer’s Great Moving Right Show. There is still of course a Labour left, fighting on for progressive policies. I tend to think the struggle in workplaces and communities rather than committee rooms is where we should be, but people make their own choice.
Secondly it might be argued that actually Starmer’s popularity is due to the failings of the Tories rather than the appeal of his own policies- some of which to be fair, for example on climate, are prudent. The policies of the left for example on energy are more popular than Starmer’s alternative, so thinking that Long Corbyn (if such a construct exists) is an electoral liability may be wide of the mark.
These matters can be debated but what definitely exists is Long Blair. 15th February is the 20th anniversary of what remains the largest ever protest march in British history, against war in Iraq. Blair joined Bush in supporting that illegal war and has never been held properly to account for it.
His intervention on Long Corbyn underlines that he and others remain active promoting the New Labour approach of a generation ago to the current Labour leadership. It won three Elections certainly but in doing so created the situation where Labour has yet to win one since. Long Blair needs to be grappled with
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