David Miliband Turns On His Brother

[jim360]

Well, obviously.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32697212

I wouldn't want to be at the Miliband's family Christmas this year.

[Old_Geezer]

Mandelson was always a New Labour Blairite. You'd expect him to support Tory-like policies, so what he says proves little with regards to left wing viewpoints. His view is to be expected anyway. Public opinion changes over time, one viewpoint is in ascendancy at one time, another at another time.

[jim360]

If indeed the reason for the Labour party's existence has gone, then that's not a good thing really. It's important to have two parties with a legitimate chance of winning an election, as it ought to drive both towards the centre ground. If Labour is dead or dying, and the Lib Dems are dead already, and the Greens are irrelevant (and too far left anyway) ... who will take up the mantle of a left-of-centre party in future?

[ichkeria]

Indeed so, old geezer
In 1992 people were saying that Labour might never win power again (indeed some said it of the Tories in 1997)

The Tories need to be careful in turn that they do not turn into the "old people's party" like UKIP

[joggerjayne]

That rather proves my point, OG.

Peter Mandelson supports Tory policies, and Tory principles.

So, why not ... support the Tories?

Is it because there is one big difference between the Tories and New Labour ...
... Integrity.

The Tories are open about what they stand for.

New Labour tried to create an illusion of standing for something else, while actively adopting any Tory policies that would keep them in power.

And that's what Mandelson wants to do again ... recreate the old illusion, in the hope of pulling the wool over our eyes again. He knows that Labour's path back to power is to con the gullible.

[ludwig]

// who will take up the mantle of a left-of-centre party in future? //

There won't be one jim. It'll be like in America, where you've got two right of centre parties, one slightly nearer the centre than the other one. That is a definite possibility, if we're not there already.

When I was growing up socialism was talked about as a serious political movement. At the election just gone, any party with 'socialism' in the title got about 26 votes (less than the 'vote Elmo' or 'beer, baccy and scratchings' parties) and lost their deposit.

[Hypognosis]

//who will take up the mantle of a left-of-centre party in future?//

Give or take that I'm clueless as to what the historical lot stood for,
how about rebooting the Whig party?