This article about Gordon Brown’s speech to the Labour Party conference appeared in the Guardian’s Comment web-site and there was a small extract in the paper dated 24 September 2008. It should be read in the context of other articles on Brown.
Brown's speech: Powerful stuff
23 September 2008
Gordon Brown issued a powerful plea for the importance of government in his conference speech. It marked an end to the long era in which government was marked down, politicians were embarrassed to speak about it and behaved as if holding office was just an interim pastime before making serious money in memoirs, speeches or directorships.
In contrast to the millionaires' row shadow cabinet front bench – the biggest collection of wealthy people outside Mayfair hedge funds – Brown invited Labour to remake the case for government. In contrast to the isolationist Tory philosophy with its visceral hostility to Europe, he delivered a speech in which the words global and international appeared more than in any prime minister's speech in years.
Tony Blair loftily sailed above the opposition as the Tories provided little or none of it. Brown does not have that luxury – not just because the Conservatives are now a serious opposition, but because the PM's policies, from tax to public sector pay, have taken daily criticism from some trade union leaders, as well as a 1980s left grouped around Compass and its affiliated MPs.
Brown therefore sought to take the battle to the Conservatives. Did George Osborne really say that in the midst of a financial crisis "it's a function of financial markets that people make loads of money out of the misery of others"? Brown quoted the shadow chancellor, and a prime minister has to be hyper-accurate in what he says, so this extraordinary quote from Osborne should be more widely known. Indeed, some media investigation into top Tories and their links to speculators and the bonus-greed that has wreaked havoc is long overdue.
Since the end of July Labour has turned in on itself, beginning with the venom against David Miliband after his appeal for Labour to attack the Conservatives in his Guardian article. It got worse at the TUC when union leaders attacked a Labour government and Brown's policies with a venom that was never brought into play against Cameron.
It is 35 years since I first came to a Labour conference as a young delegate. The conference is a bubble moment disconnected from reality. But Brown's speech had a sharper political edge. He was right to mention the threat of the BNP, who may win seats to the European parliament next June on the back of the steady anti-EU culture developed by the Tories and the anti-EU press. As chilly economic winds blow through the labour market, as credit and orders dry up and firms shed jobs to balance their books, it may not be enough to invoke Labour's proud job creation record. Instead we need a thorough analysis of the new immaterial capitalism and what rules are needed to guard it from its self-destructive tendencies. There are specific proposals coming from socialists and Labour MEPs in the European parliament, which Britain should support. Brown could embarrass the Tories by being a leader in Europe: so often Whitehall has led the way in resisting progressive European cooperation.
There were name checks for nearly every cabinet and some junior ministers, which suggests the idea of a team working together. But Labour and Brown have to work against a European wide turn-off from centre left and social democratic politics. The long era of relatively benign capitalism is over. Hard working families and hard working individuals – with a third of Britain in single households, it is odd that they never get a mention – feel their purchasing power is under threat as never before. To suggest higher taxes, which would further reduce the purchasing power of households, is a one-way ticket to oblivion for Labour.
Brown was right to stress Labour's NHS record and the pledge of free check-ups for all over-40s. That should start with MPs going to local hospitals in front of the media to encourage everyone to understand the importance of taking responsibility for their own health.
Brown insisted that Labour remained pro-business, and he was right to praise the one million firms that generate our national wealth. If Labour shrinks to its comfort zone as defined by Brown's left critics we will please ourselves with our own rhetoric but leave 75% of the electorate unmoved.
Next week we shall see a Tory party of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. The week after, parliament returns from recess and normal politics will resume. If Labour can concentrate our fire on the Tories instead of attacking each other, things might start to get better. They cannot get much worse.
In contrast to the millionaires' row shadow cabinet front bench – the biggest collection of wealthy people outside Mayfair hedge funds – Brown invited Labour to remake the case for government. In contrast to the isolationist Tory philosophy with its visceral hostility to Europe, he delivered a speech in which the words global and international appeared more than in any prime minister's speech in years.
Tony Blair loftily sailed above the opposition as the Tories provided little or none of it. Brown does not have that luxury – not just because the Conservatives are now a serious opposition, but because the PM's policies, from tax to public sector pay, have taken daily criticism from some trade union leaders, as well as a 1980s left grouped around Compass and its affiliated MPs.
Brown therefore sought to take the battle to the Conservatives. Did George Osborne really say that in the midst of a financial crisis "it's a function of financial markets that people make loads of money out of the misery of others"? Brown quoted the shadow chancellor, and a prime minister has to be hyper-accurate in what he says, so this extraordinary quote from Osborne should be more widely known. Indeed, some media investigation into top Tories and their links to speculators and the bonus-greed that has wreaked havoc is long overdue.
Since the end of July Labour has turned in on itself, beginning with the venom against David Miliband after his appeal for Labour to attack the Conservatives in his Guardian article. It got worse at the TUC when union leaders attacked a Labour government and Brown's policies with a venom that was never brought into play against Cameron.
It is 35 years since I first came to a Labour conference as a young delegate. The conference is a bubble moment disconnected from reality. But Brown's speech had a sharper political edge. He was right to mention the threat of the BNP, who may win seats to the European parliament next June on the back of the steady anti-EU culture developed by the Tories and the anti-EU press. As chilly economic winds blow through the labour market, as credit and orders dry up and firms shed jobs to balance their books, it may not be enough to invoke Labour's proud job creation record. Instead we need a thorough analysis of the new immaterial capitalism and what rules are needed to guard it from its self-destructive tendencies. There are specific proposals coming from socialists and Labour MEPs in the European parliament, which Britain should support. Brown could embarrass the Tories by being a leader in Europe: so often Whitehall has led the way in resisting progressive European cooperation.
There were name checks for nearly every cabinet and some junior ministers, which suggests the idea of a team working together. But Labour and Brown have to work against a European wide turn-off from centre left and social democratic politics. The long era of relatively benign capitalism is over. Hard working families and hard working individuals – with a third of Britain in single households, it is odd that they never get a mention – feel their purchasing power is under threat as never before. To suggest higher taxes, which would further reduce the purchasing power of households, is a one-way ticket to oblivion for Labour.
Brown was right to stress Labour's NHS record and the pledge of free check-ups for all over-40s. That should start with MPs going to local hospitals in front of the media to encourage everyone to understand the importance of taking responsibility for their own health.
Brown insisted that Labour remained pro-business, and he was right to praise the one million firms that generate our national wealth. If Labour shrinks to its comfort zone as defined by Brown's left critics we will please ourselves with our own rhetoric but leave 75% of the electorate unmoved.
Next week we shall see a Tory party of the rich, by the rich, for the rich. The week after, parliament returns from recess and normal politics will resume. If Labour can concentrate our fire on the Tories instead of attacking each other, things might start to get better. They cannot get much worse.