Jack Straw has announced his resignation from frontbench politics. The usual reasons are given: Labour needs a “fresh start” and “I want the freedom to range more widely over foreign and economic policy”. These reasons, despite sounding like they’re from a diplomatic quote index, cannot really be argued with. However, I can’t help thinking that Straw is signalling the end of his active political career.
Another former Labour minister Alan Johnson seems to share the same nostalgic rhetoric. In an interview with the Saturday Times he describes why he didn’t stand for Labour leader: “It’s true that the candidates all come from a certain mould. It’s the same mould that Cameron and Clegg come from.”
Now, these two wizened MPs could be hinting at a combination of two things. Firstly, that to compete in current politics you have to have young, “fresh” blood ala Cameron and Clegg (the Milis, Balls, Burnham…). Or, secondly, that Labour cannot progress if it is tainted by human reminders of Labour’s legacy –Brown’s premiership and the Iraq war.
Given that the current leadership cabinet, minus Dianne Abbott, are all mixed up in Labour’s recent history I am swayed into believing that it is the former: that they are stepping aside for younger models.
However, it is very hard to make the transition from cabinet minister to being a successful backbencher. In fact, many ex-cabinet ministers have ended up stepping down as soon as they reach the next election (those of note who haven’t are David Blunkett and Patricia Hewitt).
You only have to look at another cabinet-retiree to see where Straw may be headed. Gordon Brown is currently retired in all but name – he makes such rare appearances at Westminster that Guido has a ‘Where’s Gordon?’ feature. The reason he has practically turned into a hermit is because he is churning out 10,000 words a day for his memoirs. How he can represent his constituents and his country with that output is unfathomable.
So what’s Jack Straw’s first act since his announcement? (Cue alarm bells) He’s writing his memoirs…
I expect there’ll be a few less Labour grandees at the next election.
To “compete in current politics you have to have young, “fresh” blood ala Cameron and Clegg (the Milis, Balls, Burnham…)”
Leaving Andy Burnham aside, D. Miliband was head of Blair’s Policy Unit from 1997 onwards and his brother and Ed Balls have performed the same functions for Brown for much the same length of time. Up to their necks in all the worst bits of the last 13 years. To say nothing of the whole defending torture thing. Where is the ‘freshness’ here? Johnson’s rhetoric is exactly that – rhetoric.
I completely agree. I was saying the two implications of their language and, if you read it again, I then said that considering the Milis, Burnham and Balls are tied up in that legacy it can’t be an excuse.
I was making your point.
Nice mention of extraordinary rendition and torture though. Agree.
“Leaving Andy Burnham aside, D. Miliband was head of Blair’s Policy Unit from 1997 onwards and his brother and Ed Balls have performed the same functions for Brown for much the same length of time. Up to their necks in all the worst bits of the last 13 years.”
So who should we look to? Brand new people who have had no experience of the party or politics? Even Burnham was a SpAd. I’d suggest that someone who helped write the 1997 manifesto that crushed the Tories into a 13-year opposition whilst heading up the policy unit for one of the most progressive Prime Ministers in history isn’t a bad shout. I agree with AJ: quite why the man who never lost an election is considered toxic I don’t know. Unless you fancy 18-years in Opposition, I say we go with the experienced, respected and well-known people in the party who the general public will be more likely to vote into power.
As for Jack Straw, I thought he made it quite clear that he wouldn’t be standing down because his constituents still want him there.
Good blog, quite agree. Although the bit about GB isn’t quite accurate. He’s very much functioning as a very good local MP and doing a lot for his constituency (as proven in his only post GE interview in the Independent) albeit from his office, and not in Westminster.
He’s writing 10,000 words a day and has rarely been out. But, if I give you that he’s being a good local MP, what about the fact that he’s not turned up to votes/ debates/ or more os Parliamentary business?
Oh and, I’m glad you agree!