Yesterday was an important staging post for Operation Fightback. Gordon Brown had to show real leadership and lay out a vision for a progressive Britain that would inspire rank and file members and supporters. A vision that would persuade them to come out and fight for the Party and for Britain. He also had to talk to the country and tell them that their futures were safe in his hands. To convince a sceptical public that he has the experience, knowledge and judgement to make the right choices in the midst of global turmoil. Also that he has the vision, drive, new ideas and energy to renew the Government after 12 years in office. This was a lot to accomplish in one speech, perhaps too much to hope for. It started well in the morning with Alan Johnson and Jack Straw talking about a campaign based on Labour’s record in office, our vision for the future and on our unity of purpose. The context was crime and disorder but the key messages were generic. Then came the Leader’s speech at about 2.15. You could feel a collective will amongst the delegates for him to do well, to wow the conference. There was some meaty stuff in the speech; disqualifying negligent bankers; a greater role for Post Offices delivering banking services in the heart of communities; a Fiscal Responsibility Act that will reduce the public debt by a half in 4 years whilst protecting frontline services; 0.7% of GDP in aid to developing countries enshrined in law; Family Intervention Projects; Earnings link for pensions; abolishing the hereditary principle in the House of Lords; a referendum on the voting system; a new national care service and so on. He also talked about taking the tough choices in Government, the choices of real consequence, and contrasted it with the outdated and discredited laissez faire approach of the Tories. The speech was about thinking big, and about fighting hard if we want the chance to change the world – “to reach for the world that can be”. This was not a Blair speech, it was not the beautiful speeches of old. But perhaps that is the right thing to do, after all you campaign in poetry but you govern in prose. Perhaps this really was the speech of a Party in Government seeking a fourth term. Will it inspire the Party faithful? I hope so - there was a lot in it. Will it persuade the public to vote Labour in May? Probably not on its own, but it may help to restore a bit of momentum to the Party and the Government – not a bad day’s work all round. Perhaps the fightback really has started.
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