Miliband for change

Yesterday Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Miliband urged his party to ‘Stop feeling sorry for itself” and change in a letter to the Guardian newspaper. This came within hours of the Leader of the House, the Rt Hon Harriet Harman MP’s denial of starting a leadership bid and several Labour MP publically calling for a change of leadership.

Miliband started his letter reflecting on the aftermath of Labour’s third successive defeat at the 1959 election and a pamphlet produced shortly after entitled “Must Labour lose?”. According to Mr Miliband “Today, the temptation is similar fatalism”. He accepts that the odds are stacked against a Labour victory at the next general election, and suggests that the party can turn things around to beat the electoral odds and win a 4th term, by offering real change.

“New Labour won three elections by offering real change – not just in policy but in the way we do politics. We must do so again.”

In his letter to the Guardian, David Miliband addresses the problems the government is now facing and calls for change. ‘Change’ is a keyword in Mr Miliband’s letter just as it is Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. However, David Miliband MP is not running for office and insists his letter was written to unite his party rather than for personal gain. Despite his claims there is still much speculation around the intentions of Mr Miliband’s letter. Is this Miliband’s own personal vision for Labour’s future and the start of his leadership bid?

David Miliband viewed as a potential forerunner to succeed Gordon Brown if he resigns, urged Labour to be more humble about their failings but more compelling about their achievements. He mentioned a series of Labour’s shortcomings, things he believes the government should have done in hindsight – such as reforming the NHS sooner and making more efficient plans on winning peace in Iraq. However, could this be interpreted as his own personal manifesto? Is he agenda setting for his own Premiership?

Regardless of his agenda, I believe Mr Miliband has raised some very good points. The Foreign Secretary concludes his letter, “So let’s stop feeling sorry for ourselves, enjoy a break and then find the confidence to make our case afresh”. We’ll have to wait until the autumn to see if his advice is taken on board.

By Danielle Thomas