I gave an interview to the Evening Standard last week which is in today’s paper. Generally it’s a fair piece and reflects my views on Iraq (articulated previously on this blog) and other issues.
But one line that I took issue with was where the article says:
“Gordon Brown and Tony Blair have been a huge disappointment and let down the Labour Party,” he believes.
As readers of Left Foot Forward will know, I have been a defender of Gordon Brown and believe that the recent attempted coup against him was a mistake.
I have spoken to the writer of the article, David Cohen, and we shared our notes on the interview. It seems that I did make these comments towards the end of our conversation in the context of a wider discussion about Labour’s organisation (a topic on which I have co-edited a book) and some specific policy areas including the Government’s timidity in relation to the City and the lack of progress in tackling inequality – themes on which I regularly write.
I also mentioned earlier in the interview that, like others, I was disappointed by the lack of progress on constitutional reform under Gordon Brown. But I also noted that Brown had been buffeted by an economic and a political crisis not of his making. I want to reiterate here that, aside from these points, I do not regard Gordon Brown to have been a disappointment or to have let down the Labour party.
In relation to Blair, we discussed a number of issues where I praised his record as Prime Minister including some covered in the piece such as his record on education and health.
It is also worth noting that the article implies I have more strategic vision than is actually the case:
So it is fascinating that he should have picked this moment, as his 63-year-old father prepares to give evidence on Thursday to the Chilcot inquiry, to speak his mind and put clear water between the party that his dad represents and the new generation of young Left-wing progressives who, like him, are disenchanted with its direction.
David Cohen made the initial contact and the date was suggested by him.
I understand why the article has been written in the way that it has and have not sought a correction on the Evening Standard’s pages. But I thought some context would be helpful.
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17 Responses to “Evening Standard interview: a clarification”
Anon E Mouse
Will Straw – There’s hope for you yet young man. (Disagree on Blair though – he was a winner). If you really believed the article was wrong you’d have got a correction.
Go on Will you can tell us – it’ll go no further – are you disenchanted by this useless government’s direction or not? If not, why not?
And for goodness sake man, you’re on the wrong side of the curve where that useless buffoon Brown is concerned.
To say “I do not regard Gordon Brown to have been a disappointment or to have let down the Labour party” is just bonkers.
He will destroy the Labour vote at the election and your loyalty is simply misplaced. Six months from now you will not be thanked by any Labour supporters for this opinion. Get as much clear blue water between yourself and this government as soon as you can.
Then all you have to do is straighten yourself out on this climate change nonsense and in the future you may be electable as an MP…
sarah
Great interview Will. I never realsed until now that you are Jack Straw’s son. Wow! Let’s all hope this blog continues to grow and to allow you to be recognised by more people for your own talents.
Don Quixote
Honestly… It’s very easy to call Gordon Brown a “useless buffoon”, but in the spirit of evidence-based blogging, would you care to back up this point with an example of useless buffoonery? Or would you prefer to stick with your empty ad hominem attack?
I shall grant that Gordon Brown’s premiership hasn’t been ideal, but to suggest someone else wouldn’t have faced the difficulties he’s faced is naïve to say the least.
Mr Straw, if you felt it necessary to post this clarification on Left Foot Forward, why not seek a correction? You’d be much more likely to reach the people who will have actually read the interview and been misinformed by it in the first place… to be honest, I doubt there’d be many habitual Evening Post Readers active on a left-of-centre blog.
Michael
Oh, I don’t know, I read the interview in the Standard and was interested enough to come here and have a look around. Don’t underestimate the promotional power of a free newspaper I guess! Look forwards to reading more from you.
Will Straw
Michael – Welcome to Left Foot Forward. I hope you enjoy the content and keep coming back.
Don – Thanks for your comment. I felt the quote didn’t require a correction – just a clarification since some remarks in what was a long interview were taken out of context and made to look more powerful than they really were.
Sarah – Thanks. Glad you liked it!
Anon – You know my thoughts on Brown and I wouldn’t want to be accused of blowing in the wind! Thanks, as ever, for the comment.