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”
Get Labour Out
"Fact based" Left Foot Forward's Will Straw "clarifies" his comments on Gordon Brown http://bit.ly/4pTUPN Jack Straws son has an oops moment
Get Labour Out
Will Straw on disappointment Gordon Brown "It seems that I did make these comments towards the end of our conversation" http://bit.ly/4pTUPN
Anon E Mouse
Don Quixote – Thanks for the request man – I like you already. OK I’ll break into two parts:
Buffoon – Synonyms: 1. jester, clown, fool. 2. boor.
I’m going on the fact he’s a fool in believing he could be anywhere as good, in popularity or ability as Tony Blair. Most would use the obvious things such as selling the gold off at an almost historic low – (our gold Don, not his) but I go on the overall big picture stuff not nit picking.
On the useless. Where to start…there’s so much. OK.
1. 10p Tax fiasco he got completely wrong.
2. Gurkhas.
3. First of the G8 countries out of recession.
4. The end to boom and bust.
5. Claiming only 13000 would come to the UK from the EU expansion.
6. Claiming ID cards would help fight terrorism.
7. Employing individuals such as Damian McBride to lie and smear people.
8. Claiming he was never considering an election when he was.
9. Stealing £12500 for cleaning (in cash) to his brother for a two bedroomed flat he never lived in.
10. And on and on…
There are just so many to show how often he’s wrong – being wrong means he doesn’t “get” the electorate – Blair did get it – he’s therefore useless.
He cannot even command the respect of all of his cabinet – at least six of them agree with me and want rid of this useless man.
If Brown is in Labour will be out – the Leaders debates will crucify him. As a lifelong Labour supporter (and all my family) I’ll never vote for the party again until that lying idiot is out of power and since the gutless Labour Party won’t get rid of him the electorate will.
Liz McShane
Anon – surely the party is more than just one person…?
Anon E Mouse
Liz – That ceased to be so with the Gordon Brown spin machine which was just as nasty to Labour MP’s as Tories.
On top of getting Derek Draper and Damian McBride to try to lie and smear David Cameron the week his disabled son died and then send Lyam Byrne to claim on Sky News it was effectively a storm in a teacup, who do you think spent years spinning and lying about Tony Blair? Brown’s bullies again.
And David Miliband, who as you know I wouldn’t pay in washers – he’s as useless as his brother – had pictures of himself with a banana to make himself look stupid leaked by the same lot again – Brown and Co.
If people disagree with Brown he kicks desks over and throws mobile phones about – the man doesn’t act in the interests of the Labour Party – if he did he would never have forced Blair out and he would simply resign. he is clearly a selfish man.
People say who would replace him? Anyone I say but this gutless cabinet, six at least who agree with me, couldn’t organise a s**ging party in a brothel and so we drift towards political oblivion.
By defending Brown, people are supporting a truly unpleasant character who was never elected by the members of the party and will only serve to hasten it’s loss at the election.
People on this blog and people I speak to would (fairly) describe me as a critical ranter towards this man and the government and in that description they are correct. But if more people like me stood up and said this is unacceptable behaviour perhaps Brown and Co could have been stopped.
I know at the party conference they arrested Walter Wolfgang, an 86 year old lifelong party member because he heckled Jack Straw (I don’t blame Straw in any way for that) and the police used the Terrorism Act and that should have been condemned instantly by the party. An immediate meeting should have been sought and someone should have been sacked but they weren’t.
It’s simply too late for this lot I’m afraid and as I said before if 350 members of the Labour Party won’t get rid of him the electorate will…