Peter Mandelson lambasts ‘anti–immigrant, Europhobic’ Blue Labour

Former business secretary attacks proposed dialogue with EDL and ‘misplaced, romantic ideas about turning back the clock’ Lord Mandelson has dealt the troubled Blue Labour movement another blow when the architect of New Labour said it beggared belief that the movement proposed a dialogue with the English Defence League (EDL) as a way of connecting with the concerns of young people in Britain. In a remarkably strong intervention, Mandelson, the former business secretary, said Blue Labour was attempting to fill a vacuum created by the killing off of his creation. Speaking to the Guardian, he said Labour needed a vision for the future but that it “is not going to come from the sort of populist, anti–immigrant, Europhobic, anti–globalisation language used by Blue Labour”. In an implicit criticism of Ed Miliband, he said: “The problem with killing off New Labour and putting nothing in its place is that it leads us to clutch at straws and grab at any passing sentiment. This is what has happened with Blue Labour which seeks to reconnect the party with its old, postwar, apparently white and male, industrial working-class base. These people have moved on, to other jobs, to other aspirations and, in the main, to an entirely different identity.” Miliband has been interested in the ideas of Blue Labour, at least as a discussion opening up new terrain, and ennobled Maurice Glasman, its chief thinker, in recognition of his work last year. Blue Labour puts forward a collection of controversial ideas focusing on community organisaton, conservatism, worker co-determination and nationalism. Mandelson has been careful in recent days to praise Miliband for earning a hearing over his bravery in taking on Rupert Murdoch, but said he had not yet replaced New Labour with anything coherent. He does not reject Blue Labour outright but appears to fear that Miliband might be willing to make its thinking central to his own policies. “Blue Labour’s platform of ‘faith, family and the flag’ lacks economic content – by far the biggest challenge facing the country – and its romantic ideas about working class people turning back the clock is misplaced,” he said. “Labour’s people live in the real world and, above all, want secure, well-paid employment and a safe future for their children which is why more activist growth and industrial policies are needed. And however important it is to address the economic concerns of young people attracted to the English Defence League, the idea that we should reconnect by entering a dialogue with this organisation beggars belief.” Lord Glasman became embroiled in controversy in April when he said Labour should have a dialogue with EDL supporters, later admitting it was a mistake because it was interpreted as showing sympathy for their views. The EDL is currently under the spotlight because of alleged contacts between members of the organisation and Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian mass killer. Lord Mandelson, who has admitted New Labour did not do enough to nurture an active industrial policy in government, is leading a review of globalisation on behalf of the left-of-centre thinktank, the IPPR. In a speech marking out current Labour thinking on industrial policy, the shadow business secretary, John Denham, said his party will back the concept of nurturing the “good company”, defined as a business that is committed to long-term investment, nurturing supply chains and good working practices. He said: “There is too little policy certainty to encourage long-term investment, and no vision of a better balanced and resilient economy. The emphasis is on making work less secure and less well rewarded. Investment in skills is being reduced. Consumer rights and protection are being eroded.” Peter Mandelson Labour Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 26, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.