In the run up to a general election traditional wisdom says that the Opposition party needs to be well ahead in the opinion polls in order to stand a chance of winning. Labour, in the lead for most of this Parliament, is now falling back to near level to, and in some polls behind, the Tories. This could have a bad effect on May 22 and foretell calamity for the party a year later. That is if nothing is done. What should Labour do?
Labour’s problem is very big, yet very simple. Ed Milliband has been a surprisingly good Leader of the Opposition and Labour has been effective in challenging the government, often making the political weather to the discomfort, and sometimes the confusion, of the Coalition. The time is now arriving when it is not about opposition that voters are thinking; they are now focused on choosing a government. It is here that Labour has a big black hole.
There is no inspiring narrative, no mission, no dream, no promise, no uplifting cry to stir the heart and give hope. There are a string of issues and a lot of fussy details of how Labour would make things better by tinkering here and there without doing anything big. What Labour presents is a party which is rather good at opposition where it can shine, but which is not yet ready to provide credible and reliable government. Ed Balls as Chancellor? Ed Milliband as Prime Minister? Well er…..
Simply put the two Ed’s have work to do. First the one has to sack the other.