Purnell starts building his leadership platform
Fraser Nelson 10:47am
Since I hailed James Purnell as a possible Labour leader just over a year ago , CoffeeHousers have been, to put it politely, unconvinced. But pick up The Guardian today, and I tell you: my boy's on track. He has given an interview to Allegra Stratton which puts him squarely in the frame to be Labour's leader-after-next. She came away thinking that he'll "probably never stand to be leader," but my impression is different. I mean, he tells her that he decided to quit the government while sitting "on a park bench on a former council estate in his constituency". Note, not at Eat (where he'd always nip out for drinkable coffee while at the DWP), not at one of his favourite Soho restaurants. His Newtonian apple drops while he's sitting on a park bench in a touched-up Manchester scheme. Classic. Ms Stratton gives her take-home points from her interview here - including quotes not in the longer piece. My take below:
1. His first interview to The Guardian. His first ministerial interview was with The Spectator - a smart move for someone wanting to reach out to those of us on the fair-and-balanced right. But Purnell's target constituency is now on what I call the sane left. Those who openly recognise Brown is an unalloyed disaster, but don't think a lurch to the left is a solution.
2. Beyond Blair. Purnell's problem is that he is regarded as an orphaned Blairite. This irritates people like him: they don't want the Labour Party to be like Blake's Seven after Blake died. So what do they say? Purnell has an answer.
3. David Miliband. He'll back David Miliband this time around just as he pledged to if Milipede had the bottle to stand the last two times. Which he didn't. He heaps praise on Miliband all the way through, though we have all seen which of these two has the raw nerve needed to be Prime Minister.
4. Blair was so 1994. "All those Blairite, New Labour labels ... for me, it's a bit like Britpop – I feel nostalgic for it, it was absolutely right for its time but that time was 1994. It's a very different feeling being 12 years into government from the idealism of the start, but we need to recapture that idealism, not by living in the past or by aping New Labour or just sticking to the old tunes. We need to open up New Labour, reinvent it and then eventually move beyond it." I wonder whether, in framing this answer, he has John Dower's 2003 film Live Forever in his mind - it makes much the same point.
5. Demos. The think-tank will be his John Smith Institute. Except trendier. He says of Demos: "We're going to go through Labour values, match them to what we've done and then identify challenges and then organise a team around those challenges." So Demos will become Electable Labour In Exile.
6. But he's still stuck in that 1994 cul de sac of "Market Socialism". "It's not a phrase that is ever going to inspire a political movement but it does capture a lot of what I believe – that markets are a good means to spread power and create innovation but they can be yoked to leftwing goals and not to capitalism." This is a well-worn staging post on people's journey to conservatism. If he does enough research at Demos, he'll come to realise that "leftwing goals" -ie, fairness, poverty reduction, etc - can never be achieved by leftwing means. This is the great tragedy of leftism: all that energy expended by all those well-meaning people, all wasted. Such goals are best achieved by capitalism. Ask China. Or Korea.
7. Labour's schools policy. He says New Labour became "too small-c conservative" on schools policy - but he doesn't say much more. A shame, I could have heard him get stuck in. If he had taken over at education, I suspect Gove would have had far more of of a run for his money.
8. He's going to die wearing a wristband. Or, as Stratton puts it, "The white rubber wristband he wears he says he will keep wearing until the UK hits its target to spend 0.7% of GDP on international aid".
9. Kill Cam. "The way I feel at the moment is it's pretty unlikely I'll want to go back into frontline politics," he says. Quite right. He needs to go away and train. Like The Bride in Kill Bill Vol. 1, and come back, sword aloft, duelling with Cameron in 2014. The question is whether the Labour Party has by then been sold for scrap to the unions, and will be in any fit state to accept a leader that could win elections.
10. What he doesn't say. His seat is vulnerable at the next election yet there was none of the Blears' style "spending more time with my constituents" stuff. Just Demos, Demos and Demos. If he loses his seat, I'd recommend he then spends some time teaching in some tough comprehensive: his leadership credentials lack that real-world experience. Demos is no substitute, either.
11. Yes, he was offered Ed Balls' job. I told you so on the night of the election, and Stratton confirms in her interview - he was offered health and education, and chose education. Then chose to quit. And, in so doing, forced Brown to row back - and saved us from having debt-concealing, tricksy old Balls at the Treasury. For that, he has our thanks.
12. One final thing. Purnell starts off his interview saying "you can't go far wrong with the truth" and finishes advising Brown to offer a new job within a year to everyone who is laid off. Purnell will know better than most that those jobs don't exist - the number of vacancies is falling off a cliff. As this is my penultimate post before my summer holidays, CoffeeHousers may indulge me in a graph showing just this:
Previous
oldtimer
July 18th, 2009 11:25am Report this commentThe Left used to want to bury capitalism - indeed some on the Left still do. That will never work. I would add India to your examples of China and Korea.
With Blair/Brown the thesis changed - support the capitalist goose, but pluck it to within an inch of its life. Hence the unrelenting series of stealth taxes from Brown. This has not worked either - as we all know and can see to our cost. The idea that he can and will remake "market socialism" sounds like a bad joke to me. He needs to get out into the real world.
Laughing Larry
July 18th, 2009 12:01pm Report this commentIt is interesting how he relates his story to Britpop (Oasis & Blur). These bands were lapped up by soft rock fans. The sound was pretty predictable and fatuous.
The cutting edge at that time was Trance & Minimal. Music that is experimental and cutting edge. Soulful and deep. It looked to the future to create new musical space. Britpop was backward looking and boring. It lacked invention, it was a dead end.
New Labour does equate to Britpop.
Question is, did the Tories tune into Trance & Minimal?
Super Ville
July 18th, 2009 12:13pm Report this commentThe interviewer mentions that his sideburns are back to their former luxuriant glory - this must be a Good Thing.
New NuLab = The New Hairy.
Must be time for the summer break.
JohnAnt
July 18th, 2009 12:18pm Report this comment""leftwing goals" -ie, fairness, poverty reduction, etc - can never be achieved by leftwing means. This is the great tragedy of leftism: all that energy expended by all those well-meaning people, all wasted. Such goals are best achieved by capitalism."
Good point Fraser. The problem with the Tories - particularly this lot - is that they start from their moneyed nests (families, in-laws, perks) and spend their energy working out how to feather and protect the same.
Major was the last social Tory, but his instinct wasn't backed by know-how.
Matthew Blott
July 18th, 2009 12:23pm Report this commentA good breakdown of the interview, although being of the left myself I'd prefer it if the Spectator wasn't so enthusiastic for Mr Purnell as he is also my choice for Labour leader.
You're spot on about his leadership ambitions though - the "council estate" quote jumped out at me. And his suggestion that he'd probably (note "probably") finished with frontline politics has one thinking, yeah right. It's a statement - I'm not running for the leadership at the moment, I'm clearing the decks for now and am going away but I was right and I'm one to watch out for in the future.
HFC
July 18th, 2009 12:26pm Report this commentA smug self-satisfied product of self-promotion after serving no time at all in the real world. Never done a day's work in his life other than for political gain. Has form in the recent expenses exposures.
Wikipedia entry refers:
Expenses scandal
In 2009, Purnell was one of many MPs involved in a political scandal following the disclosure of expenses of Members of the United Kingdom Parliament. Purnell told the parliamentary authorities that his main home was in Manchester and claimed the "second home" allowance for his flat in London. In October 2004, Purnell sold his London flat but told HM Revenue and Customs it was his "principal home", not his "second home". A spokesman on behalf of Purnell said that "Any allegation that James avoided capital gains tax is completely untrue. When he bought his constituency home, the sale of his London flat fell through, but it was sold within the period that HMRC continue to treat it as not being liable for CGT ... This would have been true for any taxpayer – there was no special treatment". Also in 2004 Purnell claimed £395 for an accountant's bill which included "tax advice provided in October 2004 regarding sale of flat".
Whilst renting a flat between 2004 and 2006 Purnell claimed £100 a month for cleaning expenses and £586 for repairs. At the end of the lease the landlord kept the £2,520 deposit, claiming the flat to have been in a poor state. A spokesman for Purnell stated: "James felt frustrated that the landlord refused to return the deposit. He initially pursued the matter through legal channels but let it rest as the costs of fighting it further would far outweigh recouping the deposit". Allegation were made by a Sunday newspaper that Purnell claimed more than £1,500 pounds a month rent for the flat although he was half of the £1,820 a month rent and his fiancée was paying the rest. A spokesman for Purnell said "Despite being entitled to claim in full for the whole rental cost incurred by him and his partner, James claimed less than the amount he himself spent. The rules of the House of Commons make it clear that an MP is entitled to be reimbursed for the rent or mortgage paid by the MP and their partner. Nevertheless, James went out of his way to ensure overall he claimed less for accommodation than he himself paid". Purnell also claimed £247 for 3,000 fridge magnets.
God save us from devious shits.
Jono Pike
July 18th, 2009 12:35pm Report this commentWhen using graphs, please only use a single y axis on the left. Statistics do not need to be sexed up.
mitch
July 18th, 2009 1:01pm Report this commentYet another professional MP who has a head full of silly ideas.He should go get a real job and see how the world works before he tries to change it, he may realise its him that's wrong not the world.
A lesson brown is still not learning and now its too late.
TGF UKIP
July 18th, 2009 2:48pm Report this commentFraser, nowt to do with this, though I don't doubt it is of great interest to the Village.
I heard you on WiW this morning, with your mates Richards and Grice, re-iterating at one point your scepticism on "climate change."
What I and, I would guess, many other Coffee Housers would like to see such an influential journo as you relentlessly addressing is the massive democratic deficit there is on this issue.
It is one of the great issues of our time and while there is massive and well founded scepticism the Greens go entirely unchallenged. Billions of pounds of taxpayers money is being expended, countless businesses damaged, our lives made more uncomfortable and inconvenient at every turn and the bullying propaganda (particularly at the young) is relentless and ubiquitous yet not only does no politico say a dicky bird but no journo calls attention to this distortion of democracy.
I can understand why the jellies at Westminster are cowed and silent (though I suspect there is great kudos awaiting the first to say the emperor has no clothes) but what I can't understand is why a sceptic like you with a pulpit like yours joins in the conspiracy of virtual silence. I would also suggest that it is a matter of greater import than the career of soon to be ex MP Purnell.
And now having gotten that off my chest, I want to take issue with you for the mean and nasty snide little comment in your Screws column last week about the George W library. I really didn't expect finding you to be a bedfellow of Sweetie Duncan on the Democrat loving wing of the Tory Party. I suppose as a celeb yourself though ........!
IH
July 18th, 2009 3:56pm Report this commentFraser - what do you see in him ?
"sitting on a park bench on a former council estate"
I don't beleive a word of it!
I don't see this man as a future leader of the Labour party - no stature - gurney face - too short and dare I say it, a bit lispy - on seconds thoughts he could be good!
I also remember the state he left that flat in - disgusting
Mister Christian
July 18th, 2009 4:36pm Report this commentThe wristband thing is utterly vacuous. Who is impressed by this kind of thing? Teenagers, one supposes. But teenagers below the voting age...
The school thing is interesting, especially the faith school aspect which is expanded on at http://moralorder.mediumisthemess.com/blog
Shame noone will ever get these guys to talk about Grammar schools. Worst thing Labour (and tories) ever did. They wouldn't have needed academies if they had kept the grammars
King Tut
July 18th, 2009 6:37pm Report this commentJono
you're absolutely right. on the same Y axis the two lines don't cross..... given the current levels of numeracy its important to be clear and not play silly buggers with numbers. that's a NuLab trick and we want none of it here!
David Ossitt
July 18th, 2009 7:38pm Report this comment"Since I hailed James Purnell as a possible Labour leader just over a year ago , CoffeeHousers have been, to put it politely, unconvinced. But pick up The Guardian today, and I tell you: my boy's on track"
With his curled twisted top lip and side-burns far too long he has the look of a market trader or a mock-auction conman.
It is a sad fact that Blair, Brown and the reptile Mandelson have reduced a once great party to the position where it is now having to choose a leader from a small selection of third and fourth rate minds.
Ken
July 18th, 2009 8:19pm Report this commentTGF UKIP take a look at this to see why the Climate Change Racket has a democratic deficit:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/29127316/the_great_american_bubble_machine
TGF UKIP
July 18th, 2009 11:25pm Report this commentKen, many thanks indeed for a truly gobsmacking link of which I strongly urge all other Coffee Housers to also avail themselves.
dorothy wilson
July 19th, 2009 8:01pm Report this commentMitch is absolutely right. Purnell needs to get a real job and learn something about the real world.
Mister Christian: It's not just the wristband that is vacuous. It is Purnell himself.
Chuck Unsworth
July 19th, 2009 8:17pm Report this commentHe may be on track, but what's his timing - before or after a General Election? That's all part of any calculation for a putative Labour Party Leader. And who else is gearing up? Hutton? Forget Harman, she's practically incoherent these days.
MikeF
July 19th, 2009 10:18pm Report this commentIf any of you ever watch ITV4 on a Freeview box you might notice the old 60s series Randall & Hopkirk (deceased) getting a re-run. The plot for those who don't know it is that one member of a firm of private detectives - Hopkirk - has been killed but refuses to go away. Instead he hangs around this life generally getting in the way of and commenting on his surviving partner's attempts to make a living.
Now the odd thing is that the actor playing Hopkirk - the young Kenneth Cope - bears a rather striking resemblance to James Purnell. Moreover the parallel with Brown-Purnell scenario - someone who ought to be absent instead remaining a constant presence - is rather neat. Come to think of it the actor playing Randall, I can't remember who he is, has a rather jowly, heavy-lidded appearance that is not entirely dissimilar to Gordon Brown.
But I suppose that is where the similarities end, unless you think there is anything about this government as a whole that has the air of complete fantasy about it...
Frank P
July 20th, 2009 11:10am Report this comment"Purnell starts building his leadership platform"
He seems to have finished it overnight; he and Wingnuts Marr were perched on it this morning, waffling away on Start the Week. Seems a rather ramshackle copy of T Blair's rostrum circa 1996. Thank God it seems unlikely to survive the winds of change, even with a few matchstick struts supplied by the Spectator Pals of Purnell.
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