‘Lucy’s election was about culture and tone – a message from the members that they want a Labour government that listens as well as leads’, the former Labour Deputy leader writes
The pound-shop special advisers blaming Labour’s by-election defeat in Caerphilly on Welsh Labour should be out of a job by Monday.
Let’s get one thing straight. This wasn’t a Welsh problem. It was a Westminster problem. And those who pretend otherwise are fooling no one.
Eluned Morgan and Welsh Labour aren’t the villains here. They’re the grown-ups. Eluned has held her party together with calm authority, humour and grit. She understands her voters because she listens to them. Westminster could learn from that.
READ MORE: Lucy Powell’s deputy Labour leadership will be different in one important wayREAD MORE: Lucy Powell Deputy Labour leader result includes stat which could concern Starmer
The buck stops in Number 10. The solution sits on your shoulders, Prime Minister. That’s what Labour’s new deputy leader should be telling Keir Starmer first thing tomorrow.
I’ve stopped sending private notes to the Prime Minister because he never replies. I’m not even sure his team pass them on. From now on I’ll be asking Lucy Powell, our new deputy leader, to make sure he hears the concerns of MPs, peers and councillors directly.
And since I know the Prime Minister reads the Sunday Mirror, here’s some free advice. Hug Lucy Powell close. Listen to her. She’s got a fresh mandate from the members, the people who keep this party alive through rain-soaked canvassing sessions and endless leaflet rounds.
I’ve known Lucy Powell for nearly thirty years. She’s Labour to the core, proud of her northern roots and passionate about a fair deal for working people. She’s bright as a button and no pushover. When I was deputy leader, she gave me plenty of grief — but only because she cared about Labour and wanted the best for the team.
Lucy’s victory wasn’t a reflection on her very able opponent Bridget Philipson. Her election was about culture and tone – a message from the members that they want a Labour government that listens as well as leads.
And Lucy, stay close to your MPs. When the pound-shop fixers who call themselves special advisers start throwing their weight around, remind them who they work for. Our new young MPs are the future. They deserve encouragement, not intimidation.
Keir Starmer should ask himself a simple question. Does he want his new deputy bound by collective responsibility, forced to defend every Cabinet decision? If so, give her a seat at the Cabinet table.
Or does he want her as an independent voice, free to say what she really thinks? If that’s the plan, fine — but don’t complain when she starts speaking her mind. Either way, it’s going to be lively.
And if Lucy stays on the backbenches, I’ll buy the popcorn.
‘All credit to Sam Fender’
All credit to Shields lad Sam Fender for winning the Mercury Music Prize this week – and to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for taking the ceremony to Newcastle. Those Geordies know how to party, and Sam winning on home turf at the Utilita Arena must have lifted the roof off. Some of my best nights out were in Newcastle’s Big Market, in a club locals called “Jurassic Park” – luckily that was before Facebook could ruin my political career!
When Sam said he comes from the best region in the country, I knew what he meant. He’s proof that real talent doesn’t just come from posh areas. But while half of kids in private schools get music lessons, only 15 per cent in state schools do. The Tories let 1,000 music teachers go. No wonder GCSE and A-level music are collapsing. I’m sorry that Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson lost out in the deputy leadership election, but I know she’ll work hard to give more working-class kids access to music.
‘Culture Committee just got a whole lot cooler’
The House of Commons Culture Committee just got a whole lot cooler with the election of two new members. Manchester’s Jeff Smith and Liverpool’s Anneliese Midgley are both former DJs — Jeff an indie favourite who’s played many festivals, Anneliese ran a club night called Liquidation and has DJ’d for Fred Perry and Paul Weller. They couldn’t have arrived sooner. Last year 125 grassroots venues closed, that’s why the UK music industry is calling for lower business rates for venues and recording studios.
‘Camping holiday boom’
I pick up my first second-hand camper van this week, just in time for Storm Benjamin. I’ll be joining 10.4 million Brits heading off on camping holidays this year, a 73 per cent rise on last year. With the wind howling, I’ll be keeping the pop-top down but the country’s camping holiday boom is rolling on.