Hard Times and Tough Choices
The Labour party always agonises over choosing a new leader.
Because unlike other parties Labour has lots of vested interests - for example the trade unions - who try and build support for a candidate they can hope to influence as party leader - and possibly as a future Prime Minister.
But the trade unions are not really motivated by who is really the best person for the job.
So, in the 1990's the unions tried to persuade their members to vote for 'anybody but Blair'.
No matter what people might say about Tony Blair now - he was clearly the best candidate, head and shoulders above his rivals.
His main rival at the time, Gordon Brown, didn't even throw his hat into the ring - knowing he would have been outshone by the relaxed charm of Tony Blair - even with the trade unions on his side.
The unions didn't like Tony Blair because of what he represented in their eyes.
He was not 'one of them' - a bit of a maverick, someone who believed in merit and individual ability - not keen on old tribal loyalties and the stuff of smoke filled rooms.
When Gordon Brown stood as party leader - the unions and others ensured there would be no contest - no clash of ideas and no real debate.
The party went back to its old habits - Gordon Brown was elected unopposed - and what a disaster he turned out to be - confounding people's expectations in almost every possible way.
The unions loathed Tony Blair (not over war in Iraq) and acted as cheerleaders for Gordon Brown - but while Tony Blair won the party three consecutive elections - Gordon Brown fell at the first hurdle.
So now we come down to the two Milibands - brothers David and Ed.
I do not have a vote and have no axe to grind one way or the other - but it seems to me that David Miliband is the more impressive of the two.
If it were an interview, based on merit and the ability - rather than a popularity contest - David Miliband would be my choice.
But who knows what will happen - the big public sector trade unions (GMB, Unite and Unison) are all trying to persuade their members to vote for Ed Miliband - but MPs and ordinary party members seem more impressed by his older brother, David.
The result is due next month - in time for the 2010 Labour party conference.
Because unlike other parties Labour has lots of vested interests - for example the trade unions - who try and build support for a candidate they can hope to influence as party leader - and possibly as a future Prime Minister.
But the trade unions are not really motivated by who is really the best person for the job.
So, in the 1990's the unions tried to persuade their members to vote for 'anybody but Blair'.
No matter what people might say about Tony Blair now - he was clearly the best candidate, head and shoulders above his rivals.
His main rival at the time, Gordon Brown, didn't even throw his hat into the ring - knowing he would have been outshone by the relaxed charm of Tony Blair - even with the trade unions on his side.
The unions didn't like Tony Blair because of what he represented in their eyes.
He was not 'one of them' - a bit of a maverick, someone who believed in merit and individual ability - not keen on old tribal loyalties and the stuff of smoke filled rooms.
When Gordon Brown stood as party leader - the unions and others ensured there would be no contest - no clash of ideas and no real debate.
The party went back to its old habits - Gordon Brown was elected unopposed - and what a disaster he turned out to be - confounding people's expectations in almost every possible way.
The unions loathed Tony Blair (not over war in Iraq) and acted as cheerleaders for Gordon Brown - but while Tony Blair won the party three consecutive elections - Gordon Brown fell at the first hurdle.
So now we come down to the two Milibands - brothers David and Ed.
I do not have a vote and have no axe to grind one way or the other - but it seems to me that David Miliband is the more impressive of the two.
If it were an interview, based on merit and the ability - rather than a popularity contest - David Miliband would be my choice.
But who knows what will happen - the big public sector trade unions (GMB, Unite and Unison) are all trying to persuade their members to vote for Ed Miliband - but MPs and ordinary party members seem more impressed by his older brother, David.
The result is due next month - in time for the 2010 Labour party conference.
