Labour's Attack Dogs

Labour's attack dogs are out in force as the leadership contest comes to a head - the factions that divided the party are now out in the open - as both sides vie to get their man over the finishing line.

Lord Mandleson got his retaliation in first by rebuking Ed Miliband - for trying to distance himself from the New Labour project - and much of Labour's track record in government.

Lords Kinnock and Hattersly retaliated - effectively telling Mandleson where to get off - and in the process making their support known for the younger Miliband brother.

The laugh of it all is that there was really nothing wrong with the New Labour message - what the new mindset was supposed to be about.

The problems came when the party in government started to say one thing - but then did another just to suit itself - and at all levels of the party - not just in Downing Street.

New Labour had all the best political slogans or messages when it ran for office in 1997 - they made the party seem on the ball and fit for office:

Say what you mean - and mean what you say.

Tough on crime - tough on the causes of crime.

For the many - not the few.

Things can only get better.

What matters is what works.

Who would not identify with such a well crafted political message - and voters did in their droves as Labour won by a landslide in 1997?

But the problem was that too few people in the party stayed loyal to these high ideals - once they got into power.

As time went by New Labour failed to live up to the principles espoused in its election slogans.

The party in government became arrogant and lazy - and lost its way as Tony Blair and Gordon Brown fought a bitter battle - over who should really be running the show.