Free and Frank Advice
Today's newspapers are full of free and frank advice to to Labour party - on why it did so badly in the Scottish elections.
Among the crazier suggestions is that the party should bring back Gordon Brown to revive its fortunes.
But this conveniently forgets that when GB was finally given his big chance as Labour leader and Prime Minister - he displayed an uncanny 'Reverse Midas Touch' and completely fluffed his chance.
So I think we can safely put that idea in the file named B - for bucket.
No, what Scottish Labour has to do is to stop believing its own propaganda - and have the courage to ask people outside the party - or even some who left the party - why it is now in such a dreadful mess?
The 'root and branch' review - announced by Iain Gray after consulting Ed Miliband (the UK Labour leader - will achieve precisely nothing, if it ends up with Labour having a conversation with itself.
Here's some free advice from Peter Jones - writing today in Scotland on Sunday.
Well worth a read, if you're in the Labour party.
Especially so if you're serious about facing up to and understanding - what went so badly wrong.
"For these reasons, Labour's MSP ranks have gradually dumbed down since 1999. Iain Gray, now a caretaker leader, is decent, diligent, and eminently likeable in person, but is certainly no risk-taker prepared to stick his neck out in search of greater political prizes. His shadow cabinet team was not much better.
This might not have mattered too much but for the way the SNP capitalised on the spectacular success of Alex Salmond's return to the leadership in 2005 and his gamble (imagine a major Labour figure doing this) of contesting the Liberal Democrat-held constituency of Gordon in 2007 to return to Holyrood.
It has resulted in too many candidates who are tired old councillors or dull trade unionists without the broader vision that Labour urgently needs. Breaking down these institutional barriers to open Labour up to a wider spectrum of potential talent is now an urgent requirement."
Among the crazier suggestions is that the party should bring back Gordon Brown to revive its fortunes.
But this conveniently forgets that when GB was finally given his big chance as Labour leader and Prime Minister - he displayed an uncanny 'Reverse Midas Touch' and completely fluffed his chance.
So I think we can safely put that idea in the file named B - for bucket.
No, what Scottish Labour has to do is to stop believing its own propaganda - and have the courage to ask people outside the party - or even some who left the party - why it is now in such a dreadful mess?
The 'root and branch' review - announced by Iain Gray after consulting Ed Miliband (the UK Labour leader - will achieve precisely nothing, if it ends up with Labour having a conversation with itself.
Here's some free advice from Peter Jones - writing today in Scotland on Sunday.
Well worth a read, if you're in the Labour party.
Especially so if you're serious about facing up to and understanding - what went so badly wrong.
"For these reasons, Labour's MSP ranks have gradually dumbed down since 1999. Iain Gray, now a caretaker leader, is decent, diligent, and eminently likeable in person, but is certainly no risk-taker prepared to stick his neck out in search of greater political prizes. His shadow cabinet team was not much better.
This might not have mattered too much but for the way the SNP capitalised on the spectacular success of Alex Salmond's return to the leadership in 2005 and his gamble (imagine a major Labour figure doing this) of contesting the Liberal Democrat-held constituency of Gordon in 2007 to return to Holyrood.
It has resulted in too many candidates who are tired old councillors or dull trade unionists without the broader vision that Labour urgently needs. Breaking down these institutional barriers to open Labour up to a wider spectrum of potential talent is now an urgent requirement."
