“What would Philip Gould do?” That’s the question on my lips as this weeks Labour party conference in Brighton comes to a close? Those who know me will be aware of my admiration for Gould; New Labour’s pollster and all round strategic genius. The Tories have paid careful attention to the framework for recovery offered in Gould’s book. Steve Hilton has read it and so have a whole host of others – indeed it is a testimony to Gould’s political genius that the Conservatives should be so enamoured with his book.
Gould understood in profound terms how far Old Labour had strayed from the centre ground of British politics and along with others helped offer a roadmap back to office and power for the Labour party. Could Philip Gould solve this mess that Labour are in? I often remarked to old colleagues in the past that not even a combination of Karl Rove (at the height of his powers), Lynton Crosby, Alastair Campbell and Philip Gould could save the UUP from election defeat and a similar sentiment may be true of the Labour party in 2010.
It’s indicative of the political times we live in when Danny Finkelstein, former advisor to Major and Hague appears in the Spectator to offer is advice to the Labour Party on how to rescue themselves.
Killer quote from Finkelstein:
“Before I set out my ideas, we had better deal with Gordon Brown. Advising Labour on how to improve its position without advising it to get rid of Mr Brown is like advising someone how to deal with their cheesy feet problem without advising them to stop wearing shoes made out of brie.”
dividedloyalties
Posted on October 2, 2009
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