On 20 July the Labour leadership candidates were sent a letter asking them their view on the creation of an English Labour Party as part of the democratic transformation of Britain and a possible federal United Kingdom. The letter was organised by Graham Allen MP and signed by twenty-five Labour figures, mostly his fellow MPs. It is a wide constellation, including Jon Cruddas who was formally in charge of Ed Miliband’s Manifesto; Frank Field, the least predictable independent-minded Labour back-bencher, and Chuka Umunna, who had briefly been a candidate for the leadership himself, as well as Richard Leese and Judith Blake, the respective leaders of Manchester and Leeds City Councils.
The letter and the four answers are re-published here in openDemocracy. The letter could be clearer – its starting point is to ask about an English Labour Party but it meanders into whether or not candidates advocate a larger constitutional settlement. However, it is obviously designed as an opportunity for the candidates to address questions democratic and constitutional, urged on by a significant alliance of Labour politicians from different wings of the party. So, an important challenge from their own neck of the woods at a time when people are crying out for a clear strategic vision. The four answers provide an excellent point to compare the views of the contenders: how will they rise to this opportunity?
Two, Andy Burnham and Jeremy Corbyn, gave very short replies. One, Yvette Cooper, a full and clear one, while Liz Kendall was lengthier but less clear. I’ll consider them in this sequence.
Andy Burnham
Andy Burnham MP NHS Confederation conference 2014 by NHS Confederation - Andy Burnham MP. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia
Burnham sent an email back with no ‘Dear’ or ‘Thank you’, just:
"Not opposed to it but needs to be looked at as part of wider review of party structures in regions and nations."
Burnham did not take a moment to present his views. This is a debate he does not want. Instead he conducts a position exercise in the form of non-positioning. He will make up his mind after he has assessed the balance of forces. It was said about Norman Lamont, the one-time Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer under John Major, that he took on the shape of the last person who sat on him. This was a reference to the way he was a Heathite under Edward Heath, a Thatcherite under Margaret Thatcher and a Major supporter under John Major. In this great tradition Andy Burnham seems to be saying, ‘When I have been sat on, you will see how I shape up’. And if enough people sit on him, he will win.
Still a possible winner, however, Burnham’s non-answer needs to be taken seriously. His just published Manifesto permits a further look at his approach, which I will keep for my conclusion.
Jeremy Corbyn
