October 21st 2024.
Following our party's historic win in July, there are now over 400 Labour MPs in Parliament. However, there are only a handful of us who have the experience of serving as a minister during our previous stint in power.
As one of those MPs, who was first elected in 2005 and worked as a minister under Gordon Brown, I can say with certainty that governing is no easy task. It involves not only making positive changes, but also effectively communicating how these changes will benefit the people.
So it's not surprising that Keir Starmer and his new team are facing challenges as they navigate through their first few months in power. The recent polls showing our struggle to connect with voters are a clear indication of the difficulties we are facing. After all, the last election was more about people's hatred for the Tories than their love for Labour.
With important issues both at home and abroad, and the looming Budget, it's time for us to go back to our roots and improve our messaging. As I promised to be a critical friend and hold the government accountable in my own way, I want to acknowledge the great things that Labour has achieved in power. Unfortunately, we have not been able to effectively showcase these achievements to the public.
For instance, we have introduced the Great British Railways plan to reform and bring the railways under public ownership. We have also established a publicly-owned independent energy company through the Great British Energy Bill, which will invest in clean and home-grown energy for the benefit of the people. We have delivered public sector pay rises at a time when the cost of living is skyrocketing. These are just a few of the many positive changes we have brought about.
In just a few months, we have shown what can be achieved with Labour in power, and I am proud to continue supporting this change as an experienced politician. However, in order to truly connect with the public, Keir Starmer needs to get back to basics and focus on effectively communicating our achievements and plans for the future.
Despite the positives, it's clear that the public is not feeling as positive about our start as we would like. This highlights the importance of not just getting things done, but also celebrating and showcasing these accomplishments in a positive and hopeful manner. The constant talk of belt-tightening and financial "black holes" is not inspiring to the public. They want to see bold changes, not more austerity, especially after 14 years of Tory failure and underinvestment.
It's important to acknowledge our own mistakes as well. I firmly believe that it is dangerous to stifle questioning and criticism within our own party. We make our best decisions when we are challenged by those who care about us. For example, the handling of the winter fuel payments changes could have been better, and I am concerned about reports of watering down important pledges from our manifesto, such as the crackdown on "non-doms." Our manifesto was a success, and it's crucial that we deliver on all of our promises.
When it comes to gifts and hospitality, we must maintain the highest standards and distance ourselves from the Tories. The recent departure of Sue Gray and any infighting in the government serves as a reminder that our focus should be on our constituents, not playing games in Westminster. It's undignified to see a Labour minister like Louise Haigh being silenced for speaking out in favor of workers' rights. Our government should always support and defend those who stand up for what is right.
As one of the few Labour MPs who was a part of our previous government, I want to address the reports of the Tories catching up to us in the polls. It goes to show how quickly things can change and how shallow leads can be. That's why we need to work harder to demonstrate to the public how we can transform their lives. The upcoming Budget is the perfect opportunity to do so. We need to be bold and hopeful about the future of our country.
To get back on track, we also need to reconnect with our members. Many of them have become disillusioned with recent events, despite their hard work in securing our historic election victory. We must involve them in policy-making from start to finish and listen to their views on key decisions and the running of our party. Our members want to see bold and hopeful policies and messaging, and they want us to stay true to our Labour values and principles.
Being in government is not easy, and the polls reflect the long road ahead of us in undoing 14 years of Tory failure. We must focus on the long term and work towards rebuilding our country. But if we lose sight of who we are in the process, the ripples of discontent could turn into waves of apathy. Let's stay true to our values and principles and continue fighting for a better future for all.
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