The Future's Bright, The Future's Labour

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I watched Andy Burnham's first turn addressing Parliament at the sharp end this afternoon, and I have to say I was impressed both by his confidence and the message he was keen to convey. It's interesting to reflect - especially in the light of Keir Starmer's decision to step down as an MP - that, although I voted for Starmer's leadership and was very sceptical about Burnham's challenge for that leadership, that I feel I've been completely wrong on both counts, and it's not an uncomfortable feeling: I like to admit my mistakes where I can. It's good to know you're in the wrong and it's good to admit the fact when faced with it. I was wrong to assume that Starmer's legal background would carry the day in debate: the converse in the political arena proved to be true: he has a good heart, but is no politician. I thought initially that Burnham's challenge was born of ambition and hubris, but I genuinely now believe this not to be the case. I actually think that he is in there for the good fight, and for the duration.

As an old - literally - socialist who has never deserted the Labour Party through thick and thin, I can sense the honesty and political drive in the man, who I believe to be true to his belief in a better and fairer world. He reminds me of one of his publicly-acknowledged heroes, Neil Kinnock: one of the last truly great Labour leaders, who was undone by the spin-doctors of his era, much as Starmer has tried to assuage the right of the party and the Labour movement and keep everyone sweet with anodyne, uncontroversial pronouncements on just about every aspect of policy. Just listen to Kinnock in full flow railing against the BBC interviewer James Naughtie in 1989 and compare and contrast with more recent Labour leaders' blandnesses.

It makes for a stark contrast in passion and commitment, and is an object lesson in why people should or should not be in politics in the first place. OK, it goes without saying that as a Welshman, Kinnock is predisposed towards passionate debate/argument; but I get the impression that Andy Burnham is cut from the same working class cloth as his hero. If he can ride the tides of opprobrium and mockery that he's inevitably to face in the next few months, without wavering, I really do believe in a brighter future for this benighted archipelago. Bring it on...

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