On the ground at the Labour conference with Garbo
So we have heard what the senior Labour officials are saying. We have watched what the cabinet ministers have had to say. But what were the mumblings and grumblings on the ground at the Labour party conference? Well, let me give you a taste from my experience…
The general feeling was very, very flat. It was almost the general consensus that not only was Gordon Brown not the man to win Labour the next election, but that the Tories had already won it. I lost count of the number of times I heard people say “when the Tories get into power†and then a few seconds later be forced to correct themselves with “if the Tories get into powerâ€. There were debates over who was in a worse state – the Labour party or the Unions. There was derision and horror that if Brown does go, then Labour could end up with Harman. The talk was decidedly negative. I even knew of a few people that “couldn’t bear†to watch Brown’s speech as it is just too depressing.
But the biggest fear for Labour delegates, of course, is that Britain is going to end up with a Tory government. It is at this point in the conversations that defiance starts to come over Labour party members. They realise they have to start to believe that is not all over; that there is still a chance to turn things round. Perhaps with Gordon, perhaps someone else. At the fringe events MPs were rallying the troops to believe that Labour can still win, though often falling in to the trap themselves by talking about the impending Tory government. As the nights went on and drink went down, people did become more and more defiant. Dutch courage perhaps? Alcohol induced delusion maybe? I think it was more confidence growing as likeminded folk chatted and a fear that this could be the last Labour conference as the governing party for a while.
By the end of the night everyone was in agreement – it’s not over yet. There is still plenty to play for. People have not yet subscribed to Cameron, even if they have cancelled their subscription to Gordon Brown. There is life in the party yet!
And then as the clock hits four, five even six AM, the crowd thins from the hotel bars. The next morning it is back to defeatism, and another day of convincing themselves all is not lost, a process that concludes in great hope but inevitably evaporates in the cold, harsh hungover mornings.
The mood is grim, but it’s not defeated… just yet.
Categories: All WW, Labour, Party Conferences 2008
Garbo - the People never had a subscription to Gordon Brown.
I guess we’ll never know for sure - but his ratings in the polls as both chancellor and as PM have in the past been very high.
But as I say, this is the chatter amongst Labour members about their feelings for Cameron and Gordon Brown, not necessarily my personal view.
Ratings are like browsing through a magazine in the newsagents then putting it back. They only take out a subscription if they vote them in - and Gordo has never been voted for by anyone except his own constituency.
ThunderDragon’s last blog post..So How’d It Go?
Well, constituently of course you are wrong. But I get your point.
But, as I said, this was what Labour supporters in Manchester were saying and perhaps should not be taken so literally. I think the point they were making was that while the masses seem to have abandoned Labour, they do not believe that the support for Cameron is immovable. That is to say, they are fed up with Brown and Labour rather than excited and bought in to the Tories.
Whether you or I believe this or not is a separate point. This is merely what I was hearing on the ground in Manchester.
To take the point that whether I believe people have bought in to the Tories or not I will be commenting on next week as I follow the Tory conference. Bet you can’t wait!
constituently? Constitutionally!