New labour: New pathways to parliament

Parliamentary Affairs

Volumn 54, Issue 1, 2001, Pages 35-53

  Shaw, Eric ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0035217376     PISSN: 00312290     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1093/pa/54.1.35     Document Type: Article

References (21)

1. 1 In Scotland Donald Dewar was elected unopposed as party leader and the choice of candidates for the Welsh Assembly was (relatively) trouble-free.
2. 2 For a full discussion, see K. Alderman and N. Carter, 'The Labour Party and Trade Unions: Loosening the Ties', Parliamentary Affairs, July 1994.
3. 3 P. Norris and J. Lovenduski, Politaical Recruitment: Gender, Race and Class in the British Parliament, Cambridge, 1995, p. 54.
4. 4 She had in fact been a jointly responsible for organising the Network (retitled later Scottish Labour Forum) set up 'in support of the [New Labour] project'. Its prime object was to rid the Scottish Excutive of its traditionally left-of-centre majority firstly by securing control and then by altering the rules. Amply assisted by party and trade union full-time officials both aims were achieved in spring 1997, allowing Tony Blair later to claim that 'it was the Scottish executive that approved [the new system]. It was the Scottish party that chose the majority of members on the selection panel' (Independent, 20.11.98).
5. 5 Thus one inquired whether 'as a candidate for New Labour' the interviewee could provide 'examples of action you have taken or issues you have supported that would demonstrate your commitment to New Labour'.
6. 6 W.B. Messmer, British Elections to the European Parliament: An Evolving Party Role, 1999, pro.harvard.edu/abstracts/061/061005MessmerWil.html. Candidates and officials interviewed by Messmer all agreed that some sitting MEPs were ranked low as punishment for past political misdemeanours. For a full account of the European selections, see N. O'Neill, 'Closed Lists and the European Elections', Renewal, April, 1999; D. Wring, D. Baker and D. Seawright, 'Panelism in Action: Labour's 1999 European Parliamentary Candidate Selections', Political Quarterly, April-June 1999.
7. 6 W.B. Messmer, British Elections to the European Parliament: An Evolving Party Role, 1999, pro.harvard.edu/abstracts/061/061005MessmerWil.html. Candidates and officials interviewed by Messmer all agreed that some sitting MEPs were ranked low as punishment for past political misdemeanours. For a full account of the European selections, see N. O'Neill, 'Closed Lists and the European Elections', Renewal, April, 1999; D. Wring, D. Baker and D. Seawright, 'Panelism in Action: Labour's 1999 European Parliamentary Candidate Selections', Political Quarterly, April-June 1999.
8. 6 W.B. Messmer, British Elections to the European Parliament: An Evolving Party Role, 1999, pro.harvard.edu/abstracts/061/061005MessmerWil.html. Candidates and officials interviewed by Messmer all agreed that some sitting MEPs were ranked low as punishment for past political misdemeanours. For a full account of the European selections, see N. O'Neill, 'Closed Lists and the European Elections', Renewal, April, 1999; D. Wring, D. Baker and D. Seawright, 'Panelism in Action: Labour's 1999 European Parliamentary Candidate Selections', Political Quarterly, April-June 1999.
9. 7 As a senior insider bluntly put it, 'If you think we toiled for 18 years to create New Labour to allow Livingstone to take one of our main prizes, you must need your head examining' (Channel 4 News, 10.11.98).
10. 8 Another gleefully added, in New Labour argot, 'this is just one step short of breaking Ken's legs' (Independent, 13.19.99; Guardian, 13.19.99).
11. 8 Another gleefully added, in New Labour argot, 'this is just one step short of breaking Ken's legs' (Independent, 13.19.99; Guardian, 13.19.99).
12. 9 Most bizarrely of all, Pauline Green, a solid loyalist, was allowed to vote in the representatives' section, despite the fact that she had retired as an MEP in 1998.
13. 10 For a full account see P. Barkham, 'Labour's 10 top ruses to stop Ken Livingstone', Guardian, 16.2.00.
14. 11 Subsequently Labour has decided to alter its rules. In future, unions will have to ballot their members. In cities (other than London, deemed to be a region) that decide they want an elected mayor, Labour's candidate will be chosen by one-member-one-vote on the grounds that determining who is eligible to vote in the union section of an electoral college is too complex. London is a region, so will retain an electoral college (The Times, 24.7.00).
15. 12 Further action is likely to be taken after the next election as Labour's Policy Forum has agreed 'action, including legislation, if necessary, to ensure that all political parties can introduce measures to guarantee the selection of more women and ethnic minority candidates for winable seats'.
16. 13 Peter Mandelson has complained that there are too many public sector professionals in the parliamentary party.
17. 14 To illustrate the point: in East Lothian Doug Maughan was defeated after a well-organised campaign but went on to win Bearsden and Strathkelvin by one vote against union-backed candidates. In both cases the latter were senior UNISON officials.
18. 15 Norris and Lovenduski, op. cit., p. 15.
19. 16 M. Steed, 'Will Devolution Change British Parties?', Representation, January 1999.
20. 17 For a full analysis see P. Cowley, 'The Absence of War: New Labour in Parliament' in J. Fisher et al, British Elections and Parties Review, 9, 1999.
21. 18 The relationship between the unions and leadership loyalists is, as we have seen, a variegated one: whilst there are now rival lists, the latter often also work closely with right-wing and pro-government union officials. See n 4 for an example.