Keeping an open mind on the next Labour leader

The next leader of the Labour party will walk into a staggeringly difficult job. They will be tasked with grappling with why Labour lost so badly, how to hold the party together, and working towards being able to win an election again. Labour members like myself owe it to anyone running for the position to keep an open mind and give them a fair hearing.

There have already been accusations that those of us on the party’s left simply want ‘continuity Corbynisn’ – to plough on as if the defeat hadn’t happened. This may be true of some, but it is not representative. I have seen more self-awareness and soul-searching over the past few days than ‘one more heave’ naivety. Articles from prominent left wing commentators such as Richard Seymour and Gary Younge have shown humility, reflection, and willingness to own the defeat. The same goes for the Twitter feeds of Corbynistas like Ash Sarkar and Owen Jones.

To move forward together, all wings of the party need to go into listening mode and be willing to explore and discuss big ideas. This isn’t a comfortable time for the left, and neither should it be. In that spirit, I am willing to listen seriously to any potential candidate for the job, whether they come from the left of the party or not, as long as they meet three preconditions.

Acknowledge left wing members

Any candidate will need to accept the existence of, and be ready to engage with, the large proportion of party members who supported Corbyn’s leadership.

This doesn’t mean shying away from criticising Corbyn’s record. Neither does it mean they cannot call out abusive or anti-Semitic behaviour among a minority of left wing members. Both of these are necessary. But what I will not accept is tarring all left wing members with the same brush, or writing us off as a ‘cult’. This has never been fair, and it does plenty of decent people a disservice.

Candidates should also acknowledge that the predominantly young members who joined the party in the last couple of years, many of whom put time and effort into campaigning for Labour, are an asset – not a liability. Momentum mobilised many more activists than would otherwise have been the case and does not deserve to be denigrated for it.

In a ‘broad church’ we need to respect each other. That cuts both ways; there must be no return to the systematic exclusion of the left of the Blair years.

Be willing to seriously analyse the defeat and the way forward

This is the opposite of relying on pithy, simplistic explanations that suit factional narratives. The truth is that we don’t have all of the answers yet. That process will take time, honesty and openness. It isn’t enough to blame only Corbyn, Brexit, the media, the manifesto, ‘Workington Man’ or any other single factor for the defeat. It’s far more complex than that.

Candidates should also look at the longer-term fracturing of the party’s electoral coalition and, more importantly, how it may be reconstructed. What strategy might bridge the increasing cultural divide between older, socially conservative ex-Labour voters in the North and Midlands, and socially liberal, anti-Brexit young people?

The former group, the retired and soon-to-retire baby boomers, are electorally powerful due to their numbers, so working out strategies to appeal to them is unavoidable. However, a tilt towards social conservatism (as typified by the half-baked ‘Blue Labour’ idea) is not a solution. It would alienate Labour’s young supporters who, after all, are the party’s future. We’ve heard enough dog whistles during this campaign from the Tories; the last thing we need is Labour to add their own. You cannot out-Tory the Tories, and I don’t want to see Labour try. Aside from any moral considerations, doing so is a sticking-plaster, not a solution. No more ‘controls on immigration’ on mugs, in other words.

No candidate has the answers to these structural, even existential, questions yet. We ought to be highly suspicious of anyone that claims to. What Labour needs is a wide-reaching debate in good faith, as difficult as that might be at the moment. Not an incriminating blame game that obscures the complexity of the problems.

Prioritise the climate crisis

The impending climate emergency isn’t going to wait another five years for Labour to get its act together. Time to act is running out fast, and an incoming Labour leader would need to be ready to provide strong opposition on this issue with immediate effect.

Anyone who is willing to seriously prioritise this deserves consideration. Sadly, Labour’s defeat means they are not implementing the New Green Deal as I write this. The young people who overwhelmingly voted for them face a future in a warmer, less stable world. The party owe it to them to at least keep the issue on the agenda, and not allow the Tories to get away with inaction.

Equally, a candidate throwing the climate under the bus because ex-Labour Tory voters are perceived as not caring about it represents a moral failing that I would be unable to see beyond, regardless of what else the candidate stands for.

A starting off point

These three criteria are intended as a reasonable jumping off point – not a comprehensive wish list. I could certainly produce a much longer wish list of what I’d prefer the next leader to be like, but that is not the point we’re at. The left needs to focus on listening and reflecting – not demanding – right now. It’s also too early to get into policy territory just yet. That ought to be the end of the process, not the beginning.

There are plenty of other possible preconditions that spring to mind. Many would agree that the next leader should be female – it’s shameful that Labour have never elected one. Others would say it must be someone from outside of London, or who took a certain position on Brexit. Personally, my instinctive preference is for a woman candidate, from the left of the party, who supported Corbyn and Remain.

But preferences are not preconditions. As the candidates begin to throw their hats into this unenviable ring, I will remain open minded and give fair consideration to anyone who can meet the above three criteria, whether they are from ‘my’ wing of the party or not. I sincerely hope the rest of the left will do the same.