Leading Article: Blair's loyalty contest
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.LABOUR'S internal elections for its National Executive have long been derided as a beauty contest, but now the spin consultants of Millbank Tower want to turn it into the real thing. Tony Blair's reforms, designed to neuter the party's ruling body - sorry, ensure a constructive and supportive relationship with the Government - will kick MPs off the section elected by ballot of the entire membership.
This will stop Tony Benn's avatar using it as a power base, but might let in a fifth column of Hattersleyites (as Trotskyists are known these days) among the unknowns on the ballot paper.
So, out goes to the call to loyal Blairite actors and pop stars on the membership list to put their names forward. But Mr Blair should beware. Last year's heroes of New Britannia have cooled already, with Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker and Alan McGee all taking shots at Labour policy. Someone should tell the Prime Minister that dissent is like putty: if you press it down at the top it squeezes out somewhere else.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments