Let’s party like it’s 1997. That could be the message from Labour’s 2024 general election.
Back in ’97, the front cover of Labour’s manifesto showed a full-page photo of a mean and moody-looking Tony Blair.
The title then was “New Labour, because Britain deserves better” and the campaign song was D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better.
This year, after 14 years of Conservative rule under five prime ministers, Labour’s manifesto has a one-word title – “Change”.
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But the photo on the front is straight out of the 1997 New Labour playbook: Sir Keir, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, serious – stern, even. Very Tony Blair.
Sir Keir is no Tony Blair, of course. Some Labour veterans compare him to Mr Blair’s predecessor, another lawyer, the late John Smith.
And at last week’s seven-way election debate including the smaller parties, Nigel Farage dismissed Sir Keir as “Blair without the flair”.
Indeed, there’s nothing flashy about the contents of the 133-page 2024 manifesto. No big surprises. No big controversies either.
Sky News political editor Beth Rigby challenged Sir Keir asking: “Is this a Captain Caution manifesto, designed to protect your poll lead?” His answer was a serious one. Again, nothing flashy.
“This is a serious plan,” he declared. “I’m running as a candidate to be prime minister, not a candidate to run the circus.”
Circus? Well, these days Sir Keir is certainly Labour’s all-powerful ringmaster. But there’s no high-wire act under his leadership. And critics would say no magic either.
Earlier, in his 20-minute speech at the fancy Co-op HQ in Manchester -…
