A party talking to itself: this is what Labour risks becoming after Blair

Will the Labour party go bonkers after Blair? I only ask because the early signs are worrying — or reassuring — depending what view you take of these things. To judge by the attitudes and prejudices manifesting themselves in the transition from Mr Blair to Mr Brown, the party is gagging to put itself on the wrong side of the electorate.

The Blairite attachment to the reformist centre-ground is absolute and has all the binding force of a sacred text. Of course, its potential has not been realised in many areas and there have been what the PM primly calls ‘unhelpful distractions’, like a war gone wrong and the Met at the door. But fiercely guarding that territory is what Mr Blair and his allies have done best through three elections. Because we have grown used to it, not to say bored with it, we take it for granted. Big mistake.