Tony Blair has welcomed Ed Miliband’s “big speech” on reforming Labour’s relationship with its Trade Union backers. And so has Len McCluskey, chief potentate at Unite, the Union whose allegedly nefarious activities in Falkirk have prodded Miliband towards reform. Blair expects Miliband’s proposals to change everything; McCluskey, presumably, is confident any changes will prove largely cosmetic. They can’t both be right.
But, actually, it is a little unfair to put “big speech” in inverted commas. This was, or at least has the potential to be, a transforming moment for the Labour party. Granted, no-one is quite sure how this will happen – and the detail matters – but everyone agrees something is afoot. (Tim Stanley, for instance, suspects Miliband will betray the Unions; Dan Hodges reckons today’s events show Miliband is prepared to become Prime Minister. You pays your money and takes your chances.)
Miliband may have been forced into a corner by the Falkirk crisis but, if he follows through with these plans, he will have shown some courage.
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