Labour spot the dangers and opportunities of the AV referendum

By some dark magic, the Ghosts of New Labour have been roused from their political slumber. Over the extended weekend, we had news of Gordon Brown’s new job and Alistair Darling’s new book. Today, it is Peter Mandelson and Alan Johnson who are haunting the newspapers. Both give interviews  – one to the Independent, one to the Guardian – with the same purpose: to rally the vote in favour of AV. Mandelson’s is even front page news. “This is our chance to hurt Cameron,” reads the headline, underneath a portrait of the man whom Labour learned to un-love after last year’s election.

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Both interviews suggest that Labour are catching up with some of the risks attached to next week’s referendum. Although a victory for Team No is not as damaging for Ed Miliband as it is for Nick Clegg, it would still put the Labour leader on the losing side, which is, of course, never ideal in politics.