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  1. Politics
11 April 2013

Labour fires back at Blair over New Statesman piece

The party says it is right to challenge "old ways of doing things" after Blair warns against a shift to the left.

By George Eaton

Labour has just issued a response to Tony Blair’s sharply critical piece in the centenary issue of the New Statesman (180 pages, out today). A party spokesman said: 

It is always important to listen to Tony Blair because he has important points to make, including in this article where he emphasises our top priority must be growth and jobs.

As he was the first to recognise, politics always has to move on to cope with new challenges and different circumstances.

For example, on immigration, Labour is learning lessons about the mistakes in office and crafting an immigration policy that will make Britain’s diversity work for all not just a few.

It is by challenging old ways of doing things, showing we have understood what we did right and wrong during our time in office that One Nation Labour will win back people’s trust.

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In other words, Ed Miliband’s position remains as before: Blair’s “third way” does not represent an appropriate response to Britain’s current economic and social problems. 

It is notable that rather than rejecting his warning not to “tack left on tax and spending”, the party chose to highlight the example of immigration (he urged the party not to “tack right on immigration”). Blair is known to disagree with Miliband’s recent decision to apologise for not imposing transitional controls on migration from eastern Europe, which he regarded as essential to fill gaps in the labour market at a time of growth. For Miliband, this is a useful example of how he is moving on not just from New Labour’s excessive economic liberalism but also what an increasing number in the party view as its excessive social liberalism. 

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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