The Story How to keep blaming your predecessors
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Dec 7, 2024 Peter Mandelson, a former Labour architect and political strategist, joins Polly McKenzie, ex-Director of Policy for Nick Clegg, and Danny Finkelstein, Tory Peer and Times columnist. They dive into whether blame-shifting is effective in politics, particularly for Starmer. The trio discusses the balance between addressing historical governance failures and presenting a forward-thinking narrative. They also tackle the surge in UK migration, analyzing its implications and the need for clear strategies in governance and accountability.
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Maudling and Poulson
- Reggie Maudling, a Conservative politician, was nearly Prime Minister in 1963.
- He was forced to resign after revelations of gifts and money from the controversial figure John Poulson.
Blaming the Last Lot
- Blaming the previous government for economic woes worked for the Conservatives in 2010 after the financial crash.
- However, it also fueled public discontent with Europe, complicating later Brexit debates.
The "No Money" Note
- Liam Byrne's "no money" note, left for the incoming government in 2010, became a symbol of Labour's economic mismanagement.
- Though intended as a private joke, it was used effectively by the Conservatives.