PM rallies centre left
The Prime Minister has addressed an audience of some of the world’s most important left wing political figures today at the Progressive Governance Conference.
The conference has been organised by Peter Mandelson’s Policy Network think-tank, and will see ‘third way’ politicians develop ideas and look to the future despite the recent resurrection of the right.
Tony Blair opened the event with a speech today in which he outlined reform plans, and plans for the next Labour party manifesto. He is also raised concern about the dangers faced by centre left politics, which is attacked from left and right.
Mr Blair also used the speech to continue the recent rhetoric used against the Conservative party, which he and Chancellor Gordon Brown have branded extreme, and accused of wanting to bring down spending and undermine services.
The Labour Government is concerned about growing attacks from the right wing, and has recently started to mention the prospect of an ‘historic third term’. However, fighting this may prove less difficult than fighting the increasing attacks of the left.
Despite this Tony Blair continued to make the case for further radical reform, partly in defiance of his left wing opposition, and partly to avoid ceding ground to the right wing.
Meetings of this nature have taken place before, dating back to when Bill Clinton was still in the White House, and although there have been big wins for the right in France and the USA, these leaders are likely to commend success of centre left leaders such as Lula in Brazil, and suggest that right wing governments are running out of steam.
