There are over 400 Labour MPs following our party’s historic win in July, but there are very few of us who are experienced enough to have served as a minister the last time we held the levers of power.
And as one of those MPs, having been first elected in 2005 and working as a minister under Gordon Brown, over the past few months I haven’t been surprised that Keir Starmer and his new team are finding out just how challenging governing is.
During that time, I saw first hand that government is about making positive change, and selling a story about how that change will benefit people.
So as polls show that the party continues to struggle to cut through to voters, I’ve not been surprised by the hiccups.
Especially after an election that was more about people hating the Tories rather than particularly loving Labour.
And so with the Budget looming and issues at home and abroad, I want us to go back to our roots, and improve our messaging.
I said I would be a critical friend and hold the Government to account in my own way – and I meant it.
Firstly, I want to acknowledge that for all the doom and gloom that many seem to be exuding, particularly from the right-wing press and those who want to see us fail, it’s important to remember that the Labour Party has already achieved so many great things in power – we have just been poor at selling it.
It has introduced legislation to establish Great British Railways, which is a much-needed plan to reform the railways and bring them into public ownership.
It has introduced the Great British Energy Bill, to establish a publicly-owned independent energy company, to invest in clean, home-grown energy for the public.
It has delivered public sector pay rises, at a time when the cost of living is so high.
Investing in the people we clapped for during the pandemic is a proud achievement.
And there have been many more positive changes – introducing the Renters’ Rights Bill and scrapping the Rwanda scheme.
In just a few short months, we’ve shown what can be achieved with Labour in power, and I’ll continue to play my role as an experienced politician in supporting that change.
There have been lots of positives, so why is the public not feeling so positive about our start?
In my view, it shows the importance of not only getting things done, but showing and celebrating we are getting things done. We need to get the message out there about the change we are delivering, in a positive and hopeful manner.
What has cut through is the constant talk of belt tightening, financial ‘black holes’, which is not inspiring – the public don’t want to hear about how bleak things are, or how little we can do to improve the country.
After 14 years of failure and underinvestment, and after electing a new government with such a massive majority, people want and expect bold change – not more austerity.
There’s no doubt there have been own goals too.
I believe it is dangerous to insist that the government is not questioned from our own side. We make our best decisions when we are challenged by people who care about us.
I said at the time that the winter fuel payments changes could have been handled with more care, alongside a package of measures to help the most vulnerable.
And it’s worrying to hear reports of important pledges, such as the crackdown on ‘non-doms’, being watered down. Our manifesto was a success and I want to see it delivered in full.
When it comes to gifts and hospitality, we need to maintain the highest possible standards. We are not in any way like the Tories, so we need to avoid headlines that make people think we are all the same.
As for the departure of Sue Gray, and any infighting that may or may not have been happening in government, it serves as an important reminder of what is most important – focusing on our constituents, not playing Westminster games.
It was undignified to see the silencing of Transport Secretary Louise Haigh after her comments on P&O Ferries.
A Labour minister must always be able to speak out in favour of workers’ rights, and call out any bad workplace practices and know that the Government is fully behind them.
There have been reports that the Tories are now back almost level in opinion polling.
It shows how quickly things can change and how shallow leads can be. So, we need to work harder to show people how we transform people’s lives.
The Budget later this month will be a perfect opportunity to have that reset; to be bold and hopeful about our country’s future.
And I want to see us get back on track by reconnecting with our membership – some of whom have become disillusioned at recent events after their hard work helped secure the historic election victory.
That means engaging them in policy making from start to finish, listening to their views on key decisions and how our party is run.
Our members want to see us deliver not fight, be bold and hopeful in our policies and messaging, and they want to see us stay true to Labour values and principles – putting people before corporations, fighting for equality, standing up for the most vulnerable, calling out racism and discrimination, and tackling corruption.
Being in Government is hard, and the polls show that our road is long in undoing 14 years of Tory failure.
We have to look to the long term and work to rebuild the country – but if we don’t stay true to who we are in doing so, ripples of discontent could become waves of apathy.
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