For at least four years they will be responding rather than initiating The example Labour set here is instructive. Under John Smith, it managed to be simultaneously pro-European and to oppose the Maastricht Treaty in Parliament (on the spurious grounds that the then Tory government was opting out of the social chapter).Mr Hague is in a more precarious position. When he stood for the party leadership he made it plain that he opposed entry into a single currency for 10 years – the lifetime of this Parliament and the next. Last week the leadership sought to blur the policy by ruling it out for the “foreseeable future”.
The party hierarchy insists there has been no formal change of heart, but many detect a sensible dose of pragmatism.The issue might still produce a split, and privately senior pro-Europeans last week made it clear that if asked to sign up to an indefinite commitment against EMU, resignations from the front bench and Shadow Cabinet would follow. If Blair calls a referendum before the next election it could provoke a splinter movement of pro-European MPs (lead by Kenneth Clarke) and MEPs.Party bosses are worried about another issue – a tendency to under-rate the abilities and potential of Blair in government. One close ally of Mr Hague confided that Labour, while it is bound to lose popularity, may not present many easy targets. As he put it: “There seems to be a belief that Blair has no idea what he wants to do except to be in government, and that in two years’ time he will let the reins off public spending, raise taxes and give in to the left I don’t think he will. He will be tough, and will probably go into the next election with taxes lower than at present.”And there remains one crucial ingredient missing from the recipe written by Labour when it was in opposition. The party’s cohesion and loyalty were borne of 18 years in the wilderness and a determination to get back into office at almost any cost. The mood in Blackpool last week, just five months after defeat, was never going to be comparable.
In the foyer of the Winter Gardens, one former Conservative Party apparatchik bumped into an ex-colleague “How are you?” he inquired “Just relieved to be out of it all,” came the reply.. Just because one of the two main parties is staging its annual conference doesn’t mean the calling of a truce in the public relations battle with the enemy, writes Stephen Castle Last week was no exception. Here’s how the rival spinners scrapped for the public’s attention:
MONDAY: William Hague’s week gets off to a bad start with a photo-call at a deserted Fleetwood fish depot. The next day’s Daily Telegraph says the event “made the much-maligned photographs of Mr Hague in a baseball cap on a funfair waterchute and drinking coconut cocktails at the Notting Hill carnival look like public relations triumphs”. But the lead story has the headline “Hague’s reforms backed by 70pc”. News at Ten covers Mr Hague’s speech to party agents.
Tony Blair spends his day in Moscow riding the metro, taking part in a soap opera and enjoying a salmon and caviar lunch with President Yeltsin.
On the plane home Mr Blair avoids talking to the media, ensuring they have few options about what to write. Tories 2, Labour 3 (including 1 Tory own goal).TUESDAY: Hague’s first speech to party conference is marred by noises off – as Lord Tebbit attacks multi-culturalism, and Alan Clark suggests the IRA could be beaten by killing 600 people. The Tory spin operation is slow in slapping them down, but finally gets it right: an anonymous source describes them as “dinosaurs”. Tories win the photo-opportunity of the day when Hague’s fiancee Ffion wears her new frock, a black lacy number reputedly costing pounds 2,000. Blair has his own high-profile event: a meeting with Bill Gates of Microsoft. Tories 1, Labour 2 (incl 1 Tory own goal).WEDNESDAY: The Tory conference debates internal reform with a row ensuing Shadow Cabinet splits emerge on the single currency. Labour’s initiative is less lightweight: Greg Dyke, who brought Roland Rat to TV-am, is drafted in to revamp the Patient’s Charter.
Tories 1, Labour 1.THURSDAY: Michael Portillo’s speech calls for compassionate Conservatism, but Labour spinners are back in business. News of an announcement on the future of the Royal Yacht “leaks” to the BBC. This, rather than the Tory conference, is the lead on the Nine O’clock News. Tories 1, Labour 1.FRIDAY: Mr Hague’s speech dominates the bulletins. Mr Blair visits Strasbourg to stress Britain’s commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights Tories 2, Labour 1.Final score: Tories 7, Labour 8.. Looking back, it is hard to choose the lowest point.