Wee mini blog. When John Smith died I put in for his seat and was interviewed by the NEC. I was asked who I wanted to succeed him and I answered it would have been Gordon Brown but, he having already withdrawn, it had to be Tony Blair. Because only he could win an election.

We’d then been out of office for 15 years. Winning was the only thing that was important. For, after 15 years I realised that winning was the only imperative. Not winning the argument, actually winning the election.

Corbyn won the leadership because the selectorate thought that none of the other candidates would win a general election either. So we might as well sink with our colours flying. And that’s also why he saw off Owen Smith. On this latter occasion probably correctly.

But, post the 2019 election the calculation of the internal electorate changed. Corbynite continuation RLB crashed and failed even the “it’s time for a woman”
(who I voted for*) argument stalled against “its more importantly time for a winner”
argument.

Because we’d had enough of not only losing but not even having any chance of winning.

Now, to Scotland. We are not going to win in May 2021. If John Smith or Donald Dewar came back from the grave we wouldn’t win. If Gordon Brown was willing and 20 years younger we wouldn’t win. But we could be players.

And that would be important. It is inconceivable that there could be a “unionist” administration in Scotland. We share a mutual dislike of populist nationalism with the Tories but little else.

They would never ever sign up to a National care service (“you need the discipline of the market”) any more than we would ever sign up to cutting public spending. Real politics are important

However denying the SNP an overall majority is important, not just over independence. It will cause the long disguised fissure between those more interested in sharp suits than marching boots to really open up, with long term advantage to our side

It will also force Scotland to consider the existential question: if independence is patently off the table and a Uk Labour Government is a real possibility, would we really want to offer that no assistance? For a flag

But restricting the SNP to anything other than a majority isn’t just in Labour’s interest, it’s in Scotland’s interest. We couldn’t govern with the Tories but we could work with them to roll back the confusion between Party and Government, not least on public spending

To make sure parliamentary inquiries are run by parliament, not the government. To sack incompetent ministers. To amend bad legislation or block it altogether.

So, as I say, Labour doing even a bit better is a huge prize.

Which is why RIchard Leonard hanging on is such an appalling self indulgence. He knows he can’t improve our standings. He knows good comrades will lose their seats. He knows there is more chance we’ll be 4th than 2nd.

It’s not that he doesn’t care, it is that he, or at least those around him, regard these matters as secondary to the more important matter (to them) of keeping control of the Party apparatus for another eight months.

It’s pathetic. RIchard should go now. If he really loves the Labour Party as he claims, that is the only way to prove it. And if he wants to be remembered other than in utter infamy, that is his only chance to do that.