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Selection row a symptom of Labour's woes
David Blunkett: watch my lips
By BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder
There is always the temptation when addressing a Labour conference to win a hero's reception by offering the activists what they want, even when there is no possibility of them getting it.
That is precisely what Education Secretary David Blunkett is now being accused of over his famous 1995 speech about no selection under Labour.
And his apparent U turn now comes as the party is receiving grim warnings about a loss of support among its core voters who, it is claimed, no longer see the point in voting Labour.
Veterans like Barbara Castle have joined the likes of Peter Kilfoyle and minister Peter Hain in warning that Tony Blair is so concerned with middle England that traditional Labour voters have become disillusioned and are unlikely to support him at the next election.
Even Commons leader Margaret Beckett has conceded that - despite the party's allegedly brilliant communications team - "the message isn't getting through as well as it should."
And, according to research by British Election Panel Study, support for the party is actually falling amongst the traditional working classes while rising amongst those in middle class jobs.
The statistics show just 12% of the working class voted Labour in last year's European elections compared with 13% in middle class professions.
That contrasted with 49% and 34% respectively in the 1997 general election.
Let down
The figures highlight exactly the warnings the prime minister is getting from senior figures.
There is always the temptation when addressing a Labour conference to win a hero's reception by offering the activists what they want, even when there is no possibility of them getting it.
That is precisely what Education Secretary David Blunkett is now being accused of over his famous 1995 speech about no selection under Labour.
And his apparent U turn now comes as the party is receiving grim warnings about a loss of support among its core voters who, it is claimed, no longer see the point in voting Labour.
 Baroness Castle has warned of apathy
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Even Commons leader Margaret Beckett has conceded that - despite the party's allegedly brilliant communications team - "the message isn't getting through as well as it should."
And, according to research by British Election Panel Study, support for the party is actually falling amongst the traditional working classes while rising amongst those in middle class jobs.
The statistics show just 12% of the working class voted Labour in last year's European elections compared with 13% in middle class professions.
That contrasted with 49% and 34% respectively in the 1997 general election.
Let down
The figures highlight exactly the warnings the prime minister is getting from senior figures.
Watch my lips. No selection, either by examination or interview, under a Labour government  |
David Blunkett
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And the row over selection is a classic example of how ordinary Labour supporters allegedly feel at best let down and, at worst, deceived.
Whatever David Blunkett meant in 1995, his words were crystal clear: "Watch my lips. No selection, either by examination or interview, under a Labour government."
It is now being claimed that he meant to say "no further selection" - but that has never been mentioned before and there has been growing resentment amongst activists that the apparently clear policy was being breached.
Alternatively both Mr Blunkett and the prime minister's spokesman have claimed the remarks were: "meant as a joke at the time".
But few believe that, by quoting US President George Bush's famous words "Read my lips, no new taxes" , Mr Blunkett was actually saying there would be selection under Labour.
Their anger is not helped by revelations about ministers, and the prime minister himself, sending their children to selective schools.
They fear that the alleged change in policy is another calculated attempt to keep the middle classes on board.
But they claim in doing so, traditional supporters are lost and, as Barbara Castle warned, apathy will set in.
Manifesto change
The truth is, of course, the policy had already changed by the time of the 1997 general election manifesto.
That clearly states: "Labour will never force the abolition of good schools whether in the private or state sector. Any changes in the admissions policies of grammar schools will be decided by local parents."
That is exactly what has happened, but the decision by Ripon grammar school in North Yorkshire has focussed attention on government policy and highlighted the apparent difference between Mr Blunkett's rabble rousing speech and accepted policy.
Worse, many Labour supporters see the affair as typical of New Labour in power - and that is where Tony Blair's real problem lies.
Whatever David Blunkett meant in 1995, his words were crystal clear: "Watch my lips. No selection, either by examination or interview, under a Labour government."
It is now being claimed that he meant to say "no further selection" - but that has never been mentioned before and there has been growing resentment amongst activists that the apparently clear policy was being breached.
Alternatively both Mr Blunkett and the prime minister's spokesman have claimed the remarks were: "meant as a joke at the time".
But few believe that, by quoting US President George Bush's famous words "Read my lips, no new taxes" , Mr Blunkett was actually saying there would be selection under Labour.
Their anger is not helped by revelations about ministers, and the prime minister himself, sending their children to selective schools.
They fear that the alleged change in policy is another calculated attempt to keep the middle classes on board.
But they claim in doing so, traditional supporters are lost and, as Barbara Castle warned, apathy will set in.
Manifesto change
The truth is, of course, the policy had already changed by the time of the 1997 general election manifesto.
That clearly states: "Labour will never force the abolition of good schools whether in the private or state sector. Any changes in the admissions policies of grammar schools will be decided by local parents."
That is exactly what has happened, but the decision by Ripon grammar school in North Yorkshire has focussed attention on government policy and highlighted the apparent difference between Mr Blunkett's rabble rousing speech and accepted policy.
Worse, many Labour supporters see the affair as typical of New Labour in power - and that is where Tony Blair's real problem lies.
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