Labour in opposition

Abstract

Every time we approach a general election, political commentators remind us of the old maxim that oppositions do not actually win elections; rather it is governments that lose them. Removals from office are thus to be attributed to the perceived failings of incumbent administrations, rather than the merits of the opposition as an alternative. For example, in 1979, the election of the Conservatives under Margaret Thatcher was a consequence of Labour under James Callaghan appearing to be economically incompetent in light of the Winter of Discontent. Equally, the election of New Labour under Tony Blair in 1997 was a consequence of the perceived economic incompetence of the John Major administration in light of their humiliating departure from the Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday. That we have a Conservative administration, albeit in a coalition, is a by-product of the damage to the credibility of Labour and Gordon Brown caused by their perceived failings surrounding the banking collapse and the subsequent recession.