Tory press release shows just how out of touch they are

By Tom Miller

Ever quick to man the PR barricades, the Conservative Party have put up a lightning response to Ed Miliband’s launch of LabourSpace earlier today.

Unfortunately the content completely misses the point about the technology they’re dealing with. We’ve spoken to Labour, who were quite happy to take their statement to bits, point by point. Firstly, the Tories made the claim that LabourSpace is two years old. Another opportunity to complain about re-announcements.

Except this wasn’t actually a re-announcement at all. The site has simply been in development for a long time. But then, these are just the facts. Why bother mentioning them?

Labour had plenty to say in response.

“It has been standard practice for years with websites. We put the website online in beta before officially launching it – a practice followed by, among others, Microsoft and Google.”

This is a sensible point. Have the tories really never heard of Beta sites? Did they really fail to notice that, erm, this was one? In total fairness, the header section of LabourSpace has made this apparent to anyone with half a brain for a very long time. Perhaps half is too much?

“We are launching it officially today and getting the message out there that this is a great opportunity for people beyond the Labour Party to have a say in what they think should be in the next Labour manifesto.”

In other words, the launch is taking place as the development phase ends. Disgraceful!

For a start… well, you just don’t get the internet, do you?

Secondly, I personally think that allowing people to make their campaigns and ideas visible is a very positive step in the right direction. Having a video on LabourSpace might not be a binding conference resolution, true, but on the other hand, it gives people much wider than the CLP delegate pool a chance to debate and put things forward. Labour has made a positive move, which can only open it up and further engage it with people.

Why is this relevent?

Well, Labour go on to top off the argument:

“The Tories don’t even let their own party members have a say in their manifesto – let alone anyone else.”

Pretty final.

One other thing the blue rinse spinmeisters over at CCHQ have been complaining about is the fact that the site features so called ‘Old Labour’ policies such as rail renationalisation, and “damning criticism of Government policy” such as ‘reduce Uni fees’.

Seeing as Conservative members get no say on their own manifesto at all, perhaps the Tories would be happier if all of the proposals on the site had to toe the government line mercilessly? I’m sure if they did, the Tories would be oh so happy to give Labour credit for it.

Or, maybe they’re happy to push out press releases to criticise anything the Labour Party does, even when it makes themselves look like confused, isolated dinosaurs?

In any event, I think Labour have got something to be happy with; if Tory press officers are spending their time keeping peeled eyes on Labour’s websites, then they’ve obviously done a good deal of their job already! This press release should be regarded as a particularly misguided form of flattery.