Listening to Tony and learning from Scotland

By Claire Gill

I’ll start on a note that some may think is controversial: it’s great to see Tony Blair back in domestic politics. Making his speech in Sedgefield today he highlighted some of the challenges that Britain faces and warned against the spectre of a Tory government.

Interestingly, Labour’s most successful PM raised some issues about the Conservative Party that have been levelled at the SNP in Scotland for some time now. He told party members that the world was becoming increasingly interdependent: a fact that seems to have escaped both the SNP as they continue their push for independence in the face of underwhelming support and the Tories as they continue to cosy up to the right wing of Europe. Blair warned party members about the two-faced Tories that will say one thing to get elected and do another when in office. In Scotland, we have been living with the reality of such a government for three years. Lavish promises were strewn upon the Scottish electorate in 2007. Bitter disappointment is facing the students, parents, carers and first time buyers who believed in them. And Blair spoke of the potential and promise that exists in Britain today – such promise that the SNP are happy to squander in Scotland as they spend their money on pipe dreams rather than the dreams of Scotland’s young people.

Tony Blair has always challenged Labour to be at its best. This has never been so important as in this election. Learn from the Scottish experience. It is no coincidence that the SNP are known as the Tartan Tories and we must work hard north of the border to send the message that a vote for them would be as good as a vote for Dave and the boys.

South of the border we must talk up our record, be proud of our successes and make sure that every last Labour voter turn out to stop a Conservative renewal. If we do not, it won’t just be Scotland’s most vulnerable left out in the cold while its government turns its back on them.

Listen to Tony – he talks a lot of sense.