Key Takeaways
- Peter Mandelson warned Tony Blair about the potential damage Gordon Brown’s supporters could cause to Labour’s 2005 general election campaign
- Relations between Blair and Brown were strained due to a perceived promise by Blair to step down and allow Brown to take over
- Mandelson advised Blair to manage the tensions carefully and to woo the left-leaning media to gain their support
- Alastair Campbell was advised to be kept in the background due to his controversial past as No 10 communications chief
- The tensions between Blair and Brown were temporarily patched up during the election campaign, but re-emerged once Labour was back in office
Introduction to the Labour Party Conflict
The Labour Party, under the leadership of Tony Blair, was preparing for the 2005 general election, aiming for a third successive victory. However, behind the scenes, tensions were rising between Blair and his Chancellor, Gordon Brown. According to newly released government files, Peter Mandelson, who was about to leave for Brussels to take up the post of Britain’s EU commissioner, warned Blair about the potential damage Brown’s supporters could cause to the election campaign from within. Mandelson’s warning was based on the strained relations between Blair and Brown, which dated back to the autumn of 2004.
The Strained Relations between Blair and Brown
The strained relations between Blair and Brown were rooted in a perceived promise by Blair to step down towards the end of Labour’s second term, allowing Brown to take over. Brown and his allies believed that Blair had reneged on this promise, leading to a sense of betrayal and mistrust. As a result, Brown’s supporters were eager to undermine Blair’s leadership and campaign, potentially wrecking Labour’s chances of winning the election. Mandelson, aware of these tensions, advised Blair to carefully manage the situation and ensure that Brown’s supporters were included in the campaign without being given too much power or influence.
Mandelson’s Advice to Blair
In a file released to the National Archives, Mandelson outlined the challenges that Blair would face during the election campaign. He warned that Brown would want to inherit a healthy Commons majority when he eventually took over, but would not want Blair to get the credit. Mandelson wrote, "A big issue will be you personally. The media will want to bring pressure on you to a new level of intensity. Next door [Brown] will want a good majority but will not want you to do well." Mandelson also stressed the need to woo the left-leaning media, which had become critical of the government’s handling of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He advised Blair to create reasons for the left-leaning media to support the party, and to avoid antagonizing them.
The Role of Alastair Campbell
Mandelson also advised Blair to keep Alastair Campbell, the former No 10 communications chief, in the background. Campbell had stepped down amid controversy over the government’s dossier on weapons of mass destruction, and Mandelson believed that his presence could antagonize the left-leaning media. Mandelson wrote, "You must be conscious of the need to create reasons for them to come back on side. Avoid things that will antagonize them (therefore be careful about AC – he is indispensable but must be equally invisible)." By keeping Campbell out of the spotlight, Mandelson hoped to reduce the risk of further controversy and to improve the party’s chances of winning the election.
The Outcome of the Election
Despite the tensions between Blair and Brown, the two men were able to patch up their differences sufficiently to campaign together. Labour went on to win the 2005 general election, albeit with a reduced majority. However, the tensions between Blair and Brown quickly re-emerged once Labour was back in office, setting the stage for a long and contentious battle for leadership of the party. In the end, Brown would eventually succeed Blair as Prime Minister, but the legacy of their strained relationship would continue to haunt the Labour Party for years to come.
Conclusion
The newly released government files provide a fascinating insight into the inner workings of the Labour Party during the 2005 general election campaign. The tensions between Blair and Brown, rooted in a perceived promise and a sense of betrayal, threatened to undermine the party’s chances of winning the election. Mandelson’s warning to Blair, and his advice on how to manage the situation, highlights the complexity and nuance of the relationships between the key players in the party. Ultimately, the Labour Party’s victory in the 2005 election was a testament to the party’s ability to put aside its differences and work towards a common goal, but the legacy of the tensions between Blair and Brown would continue to shape the party’s future for years to come.
