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Journalism of Courage
Twenty years ago, we watched from university as the Labour party conference enjoyed the difficulties of Mrs Thatcher8217;s second term, and deluded itself about its own route to power. Our party was obsessed with the icons and betrayals of the past, and lost sight of the future.
This week8217;s Manchester conference must not become a 1980s moment. Looking to the challenges of the 21st century, we must talk ideas not division8230; Understanding the world in which we live in order to be capable of changing the future is the task for the second generation of New Labour. If once it was 8220;the economy, stupid8221;, today we face 8220;economics plus8221;. We must respond not just to the widely recognised challenges of globalisation but also the equally powerful force of interdependence. That means economics plus communications, plus travel, plus immigration, plus a sense of the new ways people live their lives.
New Labour has been good at paying teachers and nurses and police more. But we have to do more to make public servants feel like social entrepreneurs with the power to reshape lives8230;
New Labour has been more successful than any government since 1960 in reducing poverty. But we have to do more to improve life chances8230;
Finally, New Labour has been good at responding to crises and understanding the public mood. But we need to do more to develop a different sort of politics and government, where citizens become players and not just spectators.
Alexander is transport secretary, Miliband is environment secretary in the Tony Blair government. Excerpted from 8216;The Guardian8217;, September 25
