I was surprised, when reading the works of Labour party members and activists, the vehemence with which they held the Tories. It was not even the absence of bipartisanship, but a tribal identity that marked the other party as the enemy. This is certainly a cultural shift and the resurgence of a hidden strand of emnity.
The hardening of this attack, and its more personal targets, was heralded by Peter Mandelson's speech and remarks in the conference yesterday. It is reported as a confessional from the King of comebacks, where he opts for marketing Labour as the underdogs and as insurgents. Think like you are in opposition and act accordingly.
But Mandelson lets the side down, as always, with the differential between high-flown flowery and the down and dirty. He musters his insults and calls Cameron a “flibbertigibbet”. A what? Did he want a prize for how many syllables he could say in one breath?
Yet, the constant amongst all of the politicians in Labour is that they view their role as the natural voice of the British people. They view this as their entitlement, their birthright and are unable to consider other alternatives. All we hear is the damage to be done, the Plan unwound, the suffering and woe if the Tories are returned to power. The stakes are now that high for them.
High stakes, political entitlement, a loose cannon as PM...