The reported determination of Mr Tony Blair to take the British Labour Party's election campaign "by the scruff of the neck" in order to inject "vision, passion and conviction" into it provokes the wry question: from whom? Is he not the primary author of his party's campaign planning? Is this latest twist another example of Mr Blair's propensity to react defensively to commentary and political attack and therefore, ironically, an exercise in self criticism? Or has he finally become impatient with the iron discipline of the tactical spin doctors for whom media imagery becomes an end in itself?
Whatever about that, there can be little doubt that Labour's election strategy does need such a stimulus. It is one thing to bemoan negative campaigning, as did the Blair aide making these observations, quite another to communicate effectively the positive features of Labour's programme for government. At their best, election campaigns are cauldrons of realism, offering insights into the clarity, coherence and credibility of parties programmes. Perish the thought, but one cannot help asking whether, so far, the campaign has not revealed a lack of vision, passion and conviction in Labour's programme precisely because it is so vague, so cautious or so vacuous as not to merit these appelations. If so, the campaign is doing its job as is intended by Britain's system of parliamentary democracy.
If not, then it is high time more was heard from Labour about its alternative vision for Britain after 18 years of Conservative rule. There is a palpable mood for change, but Labour cannot take it for granted that the tide will automatically flow in its direction if the party fails to spell out what it wants to do in office. A defensive approach, converging on Conservative policies and suggesting that change is possible without difference, which seems to be dictated by the need not to jeopardise the existing strong Labour lead in the opinion polls, could well backfire in the final stages of the campaign. There is plenty to say from within the perspective of New Labour's programme. Mr Blair's speech on education yesterday returned to a core theme. But it is vulnerable to the Liberal Democrat leader's criticism that more resources must be routed in that direction if it is to succeed, and a strong attack from Mr Major last night, reminding voters that Labour has taken on board many Tory reforms.
Mr Ashdown and his party have come over to many onlookers as more radical and passionate than Labour in this campaign. Many would see the best outcome involving some combination of their policies, if not in coalition then in co operation over a programme for government and a lasting realignment of British politics. The conviction that this is possible has animated many activists of New Labour, who are convinced that a broad modernisation of Britain's institutions and relations with Europe is necessary for national renewal. The Conservatives have been well served by Mr Major's conduct of the campaign so far, despite the difficult hand he has been served by voters fatigue with Tory rule and the continuing aura of sleaze that smacks of the end of an era. The next two weeks will tell whose vision, whose passion and whose conviction will convince the British electorate. If it is to be Labour's, more evidence of each will be required.