Dear Keir,
First, belated congratulations on becoming Leader of the Opposition. As a registered supporter, I voted for you: because I felt you represented the best chance of bridging the yawning chasm between Jeremy Corbyn and Tony Blair. Based on everything you told us during the campaign, and a lifelong record of fighting for the weak against the strong, I expected you to synthesise the ideas, policies and vision of Corbyn; the pragmatism, leadership and outcomes of Blair… and begin, at last, to heal this painfully divided party.
All Labour leaders face internal criticism to some extent. As Tony Benn always put it, Labour (almost) always hates its leaders but never gets rid of them; the Tories worship their leaders, then get rid of them the moment they lose. Even the greatest Prime Minister in British history, Clement Attlee, had somehow to steer a via media between the very different politics of Nye Bevan and Ernie Bevin. Politics is only ever the art of the possible; I felt you understood that very well.
You’ve only been in situ for a month, so I don’t want to be too harsh — and these, of course, are uniquely dark, challenging times. This is not and cannot be politics as usual; the country must come first. But with regard to that, I — and so many like me — am worried. Very worried. Not only about the UK… but about Labour, and about you.
