When it’s well-deserved, there’s nothing wrong in expressing admiration for a political opponent. From a Conservative perspective on the Labour Party, Frank Field obviously tops the list, followed by other decent sorts such as Kate Hoey, Tom Harris, Gisela Stuart and David Lammy. The only downside to such blue-on-red respect is that it is unlikely to do its recipients any favours with their own colleagues.
But perhaps that’s just as well.
An economically-literate and socially conservative Labour Party would be a formidable, indeed unbeatable, opponent. Tony Blair, who created the illusion of such virtues, won three elections – so just imagine what the real deal could achieve.
With this threat in mind, we ought to keep a wary eye on Stella Creasy, one of the few genuine stars in the 2010 intake of Labour MPs. Interviewed by Patrick Wintour in the Guardian, she speaks no end of good sense:
Well known for her campaigns against loan sharks (of the legal and illegal varieties) she is also concerned about another kind of debt – the national debt:
She also appears to understand that what really counts isn’t how much money we spend on public services, but the effectiveness with which it is spent:
Even worse, she seems to understand what the Big Society is – or should be – about:
Obviously, the appropriate Conservative response to all of this is to make sure that it’s our party that takes the lead on all of these issues. But until then, let’s take every opportunity to remind Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper that Stella Creasy stands for everything that they’re most afraid of.