Labour MPs should think twice before alienating spokesman for the left, Owen Jones (and his growing army of followers!)

One criticism made of Labour MPs is that some of them, like many (if not most) Tory MPs, lack emotional intelligence and the ability to manage their emotions appropriately, for the level of office they hold. 

 

Everyone remembers Liam Byrne's reaction to losing the 2010 General Election, that famous memo to his predecessor, David Laws, stating "I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards and good luck!"  It was reported as childish and spiteful, because clearly, it was. Rightly or wrongly, Liam Byrne remains despised, even within his own party, for letting the side down, when Labour was trying to project itself as dignified in defeat.  Some public figures are so brilliant at their jobs and so adored by the public, they can get away with their halo slipping every so often.  Unfortunately, Liam Byrne is not one of these.

 

And neither is Labour MP, Simon Danczuk, who for some reason, took it upon himself to launch into a ranting personal attack on spokesman, hero and darling of the left, Owen Jones, yesterday on the BBC's Daily Politics programme, after he justifiably criticised the Opposition for failing to stand up for people at the bottom of society, against these brutal government cuts.

 

Labour MPs need to remember that in the 2010 General Election, 80% of the 45 million people eligible to vote, chose not to vote for Gordon Brown.  This undoubtedly included many former party supporters who felt New Labour did not represent them.  The reason they didn't vote for Brown was not because he was too left wing!!

 

Ed Miliband, while losing the unpopular New Labour tag (quite rightly in many people's view) has focussed most of his attention on retaining the support of those on the centre right of Labour and floating voters.  It's baffled people at times, but he's one of the most astute politicians I've ever listened to, and he's definitely not lacking in emotional intelligence, so he must have his reasons.  But Ed Miliband knows, if he's to secure victory in 2015, with a good majority - to give him a mandate for the sorts of radical changes most people want on issues like banking, health, transport, energy companies and so on - he will also need the support of those on the left of the party. He cannot afford for those socialist Labour supporters to abandon him in 2015, as they abandoned Gordon Brown. 

 

Owen Jones is a man of equal intellect, emotional intelligence and integrity to Ed Miliband.  They seem to fall on opposite sides of the Labour movement, but between them, they sweep up most people who identify in some way with Labour.  Whether New Labour MPs like it or not, Owen Jones has an enormous following which has successfully bridged the generations, Polly Toynbee, Tony Benn and my own mother have always been full of admiration for the brilliant young writer. Equally, young people connect with him, because he speaks so eloquently and so passionately about opportunities taken away from their generation by this brutal Conservative government.   

 

The point has been made, that Owen Jones is more than capable of holding his own against any politician of any party, and he certainly is, but with 2015 looming on the horizon, Labour still has so much work to do, to try to win back those alienated supporters, and launching attacks on a popular left-wing journalist, is not the way to do it.  Simon Danczuk needs to focus on fighting his enemies in parliament, if indeed he does consider Conservatives to be the enemy! 

Award-winning, best-selling author, Owen Jones has 122,053 followers on Twitter.  Labour MP, Simon Danczuk, has a tiny majority  (1.94%) and accordingly only 3,323 followers on Twitter.  So who should be listening to whom, I wonder!