Labour would be left in an "electoral cul-de-sac" if its next leader tried to create a pre-New Labour party, Lord Mandelson has warned. Speaking to the Times, in the week that voting begins for a new leader, he appeared to be criticising Ed Miliband. Mr Miliband has said he can take the party beyond what he has called the "New Labour comfort zone". In an interview with the Independent, the leadership contender said Labour had became "cautious" in government. He said his policies would appeal to the common sense of voters.
All aboard the Milibandwagon
The leadership contender suggested New Labour had feared increasing taxes for high earners, as well as displaying an aversion to Old Labour's anti-Americanism and suffering from an unnecessary desire to protect the public from the views of Labour members. This led to a "control freak" style of party management and a "hollowed out" party.
Speaking to the Times, Lord Mandelson addressed Mr Miliband's criticisms of New Labour. He said: "I think that if he or anyone else wants to create a pre-New Labour future for the party then he and the rest of them will quickly find that that is an electoral cul-de-sac." The peer also accused Roy Hattersley and former leader Neil Kinnock of wanting to "hark back to a previous age".
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright said: "A contest that has rumbled on for months in a roadshow of hustings for Labour party members has sparked into life. The five candidates know that this is a critical moment in their campaigns because ballot papers are posted out on Wednesday and voting begins."
Mr Miliband's brother, David, will hold a rally for supporters in London later in which he is expected to criticise the government's vision of a "big society".
