Jack Layton, the Leader of Canada’s new Official Opposition, the left leaning NDP, has given unequivocal backing to the nation’s postal workers who were locked out earlier this month by their employer, Canada Post.

How refreshing it is to hear a political leader stand up and offer unqualified support to a trade union in dispute and to argue the workers’ case, not apologetically but with brio.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has the NDP batting for it in Parliament.

This is what Layton told the Canadian House of Commons on 23 June.

Let us talk about the contract the government wants to impose. The contract divides workers into two categories: new versus old, young workers versus more senior workers. By asking new workers to accept lower wages, less secure retirement benefits and less vacation time, the government is turning them into second-class workers.

I admire the workers for rising up against this injustice, even though it is not necessarily their rights and benefits that are in jeopardy, but those of future employees. The workers have stood up to protect the next generation, upholding the tradition of the labour movement. That is also a tradition of the NDP, one we are proud of.

I find myself imagining Ed Miliband making that kind of speech at Westminster.

Difficult, yes, but not impossible.

Labour leaders don’t need to triangulate.

Ed doesn’t have to go along with the myth that “we are all in it together”.

He doesn’t need to distance Labour from the unions as if people with a grievance about their pensions carry some dreadful toxin that may infect him.

Why not support the unions on Thursday?

And admire them for taking a stand.

That would get people talking.

The Cameron brand

David Cameron wrote to me in 1999 when he was Head of Corporate Affairs at Carlton Communications enclosing a copy of a fact file, explaining more about the businesses and the “strategy going forward”. (see attachment below)

He hoped that I would find the booklet useful, inviting me to write to him if I had any questions.

Alas, I never did get back to him.

As I subsequently watched his rapid rise through the ranks of the Conservative Party to become its Leader (without the support of the majority of Conservative MPs) I never stopped thinking of him as a highly talented marketing man, giving the Conservative brand a makeover and then going all out to sell it with great panache.

Who can forget the hug-a-hoodie phase? Or the green period with that engaging photo shoot with panting huskies somewhere on the Arctic Circle.

Cameron is good on his feet and has an easy charm but now, after a year in the job, I’d like to hear more about his “strategy going forward”.

It is obvious he can keep the show on the road. But after so many U turns I am not entirely sure he knows where he is going.

Attachments:

David Cameron to GP.pdf

[Cameron as Head of Corporate Affairs]

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