Labour could “come back” and win the next election, said gay politician Peter Mandelson in a Labour conference speech.
At the last conference of its kind before the next General Election, the First Secretary of State argued that a Labour government had “never been more needed,” adding the Labour party should behave as “fighters, not quitters.”
The Labour veteran, who twice resigned from Cabinet positions under former Prime Minister Tony Blair, also praised Gordon Brown for his “grip” throughout the recession, backing both him and the party with his “undivided loyalty.”
In response, the prime minister told the Labour conference they should be “proud” of Lord Mandelson’s contribution to the party.
Calling on voters to reject what he dubbed the Tory policy of “concealment not real” change, Lord Mandelson attacked Labour opponents as incapable of dealing with the challenges facing the UK.
Calling for Labour solidarity in the face of flagging opinion polls, Lord Mandelson added: “You win elections on the future not the past. This will be a change election. Either we offer it or the British public will turn to others who say they do.”
While admitting the successors of the forthcoming election were not yet decided, Lord Mandelson outlined his optimism for a Labour success, but acknowledged success would only come if the Labour party “show[ed] the British people that we have not lost the fighting spirit and appetite for change”.
The prime minister—who will speak to conference delegates on Tuesday—has faced repeated calls to call an early General Election by Conservative party leader David Cameron, who this week was accused of triumphalism after claiming the next election was “in the bag”.