Labour makes great play of the need to focus on what works. This pragmatic approach to service delivery is correct. But it is vital that Labour does not create a dogma of its own to replace the outdated rival dogmas of top-down public ownership and inadequately regulated privatisation. If public-private partnerships will best deliver what the public needs, then well and good. If they will not do the job, then they should not be imposed.
Labour needs to face up to the limitations of the private sector.
On the great international question that faces Britain over the coming years, Mr Blair was much less impressive. The Labour leader's speech yesterday barely referred to the European Union and the debate about the euro. Inevitably, though, the subject dominated the questioning at yesterday's launch press conference. As a result, the debate on Europe took place on the media's terms and with Mr Blair, who allowed no Labour colleague to speak on this or any other subject, defensively restating the government's minimalist line. This approach is too cautious.