Given the sound economic case for the public ownership of Railtrack and popular support for its renationalisation one has to conclude it is purely a political decision that has prevented Labour from committing itself to bringing Railtrack back into public hands. This decision was a mistake, which I believe should still be reversed. Labour's biggest problem since 1997 has been the growing disaffection of many of those who voted for the party at the last election. The root cause of that public mood was that by the mid-term of the last Parliament there were not enough improvements in our public services. This was a direct consequence of the decision to stick rigidly to Tory spending limits for the first two years.
Labour is now committed to expanding public expenditure.
None the less, the delay in spending more on the public services made itself felt throughout this election campaign, not least in the low turnout. The capacity of politicians to show by their actions that voting makes a difference is bound to affect whether the public thinks it is worth voting. I canvassed for 11 Labour candidates this time, eight of whom won for the first time in 1997. In both marginal seats and solid Labour strongholds I found widespread support for the return of a Labour government and deep hostility to the Tories. I also found a real sense that the voters were consciously giving us a second chance.