Was it really a good idea to rip up the Sun and insult its readership?
I am sure it played well with the crowds and pleased many of the demoralised delegates.
That, however, is the problem.
Peter Mandelson, in a more lucid time, said that one should act not as if addressing the conference, but the country az a whole. Tony Woodley ripping up The Sun marked the moment when Labour leaders stopped talking to the country and started talking to itself, complete with telegenic action.
If talking to oneself personally is a sign of insanity, in political terms it is a sign of a loss of mandate.
Astute political leaders understand that to govern, one needs a broad church of support. Parties must be diverse in membership, and votes courted beyond the core. Blair understood this with his talk of Big Tent politics, and The Cameron project has the same understanding.
Yesterday, however, Labour turned its back on big tent politics in favour of pleasing the crowd.
That may help a post-defeat leadership contest, but it won’t reduce the chances of defeat.
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