Overview
- Files released to the National Archives reveal WI leaders cautioned No 10 they were wary of anything that smacked of capital P politics and of being patronised.
- Advisers including Alastair Campbell, Peter Hyman, David Miliband, Anji Hunter and Sally Morgan urged a more policy‑rich, harder‑edged speech and criticised Blair’s initial draft as too complacent or Majoresque.
- Miliband pressed for remarks that would define the policy terrain ahead of the next general election rather than a reflective tone suited to the audience.
- No 10’s Julian Braithwaite warned the text had grown to roughly twice the length the WI expected, and Blair ultimately cut the speech short after jeers, heckles and slow‑hand clapping from about 10,000 members.
- Contemporaneous coverage cast the fiasco as evidence New Labour had drifted from Middle England, a reading these newly released memos help explain.