Mandelson warns Ed over 'comfort zone'
New Labour pioneers Peter Mandelson and Alastair Campbell have warned Ed Miliband not to let Labour drift into its “comfort zone”.
The two men were speaking at a fringe event at Labour Party conference, which paid tribute to the late New Labour strategist Philip Gould, author of The Unfinished Revolution.
Lord Mandelson told Labour delegates: “The revolution is never finished. It is always continuing.”
He also warned: “The attraction to any party – but particularly to the Labour Party – to its comfort zone and complacency is something that we constantly have to watch.”
Mr Campbell agreed, saying he was concerned that some people in the Labour Party were too relaxed about its electoral prospects.
He said: “That’s really important this week… Don’t be positive and upbeat because we’re ten points ahead in the polls. We should be positive about being 20 points ahead in the polls when we go into the election.
“Complacency does lead to the comfort zone - the comfort zone stops you challenging your own position the whole time, and I think that's what you've got to do right up to the election.”