Do you think open primaries are a logical solution to some of these problems for the Labour party?
I think we should explore open primaries. We would have to think about how to run them, because there are a lot of different models – even within the American system – and you’ve got to find one that fits our system. But certainly getting the broad constituency of party voters to vote for candidates, if we can develop that and get people to be involved – which is the big issue – would certainly be worth exploring. But it’s easier when there’s a huge political and cultural tide running with you, as there was with Obama. But that didn’t develop by accident; Obama and his people had to create it. Well, I think both actually. After the Bush years there was a huge political opening for something different that would draw a line under that era. Had Hillary Clinton’s campaign been successful, we’d still be talking about how she mobilised a citizen’s movement against the old regime. Of course, Obama took it to a different level. And he used her as an example of where things had gone wrong in t
