Is the red flag still flying?

I think the main problem with the current contest for the leadership of the Labour party is that there seems to be no agreement over just what the party stands for - or should stand for - in the twenty-first century.  The party was the product of the first half of the twentieth century - but that time is gone, and to a great extent the party's raison d'être has gone with it.  Whatever you think of Tony Blair, he realised this and appreciated that the future lay with a new vision and a new set of values. So why does the party now hold the man who led them to three election victories in such low regard?  The expression "blairite" is used to denigrate anyone who dares to stray from the old ideals.  And herein lies their problem - they may have had three victories, but as far as many party members are concerned, they weren't really labour victories. So the party needs to decide - what does it want - electoral success or adherence to the ideals on which the party was founded - ideals which in great part have had their time?  And that's what's really going on as they seek a new leader - pragmatism or idealism? It will be interesting to see how it works out.