One more heave

"One more heave" was a phrase used pejoratively to describe the political strategy the Labour Party leader John Smith adopted while in opposition following Neil Kinnock's 1992 General Election defeat to John Major.^[1][2] Under this approach Labour acted cautiously and aimed to capitalise on the unpopularity of the Conservative government.^[3] Tony Blair and Gordon Brown considered such an approach too timid and were critical of it in private. The electoral success of such an approach was never tested as Smith died of a heart attack in 1994 and Tony Blair won the subsequent leadership election.

References

1. http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2012/04/04/the-worst-loss-of-all/
2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/mar/28/willheorwonthe
3. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4263376/A-safe-pair-of-hands-is-the-last-thing-Conservatives-need.html