As an MP, I never enjoyed the Queen’s speech. I can now confess that I missed two out of three held while I was a backbencher – once due to having a very new baby and once just because I couldn’t face the pomp and manifestation of the most anachronistic elements of parliament. Even as …

When Tom Winsor was appointed as the first non-police chief inspector of constabulary last year, I toyed with the idea that this could be a good thing. A breath of fresh air: focusing on the public rather than just the profession; allowing innovative new ideas brought from across the public sector and beyond. However, I …

George Osborne was despicable and wrong to link the case of the killing of the Philpott children to the benefits system. Many others have rightly condemned him for this. He was wrong in what he said – and he was wrong in what he failed to say. If he wanted to comment on the case, …

I’m sorry to see my former cabinet colleague – and friend – David Miliband leaving parliament and the UK. He’s one of the few politicians I worked closely with who could apply Labour values in a way which felt fresh and innovative. Tony Blair was the master at this, but it is wrong to think …

Today’s U-turn on minimum pricing for alcohol is a clear sign that we are in the second half of this parliament with the general election hoving into view and that the Tories are very worried about their chances. By the time I finished as home secretary, I was pretty convinced that the last Labour government …

What early lessons in political handling can we take from ‘Horsegate’? First, Mary Creagh’s energy and focus have been a lesson in effective opposition. She and her team deserve great credit for asking the right questions, being highly visible and using intelligence and research with forensic effectiveness while avoiding the risk of appearing to scaremonger. …

Is it shortsighted and parochial to campaign to save local hospital services? This was the theme of a radio interview I listened to last week with Joan Ruddock and Ara Darzi. Darzi was arguing that politicians can be too defensive and parochial in their health campaigns and that his review of stroke services in London, …

I’m not against reform in education – whether of qualifications or school governance.  After all, I did plenty myself in my two stints as an education minister.  However, I think reform should be based on evidence and preparing for the future rather than on dogma and deferring to the past. There were two examples this …

The time has come to stop apologising for our approach to immigration in government and to get serious in thinking about what the next Labour government will do in this most difficult policy area. Is it possible to devise a One Nation immigration policy? I’m more than happy to defend the last government’s record on …