Labour’s election victory in 2015 was as welcome as it was unexpected. As quickly as the election day sunshine gave way to the more typical early summer rainstorms, Labour’s euphoria at being given a modest (though workable) Commons majority was muted by the gravity of the problems facing the new government, and its wish to …

It’s hard to imagine now, but when the Queen last stood before parliament, it seemed all too easy to imagine that the Coalition would cast Labour into perpetual opposition; that David Cameron and Nick Clegg had succeeded where Tony Blair and Paddy Ashdown had failed, that British politics had been realigned: and that Labour was …

The Labour party must look to education as a way of winning arguments and changing lives. It shows our commitment to communities; education is where the future is built. It is also vital to our fiscal credibility that we find the middle ground between overspending and starving our schools of funds. The party should make …

Labour’s alternative Queen’s speech should show that when spending is tight for government and families we are prepared to use the power of the state to give people who want a better standard of life a break. 1.    Labour should insist that the government stop spending billions on handouts and instead creates a job programme …

My Lords and Members of the House of Commons, My government’s programme I lay before thee, It shall be based on transparency and utmost honesty, It shall be based on civil liberty. My government shall respect and recognise love, Love and commitment in many forms, It should give equal rights no matter their sexuality, My …

So there’s not much money to spend and further cuts still to make if the deficit is to be dealt with. And anyway the electorate aren’t all that keen on the government spending as much as they do. You can add to that the nagging fear of many that Labour will spend too much and …

The Queen’s Speech is nearly upon us. It seems likely that the coalition government – having pushed through many of its ‘reforms’ in the first two years of the parliament – will present a relatively slimline legislative agenda (preferring to focus on deficit reduction). Yet Labour people should be restless for change and accept that …

Five bills in 500 words the man from Progress says. No polling or strategy nonsense this time, and obviously, as you’re always complaining that Labour folk need to remember the deficit, you won’t be suggesting any additional spending. Here goes … If you’ve been in work for two years and lose your job, you get …

Labour’s alternative Queen’s speech should do three things. First: assert Labour’s commitment to fiscal rigour – the number one issue; the top priority;  the key to being taken seriously again on every other policy issue. Second: begin the work of reforming both our economy and our political culture so that people who have become marginalised …