I do hope he has finished with New Labour. If Labour shoudl be concerned with wealth creation it should be wealth creation *for all*.

I'm reading a book by a couple of university professors called "The Spirit Level" in which they present in a fairly digestible format the findings of over 20 years of research looking into the effects of inequality on societies. They back everything up with cold hard facts, but the essence of it shows that in countries with a big disparity between rich & poor the things we generally don't like to see happen in society like drug abuse, violent crime, sexual abuse & so on are way more common, and the things we desire like trust, neighbourliness, community spirit & so on are lacking - and in countries where people have a small gap between rich & poor, the opposite is true. I'd urge everyone to read the book, as as far as I can see it demonstrates conclusively how right wing policies ultimately don't really benefit anyone that much (after you go over an average earning of $10K/year in a country, the average lifespan doesn't increase that much - Costa Rica has roughly the same average life expectancy as the US), and yet manage to do deeply damaging things to the majority of people in a country. Labour needs to think more about how it can benefit *everyone* the most.

Or, I think you'll find, they cast him as 'Red Ed' and so now people like you say things like 'he's tacking rightwards' when he stands up and talks about his ideas and vision.

Ed Miliband has so far said nothing that significantly deviates from what he was saying for months at Labour Leadership Hustings. if you disagree, then you've been reading to much conejectural journalism.

You'll find Ed is pulling a second-rate version of the Obama tactic e.g. being defined as a game-changer for his own party, and then lurching to his more natural centre ground once elected.

Those who voted for or supported him will be very disappointed when they find out he is merely his brother, minus the stature and experience.

Quite right too Ed.
Until Labour learns to understand, and even love 'business', its not go to make much of an impact in this global economy.
Incidently, there never was a new Party called 'New Labour'. Labour has always been Labour; Labour has simply has to move with the times and develop and evolve. If Labour doesn't its in danger of extinction, just like the dinosaurs, when struck by unforseen events.

The latest opinion polls don't look too good for Labour. We may be losing the economic argument on recovery. The public may be accepting the Govts line on austerity, until it hits them personally of course. The universal pensions idea could have mass appeal amongst pensioners, although I've never ever been in favour of 'universal benefits'. So Pensioners seem to have come up on top with most od their entitlements intact. They are the most likely to vote in elections anyway.

Could this be the equivalent of 'Right to Buy'. I notice this change like many of the other changes promised by this Coaliion ill onlt take effect after 2015 ie the next election. So it is an election bribe. Already they are laying the grounds for their next election victory. And Francis Maude of all people suggesting that the Lib Dems could continue even though the Cons came up with an absolute majority. They are already fighting the next election. Somehow, Lbour has to come up with a convincing rebuttal. Lets hope reality strikes the great British public.

Labour has to work on
1. Burnhams National Care Service.
2. A Peoples Bank and Post Office
3. More Mutualism and Co-operation in the Business Sector
4. Re-Nationalising Rail and the Utilities
5. A Secular Education System
6. More co-operation with Europe in Defence and Security
7. A National Police Force.