Good piece.
Glasman is a genius. Balls is a non-entity. If Labour has any sense, it will go for genius. So: don't hold your breath.
The elephant in the room, that not even Glasman has woken up to, is ecology. There is Black, Blue and Purple Labour - but no Green Labour (let alone Red Labour, obviously). The growth era is over. If Labour doesn't wake up to this, it will over time become more and more irrelevant, and the Green Party will take its place.
Any solution to the current crisis which puts its faith in growing the economy as the way out of that crisis is pissing in the wind.

Rupert is onto something... sustainable development? with a social conscience? that tames the excesses of corporations and uses the proceeds to decentralise our economy?

Green Labour! Count me in.

Very vulnerable !

Rupert Read writes, 'Glasman is a genius.'

The words of a genius: ''He is going to have to be both insurgent and establishment, conservative and radical, democratic and competent, patriotic and internationalist.'? They sound more like the words of a hot-air chancer to me. They are meaningless. 'He is going to have to go up a bit and down a bit, left a bit and right a bit, forward a bit and back a bit.' My god!

Freeman: Labour will not win with this lot running the show, but please don't change what you have. What’s Mr. Tourette’s [Ed Balls] answer to our economic woes borrow more, squander even more? Mr. Tourette’s always reminds me of a character from a David Cronenberg movie; you’re never quite sure when his head will explode. The man’s a deluded egocentric buffoon, he genuinely does have an over inflated option of his own abilities. Here’s one of the architects of Britain’s economic demise, telling the prime minister how to repair the damaged his own, now totally economically discredited previous government inflicted on the nation. Ed Balls, refused to accept the clear fact that high spending and high borrowing had driven us to economic disaster. He called on George Osborne to spend even more in order to avert recession i.e. [keep digging] A year on, Balls has lost the argument. Even he now agrees with the urgent need for drastic cuts in public spending. The only remaining matter of dispute between Government and now totally economically discredited opposition is the relatively minor detail of timing – i.e. how quickly the cuts should be made.

SR819 writes, '... a coherent, populist argument against immigration, bankers, and in favour of British owned business, traditionalist social and community values etc.'

Volksgemeinschaft. The antidote to socialism.

"We don't know where the money for tax and spend is going to come from"

Yes you do , he's spelt it out often enough.

A lot of simplistic twaddle in this article. The author has too easily fallen into the black and white trap. Not surprised as nuanced thought has never been a hallmark of R Davis' writing.

Dear Ed,
The comments from Dianne Abbott were malicious and offensive. Any member of parliament in a position of trust should not be thinking such thoughts never mind emphasising this on a social network site. It is so wrong

The standards set are poor and Ed Miliband (you) need to act swiftly or rather more swiftly. Abbot is not fit to serve as a shadow cabinet minister let alone a MP. Where is the courage Ed. This is a weak response to a situation that needed a show of leadership and key decision making. This has to be said.

If Ed (you)choose to ignore public opinion your position as Labour Party Leader is no longer tenable. The Labour Party does not need a ditherer it needs a leader. We are not getting that from you. The issue has caused more damage and mistrust of MP's at a time where good work has been done to portray your parliamentary members in good light.

In comparison love him or loathe him Cameron would have sacked her on the spot. Remember Patrick Mercer. Abbot simply has to go and go now.The Labour Party does not need people who have racist thoughts. It is quite clear that she knew what she was saying. You have now alienated yourself and the Labour Party from large sections of British Communities.

Ed have some bottle and nerve, even courage and do the ring right thing before this issue escalates further. If you choose to do nothing I feel that myself along with thousand of Labour supporters will lose faith and will no longer support you. Ignore this at your peril. The crisis that is developing in the Labour Party will deepen. Please listen to the British public and not the inexperienced advisors in your private opposition office.

I have always liked and supported you Ed as a person and intellectual politician(I know I have a funny way of showing it) but you ignore the very people that are genuine, committed and faithful opting for parachuting MP's, poor, young and inexperienced in life advisors.It is no surprise you are in the position you are in. Where is the fight. Where is the passion. Reeves, Ummunna and Twigg are not the answer to Labours problems and neither are the Blairites.

What is your next step Ed?

Mark Holbrook
Donacster

Mohammed, the "community" hasn't spoken against Glasman. It's only the Guardian reading Middle Classes who are offended by Glasman. Working class people are anxious about immigration, and it's not racist to say so. The Labour Party need to get a grip on the subject, as well as deal with the injustice of benefit fraud if they're to reconnect with working class people again.

Hello Mohammed,

I note from your reply you attempt to provide a valid and authentic argument or rather an example of friendly persuasion using Lord Glasman's idea of the Labour Party reaching out to many disaffected individuals who identify themselves with right wing tendencies. My initial reaction is that you have a reasonable point to make in your explanation

Billy Hayes primary role as a trade unionist, is to promote or rather oversee the protection of his membership in the position he holds. That is to protect and serve the interests of his members.

It is rather poignant to point out that the working class for whom Mr Hayes represents, reaches across the political divide, religious dogma affilliations and left and right wing doctrines. In short the working class are not white working class (although they may be the majority)but a multi cultural working class. Yoou perhaps agree with this sentiment. That would rightly or wrongly include individuals from group memberships that would be regarded as problematic, undemocratic and not representative of what is expected in a good society.

Ok. You emphasise the following point by Lord Glasman.

“To build a party that brokers a common good, that involves those people who support the EDL [English Defence League] within our party” - Maurice Glasman.

I will provide you with another quote

" The West should find a way to negotiate directly with Taliban"
David Miliband.

One relates to a national party issue, the other international relations issue. What is the difference Mohammed?

Mohammed please provide me with an intellectual solution.

Are you saying David Miliband is not suitable to become Leader of the Labour Party.

Ed Miliband has a bigger problem than his own personal public image - the labour party image is perceived to be stuffed to the rafters with champagne socialists, moralising islington chattering classes, wealthy liberal lawyers, never-had-a-real-job oxbridge graduates and labour luvvie actors - all of whom are far far far removed from the realities of everyday life.