Lefties 9: This will succeed through its success

What's the history of Field being a racist? I have to catch up on this particular story but I've always found him a bit odd, sometimes he made good criticisms of new Labour but I can remember being outraged by other things he said, I just can't remember what they were.

Frank Field, massive racist, moron. Guy is a halfwit. Very far right...

Will Hutton is a good thinker/commentator though

Frank Field never forgave GB for derailing his welfare reform thinking and has been out to get back at Brown/ nuLabour since.

Cinnamontoast - thank you for the link. It made me a bit bleak. We must coerce every woman we know to get involved in politics. Critical mass 'n' all.

Had a whole avalanche of bleak little thougths re. movement leftwards in Labour, but lost them when internet connection went down chez animula. Perhaps amother time.

Goodness, re. aubergines link - that is straight out of "Antony and Cleopatra". (The bit about putting Atony's former Generals in the frontline, so that he will "seem to fight with himself".)

Cunning indeed to put them in such unpopular places.

DM [spit] are reporting that Frank Field is taking a job under new government as a "Poverty Czar" and Will Hutton will be "Fair Pay Czar".

Link here

Haven't seen much about what happened at Lib Dems conference, have been weaning myself of news this weekend, and have watched the Boy George 1980s thing on Beeb 2 instead - incredibly retro

Does anyone remember Alan Milburn who was around a few years ago? I always thought he would make a brilliant prime minister wish he would come back on the scene.

It's a shame we can't blend the Milibands. David looks and sounds more like a leader I think, but Ed's much more in the right place on policy and is more personable. They are definitely the best Labour has got. I like Harriet too, but she's not going to go down well in those key marginals where everyone's got a Daily Mail tucked under their arm.

I really don't want this to just be a contest between the Milibands, it just doesn't seem right somehow.

I reckon Harriet Harman might stand nearer the time, after she has a few PMQ's under her belt.

I have been doing a bit of research on the two Millibands and they both sound very worthy. I think David sounds slightly more endearing as one article described the worst thing he ever called anybody was a clot ! It was Ed that did all that good work at that climate change conference though wasn't it or have i mixed them up ?

oops sorry don't know why that happened...have reported the many extra posts!

I am wondering what form the newly resurgent (we hope to God) Labour party will take...I have fond dreams of a new Bennite era. But that might end up with us in opposition for too long. We need to find that balance between public appeal (I know, bleurgh, but Milibands D and E do seem to have it) and yer actual socialism.

I am wondering what form the newly resurgent (we hope to God) Labour party will take...I have fond dreams of a new Bennite era. But that might end up with us in opposition for too long. We need to find that balance between public appeal (I know, bleurgh, but Milibands D and E do seem to have it) and yer actual socialism.

I am wondering what form the newly resurgent (we hope to God) Labour party will take...I have fond dreams of a new Bennite era. But that might end up with us in opposition for too long. We need to find that balance between public appeal (I know, bleurgh, but Milibands D and E do seem to have it) and yer actual socialism.

I am wondering what form the newly resurgent (we hope to God) Labour party will take...I have fond dreams of a new Bennite era. But that might end up with us in opposition for too long. We need to find that balance between public appeal (I know, bleurgh, but Milibands D and E do seem to have it) and yer actual socialism.

I am wondering what form the newly resurgent (we hope to God) Labour party will take...I have fond dreams of a new Bennite era. But that might end up with us in opposition for too long. We need to find that balance between public appeal (I know, bleurgh, but Milibands D and E do seem to have it) and yer actual socialism.

Hello gang. Didn't realise you had all slunk off over here.

Just recovering from a house full of 3 year old (and parents I hardly know) for DS's birthday party. Need a beer and will sit down and catch up.

Yay for Ed.

I have a definite sick-in-stomach feeling on hearing Cam's Etonian tones now- same as I used to get from Thatcher's back in the 80s...

Seen Cameron interview highlights.He didn't answer anything really did he.

Apparently they've had 400 new members in the last week and 100 resignations, so still a net gain. Not quite Labour's 12,000 (?) but I think there were 5,000 new members during the election campaign.

Vesela et al- whatever they say about labour not being progressive etc., fact is this deal is good for the top LD's but longer term will leave the membership in a bit of crisis and labour will benefit.

Pretty much everything I have read made it sound like the LibDems were never very serious about a deal with Labour. Fair enough really. I don't think we can really blame Labour for the LibDem's current situation however- they clearly chose to work with the Tories. I hope they will have a tempering influence and at least they bring some qualifications and diversity into the deal.

Clegg described the vote in favour as "a bit North Korean."