When Labour learns to love Tony Blair they will return to power...

First Polly Toynbee, now Jackie Ashley. Its turning out to be a bumper week for the political reality that is slowly dawning on the Labour party.

Tony Blair once said that the New Labour project would only be complete when the Labour Party learned to love Peter Mandelson. Naturally he assumed that after delivering three consecutive and hugely popular election victories, his own position would be unassailable. He also did not recognise the stupidity of the left.

Labour's problem is Tony Blair. The only Labour politician of our lifetime to have inspired a generation with his political vision and aspiration.

When Labour learn to love him, they will return to power.

I have seen the future and it is hatred

Let us praise Ed Miliband for doing something useless writes Jackie Ashley in today's Guardian. Quite. Her solution? Not forwarding new policy ideas or re-interpreting the way forward or painting that compelling vision of where Britain needs to be. No, just re-directing Labour's hatred - from the LibDems to the Tories. Simple really. Why didn't we think of it before?

The language of politics

'Politics needs insults – they keep democracy afloat' writes Jackie Ashley in today's Guardian. She totally misses the point. Politics is about verbal argument, both oral and written. It thrives on  'reasonable conclusions based on supported facts' as the anti-tea campaigner suggested. That means measured and carefully weighed conclusions supported by verifiable and accurate facts - not 'final solutions' or 'social cleansing' when talking of housing benefits.