Although we still need to see the details in the real Labour heartlands, and although I cannot help wondering at the editorial process where parts of this are concerned, Jon Cruddas writes:
St George’s Day is just round the corner.
Then it’s World Cup time and we’ll delude ourselves about our chances.
Next up, Scotland votes on whether to end its marriage with the UK.
And there is a right old ding-dong going on over Europe with a referendum possibly heading our way.
All this raises the question: Who speaks for England?
My boss Ed Miliband has the answer. This week he said Labour will give more power to English cities than at any point in past 100 years.
This is a big deal. We want Manchester to beat Munich, Leeds to compete with Lille and Birmingham to grow quicker than Barcelona.
We want our cities and towns to be engines of national growth, so we can tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
As our country grows, so must the wealth and chances your family get.
The link between these has been broken.
Too much power in Whitehall and too much reliance on City finance have left the country skewed, tilted toward London and the south-east.
We will restore the balance.
The rules of the game have been rigged against ordinary people and it’s up to Labour to change that.
As Ed said, we’ll spread power more fairly across the country and we’ll push it down to local communities.
That means good work for every family – and good homes for our children. It’s a New Deal for England and I’m right behind Ed.
Alex Salmond wants to take Scotland out of the UK.
I reckon we are stronger together. But even if he loses the referendum in September, we’ll see more powers for Holyrood.
Which means the status quo doesn’t cut it any more.
So who will stand up for the English?
Some say Nigel Farage. Good bloke but I don’t want him in charge.
He has Cameron on the run but his party have their eye on Labour voters who feel no one speaks for them.
Too many English people don’t feel they belong. Their industries and jobs have gone and so has the lifestyle their parents and grandparents had.
This is crunch time. Labour can be the patriotic party that speaks for the English and rebuilds our great cities and our country.
In 2015 we will seize the chance.
Labour lost England in the 2010 General Election. Now Labour is coming home.
Then it’s World Cup time and we’ll delude ourselves about our chances.
Next up, Scotland votes on whether to end its marriage with the UK.
And there is a right old ding-dong going on over Europe with a referendum possibly heading our way.
All this raises the question: Who speaks for England?
My boss Ed Miliband has the answer. This week he said Labour will give more power to English cities than at any point in past 100 years.
This is a big deal. We want Manchester to beat Munich, Leeds to compete with Lille and Birmingham to grow quicker than Barcelona.
We want our cities and towns to be engines of national growth, so we can tackle the cost-of-living crisis.
As our country grows, so must the wealth and chances your family get.
The link between these has been broken.
Too much power in Whitehall and too much reliance on City finance have left the country skewed, tilted toward London and the south-east.
We will restore the balance.
The rules of the game have been rigged against ordinary people and it’s up to Labour to change that.
As Ed said, we’ll spread power more fairly across the country and we’ll push it down to local communities.
That means good work for every family – and good homes for our children. It’s a New Deal for England and I’m right behind Ed.
Alex Salmond wants to take Scotland out of the UK.
I reckon we are stronger together. But even if he loses the referendum in September, we’ll see more powers for Holyrood.
Which means the status quo doesn’t cut it any more.
So who will stand up for the English?
Some say Nigel Farage. Good bloke but I don’t want him in charge.
He has Cameron on the run but his party have their eye on Labour voters who feel no one speaks for them.
Too many English people don’t feel they belong. Their industries and jobs have gone and so has the lifestyle their parents and grandparents had.
This is crunch time. Labour can be the patriotic party that speaks for the English and rebuilds our great cities and our country.
In 2015 we will seize the chance.
Labour lost England in the 2010 General Election. Now Labour is coming home.
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