This deserves wider circulation. Hidden by a silly and misleading title the BBC’s Nick Robinson has a post which links to a speech by former Home Secretary Charles Clarke which savages the record of the current Labour Government.

Clarke’s historical analysis is a bit dodgy, but it is difficult to disagree with remarks like “Labour has wasted much of the first half of this parliament.” Obviously Clarke has his own agenda but there is some useful ammunition in there. I particularly liked;

“In those first two terms to 2005, many hard decisions were put off or avoided and many of the reforms which were set in motion were not completed. The reasons were varied, and often understandable, but the list of subjects where change is incomplete, or has not even been broached, is lengthy. It includes: establishing green and sustainable practice (for example in transport, energy and construction); public sector reform (local government, trust schools, foundation hospitals, ‘copayment’, and public sector pay); housing; welfare reform (housing benefit, women’s pensions, care in old age, disability); constitutional change (Lords reform, Scotland and the UK); EU engagement (constitution, euro); conduct of politics (party funding and the media); prisons and probation; immigration and identity.”

You can read the full text here (PDF).