It's a common view in the media that Gordon Brown has yet to 'explain' his vision.  I happened to catch a speech he made a couple of weeks ago that gives a clear a sense of who he is and what he believes in as I think you're going to get. 

It wasn't extensively reported in the press, perhaps partly because it was to a church audience, or because it took place in Scotland. I think the biggest reason was because it can't be reduced to a one sentence soundbite. 

Commentators simply can't have it both ways - complaining one week that Brown has explained his mission and then failing to report its detail and tone of a landmark speech. Even those without faith can gain a lot from reading Brown's speech to the Church of Scotland, so here it is in full.

http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page15582.asp

Brendan Barber gave a thoughtful and considered speech to Progress last night which is available here:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/the_tuc/tuc-14830-f0.cfm

Far from blasting the Government as some newspapers have suggested today, he provides a clear direction of how Labour can win.  I've often thought that the unions have kept the Labour Party 'sensible' throughout our history, and now is no different.

Hopi Sen is in my view one of the top Labour bloggers out there and a proper big brain.  Today he effortlessly unpicks David Cameron's spending commitments.

http://hopisen.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/laughter-lines/   

I don't know what Hopi's doing these days, but I bet he's wasted.

I am pleased to report that Paul Blomfield has been selected as Labour's parliamentary candidate to succeed Richard Caborn in Sheffield Central.  Paul is a member of Unite (Amicus) and has been the District Party Chair for many years.  Paul won the contest in the first round of voting with a very impressive 78% of the vote. 

This week David Miliband gave a landmark speech in Bruges on Britain's future within Europe.

The Mirror newspaper put together a panel of six members of the public to interrogate the six candidates for the Deputy Leader's post. They all made good account of themselves, but one candidate stood out more than the others.  The panel was made up of Silla Carron (Pride of Britain Neighbour of the Year), Mohamed Lodhi (pensioner), Lesley Ward (school teacher), Emma Chapman (nurse) and Katan Alder (student).  


http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=19257969%26siteid=89520-name_page. html