Where's the Beef?

Former Labour cabinet minister - Charles Clarke - gave an inteview the other day in which he said that his beloved party is being let down by its leadership.

Labour's former home and education secretary - normally not one to pull his punches - said:

"Just to say that this Government is doing a load of rubbish is absolutely not good enough.

We need to have a clear narrative of what we did right and what we did wrong. We're not remotely near that.

Also, we have to remember we are opposing as a potential future government. Simply to say what the Government is doing is a load of rubbish is absolutely not good enough. We have to say what we would do in these circumstances.

Until those questions are answered, it will be really difficult to put the challenge to the Conservatives."

And the more I hear from the present Labour leadership - on health, pensions and benefits reform - the more I find myself agreeing with the old bruiser - who worked for Neil Kinnock once upon a time.

Because all we ever hear these days from Ed Miliband these days is that he agrees with  reforming the benefits system - for example.

But only in theory - only in principle - we never get any practical proposals. 

The Labour leadership never spells out exactly what it would do - never sets out a clear alternative - despite having been in office for 13 consecutive years.

A period which ended with all the key players - such as Ed Miliband and Ed Balls - as full members of the outgoing Labour cabinet.

So why all the reticence - where's the beef?

Maybe the Labour high command is worried about the coalition stealing its clothes.

But that's a risk you take in changing the political weather - setting out the terms of the debate.

I hope Ed Miliband is listening to his old colleague - because while Charles Clarke is not destined for the diplomatic service his basic advice is good.