A blueprint from Cruddas

One of the dark horses for the Labour stalking horse is John Cruddas.He probably ran one of the best campaigns in last year's deputy elections.Unfortunately his message was not New Labour enough for the party.How they may regret that now.

Today John writes a good piece in the Independent where he tries to address what the problems are for the party.

He seems to say that short term measures are not the solution but

The Labour Party should take this as a final wake-up call. The next
election is far from being decided two years out; voters haven't necessarily
given up on us. Yet, unless we change over the next six months, the election
defeats of the past few weeks could solidify into a durable anti-Labour voting
block

and reminds the party that

David Cameron has sought to fashion a modern Conservatism that recognises many of the problems of modern British society, even seeking to colonise some of the language of the centre-left – the notion of the "good society" or a "social recession".

So what should the Labour message be

• The Government needs to identify new forms of social solidarity to remedy
  today's uncertainties and insecurities. Where the Tories would rely on market
  forces to bring down living costs, Labour can enforce fairer prices.
  
• Where the Tories want more individualised (read privatised) care for the
  elderly, Labour can use revenue from fairer taxation to share the responsibility
  of caring for our people.
• Where the Tories will "exhort" corporations to be "socially responsible", Labour can provide a tough framework for balancing companies' desire for profits with the needs of ordinary people
• the Tories would empower bad employers, Labour can guarantee better rights for those who work hard on low wages.
• Where the Tories can only hope the private sector can solve Britain's housing crisis, Labour can let councils step in to provide decent homes.
  

This maybe is the clear blue water that the party must put between itself and Labour,recognising the real issues and concerns of the voters but showing Labour principles on how to address them.

This time Mr Cruddas,you must accept any invitations to come into the cabinet.