The left has lacked inspiration, organisation and anything approaching a new idea

Further to my post about the Euro elections and the general poor performance of the left of centre parties,Mark Mardell looks at a couple of factors

1.

At a time of severe economic crisis, when it's almost traditional for people to give their governments a kicking, they refrained. In Poland, Germany, France and Italy ruling parties of the centre right have done well. In part this may be because many in continental Europe see this recession as made in the USA, and UK, by Anglo-Saxons - not their own leaders.

2.

An economic crisis, which many blame on a market that's too free, in a world where people feel insecure, and might look for more social protection - it should have been an open goal for the social democrats In Europe they have lacked inspiration, organisation and anything approaching a new idea.