If Labour can fight social injustice, whats it all for?
Monday marks the end of the gruelling round of over 40 Labour leadership hustings with the deadline for “supporting nominations”. Tonight David Miliband had 130 constituencies’ support, his brother Ed closing fast on 106, Andy Burnham on 34, Diane Abbott 18 and Ed Balls eight – with Ed Miliband winning most union backing. Hard to know how these convert to real votes when every party and union member gets their own ballot. (Anyone who wants a vote must join the party by 8 September.) Bookies put David Miliband on shortest odds but drifting out to his brother, with very long odds on anyone not called Miliband. The contest has raised barely an eyebrow of public interest, though whoever wins may find low expectations a blessing. There is nowhere to go but up, as opinion polls offer cold comfort. Guardian readers should not be deceived by our daily reasoned critiques of profoundly misguided government policies. The coalition may be about to crash the economy, shipwreck the NHS and splinter
