The ShortList- this week’s highlights

From @LabourList

This is the LabourList ShortList, bringing you a weekly summary of the best content on the site over the last week and keeping you up to date with some of the current thinking in the Labour movement:

Al-Megrahi- why let the facts get in the way of a good conspiracy theory?
Jack Straw on why the decision to release the convicted Libyan terrorist was the Scottish Executive’s alone.

Rejecting selection- why the 11 plus must be abolished
Fiona Millar argues that the major parties should take their opposition to selection to its logical conclusion.

The shocking social reality behind the Edlington brothers
Andrew Neilson of the Howard League for Penal Reform looks behind the headlines of the shocking case of deprivation and crime in Yorkshire.

New party organising UK-style
Gisela Stuart MP and Caroline Badley explain how they applied some lessons from the Barack Obama campaign in Birmingham with startling results.

A citizens tax on inheritance would spread wealth, freedom and opportunity
Stuart White argues that a different approach to inheritance tax could make a large positive difference for all.

Labour needs to learn to love Academies
Mike Ion laments the fact that many people in the party have not yet reconciled themselves to the positive impact that Academies are having on lesser advantaged communities.

Having a job is a route to having a stake and say in society
Graeme Cooke of the Open Left Project presents a vision for continuing investment in skills and work as a key dividing line between Labour and the Tories.

Carbon emissions- If you can’t measure them, you can’t manage them
Kathryn Corrick on why the 10:10 campaign is likely to fall short and what should be done about our individual impact on the environment.

Dulce et decorum est- the continuing fight against fascism
Julian Ware-Lane marks the anniversary of the beginning of WWII by catuioning us that, though changed, the fascist threat remains.

The lost generation – who’s to blame?
Sonny Leong says we excuse too much and the young must take greater responsibility for their own lives.

The left is about redistributing wealth and power
Andrew Lomas argues that we must move beyond income and instead considers the resdistribution of wealth and power to create a fairer society.

Cameron’s approach to rights is legally illiterate and will harm the vulnerable
Ed Williams takes on Cameron’s ill-thought and populist opposition to the Human Rights Act and says that it is further evidence that these Tories are anything but ‘progressive.’

Goodbye social democracy. Hello economic democracy.
Bill Kerry of the Equality Trust makes the case that social democracy doesn’t go far enough. A new enthusiasm for employee ownership would shift wealth fundamentally to the disempowered.

The rhetorical question- how to craft a great speech?
Paul Richards gives some top tips on how to craft a great conference speech in his column this week.

Challenge and reward: teaching in a London Academy
Warwick Sharp describes the pride and privelege of working in a London Academy.

Giving traction to Tobin – why think tanks and unions should start a campaign
Gary Kent picks up where Lord Adair Turner left off and spots the opportunity for a serious pro-Tobin campaign.

New Diplomas are a positive step forward
Shamik Das explains that the new diplomas match real work experience with academic rigour and basic skills so should be applauded.

PPC Profile: Eleanor Tunnicliffe
Eleanor’s political conviction is summed up by: “I think that what you get out of life should depend on what you put into it, not where you start off from.”

Creating a Britain where everyone has a stake and everyone has a say
And finally, your guest editor, Anthony Painter (i.e. me!) sets the scene for his week helping Alex out by getting stuck into the Tories about their progressive history claims and arguing for a strong direction for the left.

Is this the sort of content LabourList should be working on? Let us know what you think about this week’s content below.