The ShortList – February 21st

From @LabourList

Catch up with all the last week’s highlights on LabourList with the ShortList.

Our PPC Profile this week was of South West Norfolk’s Peter Smith.

Stay in touch with LabourList with our daily email update, the LunchtimeList.

News

Labour launched its four main themes for the election — and the new slogan…

And here’s Gordon Brown’s speech in full.

To coincide, Labour launched a new splash page for the Party website.

60 leading economists signed a letter urging the government – whichever government – not to cut public spending drastically this year.

And Councillor Steve Reed wrote on LabourList exclusively about Labour’s plans to create Britain’s first Co-op Council…

Andrew Rawnsley serialised his new book — but beware: he’s got form when it comes to spinning a yarn…

More dodgy Tory stats: They say 54% of girls in the most deprived areas fall pregnant before they’re 18.

More dodgy Tory stats: Eric Pickles gets very muddled on the meaning of electoral reform.

The last of the poster rebuttals? I’ve never voted Tory because…

Opinion

Ellie Gellard reacted favourably to Gordon Brown’s speech on building a future fair for all.

Gordon Brown and Piers Morgan: the verdict.

David Wright was wrong to call the opposition “scum-sucking pigs” — but the Tory indignation was too rich.

Tory proposals are designed to fatally wound Labour by 2015, warned Paul Richards.

Lib Dem spike or not at the election, it’s time for the left to prepare for a non-majoritarian politics, writes Anthony Painter.

People, party and policy

James Purnell announced he would stand down from Parliament at the forthcoming general election.

Three days earlier, Alex Smith talked with the former secretary of state about Labour’s ideology, and Purnell’s future in the Labour movement.

Learning Audacity: Alex Smith on how Labour can still learn from Obama and Plouffe, even at this late stage.

In its first month, #MobMonday made 3,000 calls to voters in marginal seats…

Here’s our Guide to surviving as a Parliamentary candidate — from someone who’s been there and done it…

Previous editions of the ShortList

The start of Labour’s online push — February 14th, 2010.

Chris Grayling’s “misleading” crime stats — February 7th, 2010.

“Classic New Labour”: The Ed Balls interview — January 31st, 2010.

Where is George Osborne? — January 24th, 2010.

Causes to Fight For — January 17th, 2010.

Hoon-Hewitt gate — January 10th, 2010.

The Copenhagen climate summit — December 20th, 2009.

The PBR — December 16th, 2009

Brown comes out fighting in PQMs — December 6th, 2009.

The Chilcot Inquiry opens — November 29th, 2009.

The Queen’s Speech — November 22nd, 2009.

Glasgow North East by-election — November 14th, 2009

Blair and Miliband to Europe? — November 8th, 2009.

Europe and the Primary debate — November 1st, 2009

Griffin on Question Time — October 25th, 2009

Tory confused numbers — October 17th, 2009

Conseravtive conference — October 10, 2009.

Labour conference — October 3rd, 2009.

A Britain where everyone has a stake and a say — September 5th, 2009.

Teddy Kennedy: a good and decent man — August 29th, 2009.

Election strategy — August 22nd, 2009.

We Love the NHS — August 15th, 2009.

Green shoots are not enough — August 8th, 2009.

Debating ConservativeHome — August 1st, 2009.

Cruddas and Purnell — July 23rd, 2009.

The Ken Livingstone interview — July 18th, 2009.