Ed’s inbox: January 19th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

If Ed Miliband could only read five blogposts each day, he’d read these ones…

Inflation rise not all Tories’ fault – but VAT rise is – Alastair Campbell
By Alastair Campbell

If a Labour government were still in power, and a shock inflation rise was announced, doubtless the current ‘all Labour’s fault’ mantra from the Tories would be heard.

Labour people being more reasonable, we accept that some of the factors lying behind yesterday’s rise to 3.7 per cent are beyond government total control; soaring oil prices for example, and other ‘international factors’ the Tories never like to accept as being part of the reason for the deficit they are now seeking dramatically to reduce. – Read more

Only electoral reform can rescue democracy from MPs – Labour Uncut
By Alex Hilton

The referendum debate is getting a little personal, with yes and no campaigners bickering and name calling. Which does Labour little good, because we’re the only party split on the issue. So I will write in the spirit of comradeship. No calling of names like “analogue” or “swivel eyed”. No abuse.

Except of MPs of course. They deserve everything they get. – Read more

Axing EMA is not a tough choice – it’s a stupid one – Left Foot Forward
By Anthony Painter

So will you get divorced without it? Yes, comes the reply. The marriage assessor scratches her head. There has been a constant procession of couples streaming into her office for days now since the process started. All of them have claimed that they will get divorced without their targeted married tax allowance. The problem is that she can only give the allowance to the expected one in ten cases of marriage threatening hardship. How does she decide?

The scenario seems ridiculous. But this scenario is what the ‘deadweight’ argument amounts to. Replace married tax allowance with Educational Maintenance Allowance and this is precisely the scene that will play out in colleges and schools up and down the country when the more ‘targeted’ system is introduced. – Read more

What’s the plan for growth? – Next Left
By Sunder Katwala

One issue that worries ministers and advisers is that the government is to a large extent associated in the public mind with just one thing: cuts in public spending. One of the political aims in 2011 is to put much more emphasis on a strategy for growth.

But they would need to come up with one first. – Read more

A tale of two conferences – Progress
By Luke Akehurst

Last Saturday, 15 January, saw two distinctly different visions for Labour on offer at simultaneous conferences in London.

The Fabian Society was at the Institute of Education while across town at Conway Hall the Labour Representation Committee was meeting.

I have to confess I wasn’t at either, as I was visiting my family in Kent. But I was able to follow the mood at the rival events via the magic of Twitter and then read Ed Miliband’s keynote speech here. – Read more

Our suggestions for Ed’s inbox are limited by what we read – so if you’ve seen a blogpost that should be in Ed’s inbox, let us know.