Ed’s inbox – February 25th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

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

Liberal Democrat at centre of “racist tweet” row is suspended from party – Political Scrapbook
By Political Scrapbook

Warren Swaine, the councillor sacked from the ruling executive of Reading City Council after Political Scrapbook highlighted his tweet about black MP Chuka Ummuna, has been officially suspended from the Liberal Democrats. A party spokesperson said:

The Liberal Democrats have a zero tolerance policy on racist comments and behaviour. The regional party has suspended Councillor Warren Swaine pending further investigation. – Read more.

Eagle soars in latest Uncut shadow cabinet work-rate league as Alexander hangs onto top spot – Labour Uncut
By Atul Hatwal

Murphy mobilises and moves up from fourth to third in the table but Hillier, Jowell and Woodward fall behind at the bottom.

In the month Ed Miliband’s reshuffled team moved beyond the Johnson resignation and got to work, there’s been a flurry of activity on the Uncut work-rate table and over half of the shadow cabinet have changed position.

Douglas Alexander has remained top, bolstering his lead over the month through sustained media work on the unrest in the middle east. He has tackled the thorny issue of the Labour government’s relationship with Libya with an assured and steady performance. – Read more.

Why Mandelson’s ‘gloves off’ New Labour offers the narrow politics of the ‘small tent’ – Next Left By Sunder Katwala

Peter Mandelson was a key figure in the creation of New Labour and the most influential electoral and political strategist of his generation. But it is also pretty likely that he cost his favourite candidate the knife-edge leadership election of 2010, by making an unsolicited (and unwelcomed) attempt to polarise the race around the question ‘New Labour or not’. – Read more.

Support an EU-wide financial transaction tax – Left Futures
By Jon Lansman

The GMB is urging Conservative, Lib Dem, Scottish Nationalist and Plaid Cymru MEPs to support the introduction of an EU financial transaction tax (FTT) when the issue comes before European Parliament next month. Labour and Green MEPs are already strongly backing the proposal which will be voted on in the next Strasbourg plenary session on 7th-10th March 2011.

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary, in a letter sent today has urged MEPs to support amendments from the Socialist Group to a report from Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee on innovative financing to be debated during the plenary. These amendments call for a financial transaction tax to be implemented at European level. – Read more.

The Sickie-Jinx – Diary of a Benefit Scrounger
By Sue Marsh

I haven’t said much about how I feel lately.

You see, I have a “long term variable” condition. I mention it a lot. Mainly I say how they are largely ignored by politicians when considering welfare systems, mainly baffling to ATOS assessors with their tick-box computers and one-size fits all conclusions. Even doctors and consultants often misunderstand them.

One day you can be flat on your back, unable to move with exhaustion, the next you can be building a tent in the back garden with excited children. One day you can be dazzled by dramatic ambulance lights, the next, having a nice spa day with friends. – 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.