Ed’s inbox – April 12th

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

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

Is Labour preparing for the coming economic upheaval? – Liberal Conspiracy
By Sunny Hundal

Ed Balls’ response to the interim report by the Commission yesterday was quite lacklustre. We’ve had the biggest financial crisis this country has ever faced, with a banking system still teetering on the edge of collapse (protected only by taxpayer guarantees), and yet the report makes some ineffectual recommendations about ring-fencing and raising the amount of money they hold?

Lehman Brothers, which was neither a retail bank and had capital ratios of above 10% would have still collapsed. Yet, the shadow chancellor was happy to accept at face value the watered-down recommendations. This feels like it could become a costly political mistake, especially over the longer term.

My worry is that Ed Balls thinking too short-term: more on the day-to-day news cycle than longer term strategy. – Read more.

If Rebekah Brooks had any respect for Rupert Murdoch, she would resign this week – Labour Uncut
By Tom Watson

Part of me wants to scoff at the idiocy of the people who are paid staggering amounts of money to represent the interests of Rupert Murdoch. My God they’ve let him down. Then I think of the parents of the Soham kids and remember why the campaign cannot stop. And I think of my own children. My gentle, beautiful boy, frightened by the nasty man at the door during the Damian McBride affair. And I remember my sense of helplessness, when I couldn’t keep him, his mum and sister safe, even in our home. It took me to the brink – but that’s another story.

In the autumn of the media patriarch, Mr Murdoch’s love of his own children is the one touching piece of a drama, played out over years and decades, that has pulverised careers, relationships and lives. – Read more.

Police investigate 14 Tories over Woolas-style “election law breach” – Political Scrapbook
By Political Scrapbook

Fourteen Conservative election candidates are under police investigation after leaflets delivered to thousands of properties across North Lincolnshire claimed Labour councillors “voted to increase car parking fees and charges”. Not only has there never been a vote on car parking charges but Labour made a commitment to freeze charges in local car parks for the next four years. – Read more.

What if it’s an overall YES but England votes NO? – Political Betting
By Mike Smithson

With one poll after another showing the referendum race as neck and neck there becomes a real possibility that we could see the overall UK result being a YES but with England going NO.

The reasons have been discussed here before. The referendum coincides with general elections to the devolved parliaments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with turnout, perhaps into the 60s. In England there are either local council elections or, in many parts no other elections at all and it’s hard to see 40% being reached.

It seems almost certain that there will be disproportionate number of Scots, Welsh and Northern Ireland electors – something that could matter enormously if the proposition on the ballot is viewed differently compared with England. – Read more.

IMF shows Britain lags the world on growth – Left Foot Forward
By Will Straw

Behind today’s headlines on the IMF downgrading Britain’s expected growth levels, lie reams of data and analysis about the state of the world economy. Perhaps most depressing of all is the map below putting Britain’s predicament in a global context. – 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.