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The good, the bad and the ugly: part two
VINCE MILLS concludes a critical assessment of Labour’s national policy forum’s final document, looking at crime, the NHS, welfare, transport and foreign policy promises
Lord Peter Mandelson (centre) listens as shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her keynote speech to the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, October 9, 2023

IT should be noted that many of the areas discussed here — education, health and some elements of social security — are devolved. An analysis of what the document says on constitutional matters is being covered by Pauline Bryan in Saturday’s paper.

3. Safe and secure communities

This section also has some progressive offerings as well as others that hark back to the authoritarian element of Tony Blair’s New Labour. The section on anti-social behaviour carries a commitment to introduce “Respect Orders.”

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21st Century Poetry / 1 October 2025
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by Vince Mills

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Lucy Powell may not exactly be the left’s choice, but her bid for the deputy leadership is certainly not the Labour right’s choice — and if she wins, that could mean the ascendancy of Andy Burnham and the end of Keir Starmer, writes VINCE MILLS

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VINCE MILLS charts the disintegration of the Starmer faction’s platform and the gulf between it and Labour members

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VINCE MILLS says Scottish Labour has adopted better positions than its Westminster counterpart — but unless it starts to fight for them that will count for nothing

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