“Labour already had a 'narrative' - socialism. A narrative that explains that capitalism closes banks, building societies, airlines, schools, hospitals and anything else it takes for the system to continue ... and pays for it with our money.

In other words not only a 'narrative' but something which has always helped working people predict capitalism¿s consequences. It has a method of improving on this system - in public ownership and increasing investment in industry, business and public services.

George Bush has just paid $3.7 TRILLION for two US building society failures, so capitalists run to it when their failure leaves them without other options. Nobody asked us if we wanted to pay £28bn for Northern Rock, or if there were better ways to spend the money.

Sadly, I suspect Tom Levitt is also out of options. He can't seem to remember what this 'narrative' is called and he can't think of a new one for himself. I suspect that the 'narrative' he wants is for somebody to dress Blair's car boot sale of public services up in fresh clothes and sell it to us again - with the same resulting rejection and anger from working people that drove him out 2 years ago.

If socialism is not to his liking, perhaps he¿d like to call a public meeting and hear ideas from his constituents and party members, rather than sit there on an MP¿s salary waiting for unelected spin doctors to dream one up for him? Or is he worried that they will turn up demanding answers to rising unemployment and prices, falling wages ad house prices? That he will accept no answer, but one based on tinkering with the system he has governed without criticism for 11 years?”

“I agree with Tom as we're all sick of initiatives and no real action. However, "a convincing new narrative", whatever that means, doesn't sound too promising either.”