Just read the Diamond & Kenny piece on Policy Network, The Next British Centre-Left. Lots of good points in there, not least the risk of being locked out of the issues of the day whilst naval-gazing: where are Labour on Scottish independence, the future of EU-British relations, or on gearing the NHS to baby-boomers hitting 70?

But the core mesage is the need to form progressive alliances in order to prosper in a future where coalitions will be the norm not the exception. Good point, particularly if Ed Miliband's serious about this being a one-term government. Winning a large minority and then attracting Lib Dems whilst the Tories bend to their right wing after one term in coalition seems much less daunting.

But such alliances will always be temporary, as D&K are open about. Thus, lots of flexibility. But the core strand of their suggestion is "a progressive alliance of social democracy and social liberalism...to address the big questions of the age , including a new British model of capitalism, the state, the constitution, relations with the European Union, and the future of the United Kingdom."

Result?
- Less dirigisme: public services and housing provided by public, private and mutuals.
- More industrial interventionism: national investment bank
- More internationalism: constructive approach to EU