In his posting, The strange death of New Labour England David Osler writes.

Despite three successive majority Labour governments, the base of the party is utterly emaciated. A degree of community entrenchment that took generations to build has been eviscerated.

Many activists are motivated primarily by career considerations. Today’s cadre are full-time councillors, parliamentary researchers and trade union officials, augmented by fresh-faced barristers and disconcertingly eager young PR women with irritating high-pitched giggles and a firm eye on a safe constituency in a former mining area. Looming electoral defeat is not likely to enhance their commitment.

Whilst it’s not just Labour that’s suffered a loss of member’s, I shuffled off as an activist sometime ago, although to be fair a move from town to city was perhaps more responsible – before I moved the party was my social life, however a new city allowed me an easier break, which became permanent. If I was living back in the town I’d be morning the towns loss of it’s last Labour councillor along with my fellow activists. Still back to Dave, he has a point how is Labour going to re-engage with it’s natural support instead of the champagne socialists currently running the party.

One thing though why does Dave have to have “young PR women” – why the sexism, it’s not needed, they’re all irritating regardless of sex.