Propaganda or reflecting the public mood

"My constituents do not believe it is fair that they should face a constitutional discrimination as well as meeting additional costs which identical people in Scotland, and to a lesser extent in Wales, do not face. This is the English Question." This is an extract from a speech delivered today by Labour backbencher Frank Field at the University of Hertfordshire and probably picked out of a press release by a large majority of the media. Whether the current system of devolved governments is, as Field argues, "one of the festering sores in English politics" is a big question. I have seen no opinion poll data to back this up and have not seen it high on the news or public agenda, in fact it is only mentioned when comparing health care, prescription charges and student fees but not seldom is it placed in a wider context. So this may be a personal campaign of Frank Field's that he wishes to promote, and this is a very good way of constructing the argument. While Labour are already in decline in Scotland and Wales, Brown may be counting on the heartland of Britain to retain loyal. Field argues that it is these voters who may "defect to the Tories or British National Party" unless the English are given a parliament. Of course Field does not back this up, basing it on inferences to his constituency, nor can he state to the voters that an English parliament would redress the imbalances in disparities, but it is a very persuasive argument that hits Brown where it currently hurts the post: how to recapture the heartlands of Britain.

Voters easily confused: claim Labour MPs

Not sure really what the thinking is behind the off the cuff remark offered by Frank Field amid a wide ranging interview on the future of the party. But he commented that:

"Many of our side think that if [Lib Dem leadership candidate] Nick Clegg wins
then that will actually take votes off Cameron because he looks like Cameron".

Now maybe Clegg rivals Cameron in youth, and he also has a PR background, so perhaps there are a number of similarities at that level. There are also great similarities in their political stance, rhetorically it seems impossible at times to slip a Rizla between liberal conservatives and conservative liberals. But do Labour think voters will see him on the PEBs and think "is that Cameron or Clegg" or "he had a nice face, must be a Liberal". Then again perhaps they do think that! Worrying that we may end up with three party leaders with identical backgrounds, ideas, focus on the middle ground, and who say the same things: the equivalent of electing a speak your weight machine perhaps.