Tribune – Comment, news and reviews from Britain's democratic left

During Labour’s interminable leadership election campaign, there was a lot of speculation about what David and Ed Miliband’s mum thought. But what would their late father Ralph, the great Marxist theoretician, have made of it all?

Fellow leftie academic Robin Blackburn’s view is:  “On the one hand, I think he would have been very proud and amazed. On the other hand, I think he would have been appalled by the politics of Labour, and it should be said even the politics of this Labour leadership contest, which seems to be completely bereft of ideas or direction.”

Pat McFadden, Blairite Shadow Business Secretary and chair of the National Policy Forum, had better watch out for one of the more radical proposals to overhaul Labour’s policy-making process to come out of the Midland Hotel bar.

Asked who would be first up against the wall in the great new marginally-left-of-centre revolution, an influential NPF member replied without hesitation: “Pat McFadden”.