Here, in a nutshell, is why Labour is struggling to make progress. Its obsession with identity politics puts it at odds with the majority of British people.
“But we also need to see greater use of facemasks” and “let’s get testing and tracing up and running”, says the Shadow Health Secretary.
He is tipped by some as a future Prime Minister, but is more plausibly seen as a future Chancellor.
Plus: Vicious Cybernats. Bolton’s brass neck. Widdecombe’s ratings. Johnson’s death wish. And: the courage of my friend Tessa Jowell.
Plus: Tories – too vague. UKIP – too specific. LibDems: what are they for? Why the polls could all be wrong. And: I win an award, and am baffled.
His critique of the teaching of politics is a simple one. In his view, it is not a mode of experience. So the language of politics is not genuinely a language of explanation.
Plus: My Big Fat New Wedding. An invitation to Roger Bird. And: Happy New Year to you all. P.S: Here is my, er, prediction success rate for last year.
And this week’s column contains a mystery closing message to the Prime Minister.