The trouble with Labour obsessing over internal matters is that it's actually an external matter too, made so by the print media and the dark forces of the various advocates for Israel. Tony Blair overcame the first of those by getting into bed with Rupert Murdoch. He was helped by the fact that he was served up a string of fifth-rate Tory leaders for years. In addition, he was very pro-Israel, so there was no conflict in the party between the leadership and Labour Friends Of Israel (Does anyone really think that there were fewer "antisemites" in the party then than now?). You could wring your hands in despair, thinking that the only way to get Labour back in power is to do a total Blair sellout. Even if you did think that way, the current man is totally bereft of the personal attributes that made Blair successful, so not only would you not see Labour in power, you'd have ditched your principles as well. The Guardian article I referred to last week about Roy Jenkins' achievements as Home Secretary (I was no fan, but he did what he did...) got me thinking that Labour has simply got to show the country that there's a better and more civilised way. We don't need to talk about antisemitism any more. We don't need detailed and tightly-costed manifestos, backed by daft slogans, that are grist to the mill of the Daily Mail and Express. We need vision, and now above all is the time for a sea-change of direction. Don't ask me for details. I've just waved goodbye to my son and family after a full-on, noisy week, which was a real treat after the last few months, and I'm knackered...