People decided not to vote for us in vast numbers yesterday.  There are a huge number of reasons for that, but one thing we can probably say for sure:

They didn't stay away from the polls (or vote for other parties) because we haven't sorted out Lords reform.  They didn't stay away because Leeds doesn't have a directly elected mayor, nor because we haven't properly explored the merits of AV.

I am quite sure that many of us would be able to reach a consensus across left and right on a number of constitutional proposals (I note electing the Lords by some sort of regional PR system seems to be broadly popular here, for example) but we must put forward a set of serious, radical, labour policies on bread-and-butter issues, that impact on people's lives, and that effect our core vote.

When we hear the 'share of the vote' stuff on the BBC, that's what we're mostly talking about: our core vote.  They stayed at home.  To use the new soundbite, they didn't feel we were 'on their side'.  I know we can all reel off government policies that have helped working people in this country, but that's beside the point: we need a clear agenda now.  We need to show we have a vision and we'll carry it out.  For my part, I think we need to show that it is a REAL Labour agenda.

For that reason, while I'll be supportive of good, progressive proposals for constitutional reform, I'm going to focus on a series of proposed 'amendments' for the policy consultation in the areas of:

* Welfare
* Social housing
* Trade union rights
* Public services
* Redistribution of wealth

I'm encouraging people to put forward ideas at Labour Left Forum and, when some words have been agreed, to promote those amendments far and wide.  We will then publish which CLPs, union branches, etc. have submitted those key amendments so we can follow their progress through the process.