How ironic that, following the narrow passing of the 42 days legislation by the Commons, that we now depend on their Lordships to defend our traditional liberties. Not for the first time either.

Nick Robinson's report on Gordon Brown (BBC 1, 10 O'Clock News, Wednesday May 14th) appeared to be a straightforward piece of character assassination rather than reputable journalism.

If there's one argument that's tired and worn-out it's the commonly wheeled-out view in this site that a.) going in the McDonnell policy direction will save us b.) going back to the Blairite policy direction will save us.

Compass are delighted to announce our post-elections debate taking place on Tuesday 6 May from 6pm in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, London.

This episode has caused me great concern, over perhaps the very future and nature of the labour party. I joined the labour party for I believed it was the party of social justice and a party of the working citizen (regardless of class). Whilst I believe that fundamental premise remains - more so than in the grass roots - if there was ever any evidence that perhaps our labour government is COMPLETELY out of touch with what the grass roots and indeed, our own MP’s want done - the following is ample cause for concern.

Today Compass has launched a debate and consultation on the counter terrorism bill. We’re delighted that both Jacqui Smith the Home Secretary and Shami Chakrabarti Director of human rights group Liberty have set out the arguments both for and against the government’s proposals on the Compass website at www.compassonline.org.uk. The articles are complimented with a consultation which will run until Friday 15 February.

Take part in the consultation and speak out on the proposals

The Grassroots Alliance are standing a slate that lacks full democratic legitimacy in this year's NEC elections. As a young and perhaps idealistic member I am outraged at the partisan attacks on a committed democrat and activist who dares challenge this hypocrisy.

The term 'compulsory voting' is a bit of a misnomer, it really is about compulsory casting of ballots (pedantic I know but important nonetheless).

Why the election of Nick Clegg as Lib Dem leader means even less than you thought.

The next two weeks mark the 360th anniversary of a series of debates that took place in St Marys Church Putney between the new model army and the levellers over the English constitution and who should have the right to vote etc. These marked an important step on the road towards (for men at least) universal suffrage, equality before the law, freedom of thought and the idea that the governments need the consent of the governed to rule.

Brown and Cameron are also vulnerable. They have allowed the buffer institutions of democracy to atrophy. Their party members have been pushed below the salt, and blind - or at least Melbournian - loyalty has gone too.

Commentary for OpenDemocracy, on the challenges left thinking must address in the next decade.

Douglas Alexander says that a 'long weekend' Labour conference would allow more working people to take part at the Fabian fringe. Should we do next year's conference differently?

[Extract: read the full entry at www.michaelmeacher.info.]
The most important issue at Conference is the future of Party democracy. The hopes raised by some of the welcome proposals in Gordon Brown’s consultation document ‘Extending and Renewing Party Democracy’ will be dashed and the whole process thrown into reverse if the leadership gets its way on one other proposal which outweighs all the rest, namely that in future delegates will no longer be allowed to vote on and pass resolutions on any policy questions.

In my opinion, an issue we all need to consider very strongly within the party and Labour movement. Although arguably the Labour Party itself has never really been a socialist party, it has been the only political and parliamentary mass representation that socialists and social-democrats have ever had access to, and success with in terms of implementation of ideas.

The Guardian today reports that trials of 'e-voting' by telephone and internet had a 'significant and unnaceptable' security risk according to the Electoral Commission. I ask, what's wrong with taking democracy seriously instead of treating it as an inconvenience or an imposition?

In 1997, Peter Mandelson said “I say to the doubters, judge us after ten years in office. For one of the fruits of that success will be that Britain has become a more equal society. However, we will have achieved that result by many different routes, not just the redistribution of cash from rich to poor, which others choose as their own limited version of egalitarianism…” (Peter Mandelson, Labour’s Next Steps: Tackling Social Exclusion, Fabian Society 1997)