The first idea I like: 'legal age harmonising'

But the second is just quite absurd.

He talks of confusion, yet he comes up with an idea like this? How could it ever possibly work. Legally, it would be a complete mess.

Potentially allowing 16 year olds to purchase alcohol in the pub?

Perhaps even giving them the vote. What a can of worms he could open. Human rights lawyers would have a field day.

Being responsible at that age and 'showing maturity' is about NOT doing those things. Yes most of us did, but it is because we didn't follow the law. The sort of people he would be in effect enfranchising are those that wouldn't be interested in the more promiscuous activities adults get up to.

18 is a sensible age, messing around with means testing for privileges is in my opinion, his most ridiculous 'sort of' policy yet!

Simon Heffer's Telegraph Op-ed, got me thinking..

Labour has done a great job in the last 9 years - they've changed Britain for the better in many ways, and they know it. But the campaign for the hearts and minds of the British people, overwhelmingly won in 1997, is collapsing around us in 2006.

There's more to this than Iraq, Blair, Prescott and Blair vs. Brown, though obviously none of that has helped matters. The big problem is policy - how it's made, how the party listens to people, and crucially how it responds to them.