A sneak preview of this Friday's issue of Tribune... and a compelling way to get all your friends to vote for Ken

FIRST we had community health councils as the patient and public voice of the National Health Service. These local independent consumer councils, once heralded by Labour as “a powerful forum where consumer views can influence the NHS and where local participation in running of the NHS can become a reality”, ran successfully for 28 years until they were unceremoniously dumped by the Government in 2003.

Lucy Kilfoyle assesses the BBC’s reporting of the way women are treated in countries such as Afghanistan

The NEC will shortly be deciding on the new General Secretary of the Labour Party. Although the whole process hasn't had much press coverage, it's a crucial one in the future of the Labour Party.

IF ANYONE has ever doubted the crucial contribution that a single individual can make to the political process they need only look as far as Scotland and the Scottish National Party to have their doubts dissolved, says Ian Aitken

Murray Rowlands argues that Labour cannot afford to write off the south-east of England and that rebuilding the progressive consensus is vital to its prospects in the region

Vince Mills says Wendy Alexander, Labour’s new leader north of the border, will have her work cut out as she bids to revive her party

Tribune's George Osgerby speculates on what the outcome would have been if the famous dinner at the Islington restaurant had turned out differently

GORDON BROWN’S speech to the TUC in Brighton was an opportunity lost. The language was different from the past regime, the attitude warmer and enough buttons were pressed  to avoid an even more muted reception than he got in his first appearance at Congress as Prime Minister.

Ellie Reeves argues the proposed reforms of Labour’s policy-making process will strengthen party democracy

Jon Cruddas, the nearly man in Labour’s deputy leadership election, has some very clear ideas about where the party under the new Prime Minister should be headed. He spoke to René Lavanchy

Richard Bridger predicts that Tony Blair will fail in his Middle East task, but not necessarily for obvious reasons

Peter Tatchell says Pakistan is now colluding with the Taliban to crush the Baluch people’s struggle for freedom

Tribune's David Mills writes this excellent piece on the Iraq war's potential impact on the Labour Deputy Leadership election.