I was pleased to see that Diane Abbot, local MP for my neighbouring constituency Hackney North and Stokey, made it into the Labour leadership race. It will be good to see a real debate in the party, although it is sad that it took a leadership contest and an opponent candidate’s nominations to start it.

So far the discussion sounds like a Lib Dem conference; they are queuing up to disown the Iraq war, they are finally arguing about trident 2.0, and harsh words are being exchanged about playing on fictional tabloid driven immigration fears.

I am tempted to send them each a membership form in the post.