I’ve argued before about how idealism is dead in British politics, but as political commentators look back on a year of Gordon Brown, the tale seems all too true once more. Brown always comes across to me, for example on the Today programme, as someone I would support as a progressive, socialist leader. He’s very much dedicated to his job and has been putting across some strong green policies, and has poured money into public services. He might have also partially privatised the NHS, but he does seem to have some principles hidden somewhere in there. And it is the fact that they are hidden and frequently ignored that is the problem with Labour and why it is sinking so fast at present. Brown pushed so incredibly hard for 42 days of detention without charge when all the experts said it was unnecessary and the philosophers said it was unethical. He cut taxes on middle England and increased them, effectively, for the very poorest with the 10p tax row. And he has U-turned again and again on such issues, compromising all the way. This is not democracy at work, this is a desperate leader playing on those who he feels he needs to win votes back from, who have drifted over to the showman Mr Cameron.

I remain however reasonably optimistic regarding Labour’s chances at the next election. They have two years to pull things around. So many problems the country is having that are pulling ratings down are due to the economy because voters turning away from Labour are often doing so because they feel a material squeeze. Some economists are saying that this international situation is more of a V-shape than a U: things went bad quickly and will recover quickly rather than steadily degrading and improving. Without moaning about how it is so silly that we are held in suspense by what is essentially a matter of confidence for a few high-flying traders, so much of Labour’s problems of late are based upon this. So, when the recovery happens, Brown will be able to pour money back into public services and people will realise that actually, Labour do make things better. It didn’t take much for Labour’s ratings to tumble so it can’t take much for them to come roaring back.

Of course, this is probably wishful thinking on some level. My mother has often said to me how much my good state education (well, relatively speaking and not comparing with the rest of Europe…) depends on the fact that Labour made such changes on coming to power, and this is my real concern: that as soon as the Tories get in, the real right will come back to the fore and all of the welfare projects of the last decade will be torn down. Would opposition reinvigorate Labour, or would it merely destroy further what it actually stands for more by forcing the party into more populism? Either of these could happen, but if the country slides away into more laissez-faire policies the poorest are only going to suffer. My grandfather always said to me that he tries to vote for the party that helps the poor the most, because whoever is in power we are not hugely affected, and for him that has always been Labour. Even now, Labour is still likely to help the poor far more than any other alternative, and that is why we must keep faith, despite so many failings.