It's been reported by the AP news agency that Hilary Clinton will concede defeat to Barack Obama tonight:

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 While I fully support Obama's campaign I do wonder whether America can bring itself to elect a black man who's name sounds a bit like 'Osama' and who's middle name is Hussein... hmm.

This month's local elections saw Labour's worst defeat for 40 years, the party finished 3rd in the national share of the vote - behind even the Lib Dems. Rather than dwell on what may or may not have caused the embarrassing rejection on the part of the electorate, where exactly does Labour go from here? Can the party dig itself out of this hole in time for the next general election?

Everyone expects the next general election to go right to the wire, but it need not. Labour can still reach out to it's core vote, but it needs to make sure it is actually representing those core voters in every single policy decision it makes. What is needed is not populism, but policies. 

The current economic crisis is hitting the less affluent hard, petrol prices and energy bills are rising faster than real wages and this is unsustainable. The government has frozen petrol duty, but this will not be enough to help many. In a time like this there needs to be a focus on redistributing wealth within the economy, the public want to know that their government is on their side. The introduction of a tax on large corporate bonuses would send a message that those with excessive wealth should help those not so lucky during a time of economic slow down. Clamping down on tax evasion and non-domiciles would send a message that if you live in Britain you cannot just take from our society, but must give something back too.

The government needs to take firm action with mortgage lenders who are all to quick to repossess homes instead of coming to reasonable agreements with home owners. If oil prices continue to rise sharply then the government will have to consider lowering the tax on petrol and forcing oil companies to pass the price drop on to consumers. Just being on the side of ordinary people in these matters will help renew trust in Labour.

On other fronts, the reform of the House of Lords needs to be speeded up and Labour need to come through on the side of democracy by making the Lords at least 80% elected. We also need complete transparency in terms of MP's expenses. These things would bring our democracy into the 21st century. The government needs to come out on the side of students and prevent higher education from being opened up to the free market in the 2009 review. These are just some of the policies that could be implemented to set Labour apart from the other two main parties.

For those of you that think "who cares" or "I hope Labour do lose next time, that would show them" or even "why should I vote Labour, they're the party of big business"  have a long hard think about who you would rather have running the country; be sure that there is a straight choice: Labour or the Conservatives. Look at the achievements, and yes, the failings of the past 11 years and think about what those 11 years would have been like under a Tory government: no minimum wage, no paternity leave, no tax credits, no writing off of 3rd world debt, no winter fuel allowance for pensioners, no rights for part-time workers, no free TV licenses for the elderly, no ban on cosmetics testing on animals, no free eye tests or free bus travel for the over 60s, no free entry to national museums... 

We all know who the real party of big business is.

This Thursday @ 7:30pm in Park 2.23 there'll be a Question Time style debate taking place on the following topics:

1) What can local government do to encourage the people of Portsmouth people to combat climate change?
2) Is immigration a strain on our public services or a benefit to our economy?
3) Should the British public have had a vote on the Lisbon treaty?
4) Is it right to use the Beijing Olympics, or any sporting event, as a political platform?
 
Time permitting, the debate will then be opened up to the floor for questions on any topic.

On the panel will be:

 Sarah Mc-Carthy-Fry MP (Labour)
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson (Lib Dem)
Steve Harris (UKIP PPC)
Penny Mordaunt (Con PPC)
Nick Chaffey (Socialist Party)
John Molyneux (RESPECT local election candidate)
Tim Dawes (Green Party PPC)

On Thurs 17th April at 7:30pm in Park Building the UPSU Labour Students society are hosting a 'question time' style political debate open to the public. On the panel will be:

- Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP (Labour)
- Penny Mordaunt,  Conservative parliamentary candidate for Portsmoth North
- Darren Sanders, LibDem parliamentary candidate for Portsmouth North
- Steve Harris, UKIP parliamentary candidate for Havant
- John Molyneux, RESPECT candidate in local elections for Central Southsea
- Nick Chaffey, Socialist Party former candidate for Southampton in local elections

Come along and hold real politicians to account over the issues that affect you as a student. There'll be plenty of chances to ask questions from the floor.

For more info about the Labour Students society email m.ireland@hotmail.com

On Thursday 17th April students will have the chance to hold politicians to account at the Question Time debate hosted by the Labour Students society. The debate starts at 7.30pm and you'll be able to voice your views about anything from Iraq and the environment, to tuition fees and student debt.

Answering your questions on the panel will be the Labour MP for Portsmouth North Sarah McCarthy-Fry, the Conservative candidate to face her in the next election Penny Mordeant and an as yet unconfirmed speaker from the Liberal Democrats.

For any more information about the event or the Labour Students society, or to get in early and email a question for the panel to ensure it's discussed contact m.ireland@hotmail.com