Spring conference: leftie watch is now active

Perhaps the most prescient analysis this week comes yesterday from Peter Riddell, who charted Blairism losing its grip under Gordon Brown. He cited Harriet Harman's praise of Fidel Castro and left-wing MPs' enthusiasm for the nationalisation of Northern Rock - because they see it as a welcome lurch to the left - as two examples.

Mr Brown does not want a fight with Labour MPs or the unions, unlike Tony Blair who relished such confrontations. The contrast between the two is less about policy – each embraces globalisation – than style. Both are new Labour in their heads. But Mr Brown often likes to display his old Labour heart.

Read it all here. It will be interesting to watch the tone of the speeches this weekend at Labour's half-yearly rally in Birmingham. Will Gordon's team play to this new enthusiasm on the Left, or run away from it? Red Box's leftie-watch has now been activated ...