Miliband's speech tells us absolutely nothing

His repeated emphasis on "one nation" reveals how shallow Labour's real policies are - if they are policies at all?

He said nothing about how a Labour government will distribute wealth in a tangible way.

He crowed about Britain's armed forces but said nothing about bringing them home from an illegal war and occupation - a war a Labour government took the country into, which has cost 400 soldiers' lives and those of tens of thousands of innocent Afghans.

If Mr Miliband is serious about building "one nation," he can start by bringing all the utilities, railways and big banks into state ownership.

He can start clearing out the spivs and speculators from the City and closing off-shore tax havens.

He could scrap Britain's costly nuclear arsenal, freeing up resources for the NHS, education, training and council housing.

He spoke of his admiration for Ruth First, the brave anti-apartheid campaigner murdered by a South African spy.

What he forgot to mention was that Ruth First was a communist, a revolutionary, and like all true revolutionaries in history, fought on the side of the oppressed and for liberation, justice and socialism.

Will Mr Miliband stand on the side of workers in Britain?

Will he defend unions and repeal all anti-trade union laws?

Will he be marching with the unions on October 20?

Will he stand on the picket lines with striking public workers as Ruth First did in South Africa?

Never mind if it enrages right-wing BBC presenters and the Murdoch press - if it does it means the Labour Party is being effective. It is not talk of "one nation" that is needed but an effective Labour opposition that is prepared to lead the fight to drive this government of the rich out at the earliest opportunity.

Richard Maunders

Axminster