IT IS always open season on the letters page of the Oxford Mail to criticise the party in Government, which unfortunately includes the language of the football hooligan by saying that an MP got a “right kicking” in a television debate.

But what is the alternative? If you ignore those whose only contribution is criticism, it leaves Ed Miliband. However I have not heard or read anything resembling a coherent policy on any issue from him.

All you get is tired, dated, class warfare soundbites. Well, here is a manifesto for him.

1) Re-introduce the pre-1995 clause 4 to the Labour party constitution.

2) Nationalise all energy, car, financial services, transport and communication industries.

3) Cut the defence budget by 50 per cent.

4) Increase welfare budgets by 50 per cent.

5) Repeal all of Margaret Thatcher’s employment and trade union legislation.

6) Repeal all previous NHS structural changes.

7) Tell us anything at all about the EU.

8) Immediately repatriate all illegal immigrants.

9) Re-introduce a previous Labour government’s 90 pence top rate income tax.

As it is a certainty that he won’t do any of these, it begs the question – what does he stand for? As for the suggestion he is a one-nation politician in the mould of a great reforming Prime Minister like Benjamin Disraeli, and being elected to his position by trades union block votes, it is quite frankly preposterous.

The next two-and-a-half years will demonstrate whether this Oxford and Harvard educated son of a wealthy, intellectual, Marxist family has any values, other than being a career politician.

IAN CUMMINGS

Gibson Close

Abingdon