There is a lot of good stuff in Labour’s manifesto. I skip over the material I disagree with.

Of course, there is an important caveat about manifestos.

If, as I hope, there is a Labour Government after 7 May, experience teaches us that events, rather than what is said in the manifesto, will decide the Government’s response.

Tony Blair was always going on about “doing the right thing”. I recall his support for the Israeli invasion of Lebanon fell into that category.

Some facts jump off the page and hit you between the eyes. We are told that Labour has provided over 26,000 extra prison places since 1997.

I have just been reading a letter from the Howard League for Penal Reform which tells me that each prison place costs the taxpayer about £41,000 a year. You can do the sums.

The manifesto tells me that homicides are at the lowest level for a decade. Gun murders at the lowest level for 20 years.

Yes. There are more criminals in prison. Not because crime is rising but because violent and serious offenders are going to prison for longer.

The Howard League tells me that 70,000 men, women and children are given short prison sentences, sometimes just a few days. They calculate this wastes £10 billion annually which could be spent on other things.

I note the manifesto says there are 17,000 more police officers than in 1997 as well as 16,000 Police Community Support Officers.  Hmmmm.

What do I like? One or two examples. In no particular order.

I like greater protection for local Post Offices and pubs. And a People’s bank based on the Post Office. Here in Pendle, pubs have been closing at an alarming rate.

I like the emphasis on strengthening mutuals and co-operatives. People are fed up with bankers and the wide boys in financial services.

I like fixed term Parliaments. And an elected second chamber.

I like the idea that no young person should be long term unemployed. And that there will be an additional one million skilled jobs created by 2015.

I like the proposed National Landlords Register. With free and impartial advice given to the 3 million households who rent in the private sector.

I approve of ending the default retirement age and allowing those who want to work on to do so. Three cheers. That’s what I say.

What don’t I like? One or two things.

We are to have a Defence Review but Trident is excluded from it. We are all aware of the history of the great stitch-up. No vote was allowed at Conference on Trident.  And when I tabled a motion to the Parliamentary Labour Party in my name along with Paul Flynn and John Austin, the motion disappeared from the agenda and was replaced with: “A discussion on Trident led by the Defence Secretary, John Reid”.

If it were ever put to them, Party members would never sign a cheque for £75 billion for this white elephant.

Anyway…

Tomorrow, it’s the turn of the Conservatives.