Stopping ignoring the members

Ed Miliband we are told thinks that while the New Labour project won three elections, it also "shut the door on the party and ignored what its members were saying." So how has Ed Miliband decided to rectify this situation? By abolishing elections to the Shadow Cabinet and appointing members himself...

Now I have no problem with Ed Miliband deciding he wants to appoint his own shadow cabinet rather than accept those that his MPs elect. At the moment I believe his supporter are in a minority in the shadow cabinet, there being more David Miliband supporters. This should be no surprise as David Miliband beat Ed Miliband in the MPs section of the leadership election, Ed winning because of the Trade Union vote. However Ed Miliband and his supporters should not try to pretend that this decision advances democracy in the labour party, it doesn't. It shores up his authority and may well help him create a shadow cabinet in his own image but increase democracy; no.

Some Ed Miliband supporters do admit this, here's Lily Summers aka @_Lilykins on Twitter:

'@notasheepagoat It's not about being democratic. It's about being in the best position to win the next general election.'

The worry is for too many in the Labour party that is all that counts. In fact you could say the same about introducing postal votes - well they may not help democracy but it is all about helping Labour win elections. Likewise unfair constituency boundaries?