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In truth the New Labour era was over some time ago. The refusal to change is the reason Labour lost. In spite of the election result there is still a progressive majority in our country to be mobilised; a majority that feels anxious and insecure, whose lives are out of control. There are new social movements and new ways of organising that offer a tantalising glimpse of radical political change. In these changed and challenging times, Compass will stand for a new hope; for the dream of a better world that is created by the people of our country.

We're delighted to publish The Future of Social Democracy by Dr Jon Cruddas MP in association with Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney Labour Party. The publication is based on two lectures Jon delivered in September 2009. A viable political alternative to market capitalism will require creative open thinking, new kinds of alliances and inventive forms of political organisation. Jon's lectures invite us to look once again at Labour's traditions and to collectively debate how we might renew and develop them.

It has been a momentous fortnight in British politics, dominated by Andrew Rawnsley's allegations of bullying by Gordon Brown, whose style of politics and behaviour was further put under the spotlight by Alistair Darling's remarks that ‘the forces of hell' had been unleashed upon him by No. 10.

Being a socialist often requires a leap of faith. Though there are real institutions we can point to that at least in part embody key socialist values such as equality and community - the NHS of course springs to mind - the cause of socialism has suffered from not being seen as feasible, or as part of the everyday. It's great in theory but too difficult in practice.

It may be a crisis that is too good to waste but we have to move fast to define and win support for a progressive response to the failures of the market. But a new socialism can only be built on the politics of sustainability.

So what have socialism and shopping got to do with each other and why do I ‘spend' so much time worrying about consumption to the extent that I wrote my first (and maybe my last) book on it: All Consuming?

In just 10 days our high-profile Summer Lecture 'The Future of Social Democracy' is now fully booked: delivered by Dr Jon Cruddas MP the lecture will take place from 6pm - 7.30pm on Tuesday 8 September 2009 at the LSE Hong Kong Theatre, Clement House, Aldwych, London WC2A 2AE. You can still request to be put on the reserve list for a ticket.

Norwich North is yet another bad result for Labour and another self inflicted wound. When so many MPs across the parties who played the expenses system remain unaccounted for, why was Ian Gibson singled out? It was either cock-up or conspiracy.

As reported in The Guardian Compass and its counterparts in the German SPD have launched an important joint political project to build a post-crisis social Europe with the publication of a major statement Building the good society: the project of the democratic left written by Jon Cruddas MP and Vice President of the German SPD Andrea Nahles MdB.

A Compass meeting on Tuesday night focused on how to push organised politics away from the contorted groupthink of Westminster.