Win or lose, Labour’s radicalism has redefined what’s possible in British politics | Andy Beckett

The party hasn't even published its manifesto yet - but already it's changed the notion of what elected politicians can achieve

In today's troubled Britain, it is commonplace to say that the political parties need to come up with some fresh ideas to transform the country. But what happens if one of the big parties starts announcing radical new policies and yet most people don't seem to be listening?

That sobering question hangs over Labour's hugely ambitious but so far only moderately successful election campaign, judging by the slow improvement in its poll ratings.

It's making promises of a scale and novelty rarely encountered in the often content-free world of British electioneering