September heralds the start of the new political term with the annual party conference season. As usual, expect hype, disappointment, bluster, twists, turns and much else, but this year one theme should dominate; the lessons we should learn from Britain's Olympic success.
This lesson is simple: public investment works. Whether in sport, schools, hospitals, public services or public servants, when we invest in the right areas, in the right way, at the right level, investment secures real, transformational success. Britain's athletes have received record levels of investment under Labour; our success at the Beijing Olympics vindicated this investment.
Consistently increasing attainment levels in our schools vindicates Labour's educational investments, drastically reduced hospital waiting times and increasing heath outcomes vindicates Labour's investment in the NHS. the introduction of the national minimum wage, investment in the New Deal for the unemployed and more people in work in Britain than at any other time in our history vindicates Labour's investment in the most needy in our society.
Of course there is more to be done, and even in a difficult global economy, investment is necessary. Armed with the proof of the benefits public investment brings, Labour should do more and do so quickly.
Copeland is due to gain significantly from public sector investment; new schools, new health facilities, new universities, new nuclear investments and more. But despite the evidence, and despite West Cumbria's needs the Conservatives refuse to accept that public investment works - they refuse to accept the olympic lessons. Sadly, every investment listed above has been opposed in Parliament by the Conservatives as has every investment coming into Copeland and scheduled to come into West Cumbria. Little wonder. In recent months David Cameron has blamed the plight of the poor upon the poor themselves, whilst his senior colleagues proposed huges inheritance tax breaks for the richest few in our society, likened sections of unemployed people to characters from the 'Shameless' television series and the Tories' favourite think tank also actually recommended the effective evacuation of the North of England. It would be easy to describe these views as Dickensian, but none of Dickens' worst characters ever suggested that the North of England should be abandoned.
In all truth, if these attitudes weren't so dangerous they would be funny.

Before the summer flight of MPs from Westminster to their constituencies I was summoned to a meeting with the Prime Minster at Number 10. The reason? A "chat". As it turned out, the PM was seeking the views of individual MPs on a series of new policies, but also seeking our ideas. "Prime Minister", I said, "You should address four domestic issues quickly. Firstly, we need to continue investing in public services. Secondly, as the only leader of any British political party to support the nuclear industry you should work to accelerate nuclear investments. Third, you should seriously consider scrapping stamp duty on more houses than is currently the case." "And the Fourth?" the PM asked. "Take the least well off out of taxation altogether," I replied.
Expecting to hear little else I was quietly satisfied when this summer brought real progress on the first three requests. Is Downing Street listening? I await news on the fourth...So far, so good.
Next month - On the campaign trail in the USA: the most important election ever?