Not all that emerges from Labour mouths is puke

I am gob-smacked by this Guardian report on David Muir, director of political stategy to Gordon Brown. I did not expect such dispassionate political realism from that quarter. Who did?

Voters talk of the need to 'make do and mend' public services, of living within their means. There is little to no recognition that growth, jobs and homes could be placed in jeopardy. The coalition looks competent, and, importantly, mainstream. This may sound bad for the new Labour leader, but it is in fact much worse.

Wow; and it gets better. Muir says Labour failed to hold on to a particular group of voters in the Midlands and south-east of England, described by market research as 'happy families', who constitute 40 percent of the population in key marginals such as Milton Keynes and who are the most positive about the Coalition.

These families live in new-build housing, many have young children, a household annual income of £20,000 to £30,000, and are cash and time poor. They depend heavily on their car and really feel the pinch when petrol prices rise. They are utterly demanding for their children and want the very best in terms of service provision.

As I said - gob-smacked. How could someone that honest ever have worked closely with Gordon Brown?