The 13% point Tory poll lead tells us clearly that the endlessly repeated key “Do Nothing Party” attack line from Labour just isn’t working. Blair’s former aide, Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, in what must be a first for LabourList, gives an honest assessment of Labour’s immediate prospects:

This weekend’s polls show that politics is now returning to normal. Despite defying political gravity throughout the Autumn Gordon Brown has now been brought back to earth with a widening poll gap and a sense that his new year campaigning has not quite delivered. While the second wave of British bail-outs shows that there is no quick fix to the systemic crisis in the global financial system. … The elevation of Eric Pickles to Tory Party Chair is further evidence that both parties intend to indulge in some fairly tough political combat. Having Chris Grayling as Shadow Home Secretary will certainly add some grit to Conservative policy campaigning.

Since the new year Gordon Brown had tried to get with the programme with some bolder moves… [for] the Downing Street team … to get some momentum going … stop repeating tired lines about the Conservative party being a “do nothing” party.

When even your own side think your propaganda is crap, you need to up your game.