Back in October, Owen Jones wrote this for the Guardian:

“Labour have to make ‘austerity’ tangible,” Owen wrote. It’s a theme he has written about week in, week out. This year alone he has claimed:

• “a stunning victory for all anti-austerity forces… will help shift the balance of power in Europe”

• “it is not surprising our anti-austerity left movement is emerging within Labour”

• “the SNP are carving out the clear progressive message that should belong to Labour: anti-austerity”

• “Voters have defected en masse to a party… with a populist anti-austerity message”

So keen is Owen on “the anti-austerity message” that he helped set up and remains a key backer of the “People’s Assembly Against Austerity” campaign group. So imagine Guido’s surprise at reading Owen’s latest piece for the Guardian:

“Labour has to abandon anti-austerity – a term that has never really resonated with the public, despite the left’s best efforts – in favour of being pro something else… If Labour can answer these questions, it will be in a far better position: able to commit to higher wages, reduced spending on social security without throttling working families, rebalancing the economy, preparing the country for future shocks, and having a positive vision rather than simply being against Osborne’s failure… the real answer is not to gloat over his bungled mess, but to find a positive alternative that inspires the country. Over to you, Labour.”

Labour has to abandon anti-austerity? Reduce spending on welfare? Who are you and what have you done with the real Owen Jones?