Why doesn't anyone want to join Labour? The party is sufficiently alarmed by the membership decline to have set up a commission, chaired by the former environment minister Michael Meacher, to investigate why morale is so low.
Cue ironic laughter from the left - many of whom believe that the party leadership has not only ignored their views on Iraq, PFI, tuition fees and other touchstones, but has systematically deprived them of the opportunity to make their voices heard at conference and in the NEC. You can read all about it in Red Pepper and the other outlets for disaffected Labour members.
Lately, however, there have been signs that the "progressive" left, which favours a Gordon Brown premiership sooner rather than later, is starting to provide a comfortable berth for Labour supporters who cannot quite bring themselves to renew their membership subs. Labour activists will note that Meacher is also one of the founders of Compass, a thinktank which has just asked supporters to contribute to its New Manifesto Fund, an agenda for the Brown era. "Dig deep and do what we've always said: 'be the change you wish to see in the world'," urges the group. For disaffected Labour supporters who want to see the chancellor in charge, it's a no-brainer. Why donate to the party itself when you can get your voice heard on the sidelines - and still remain loyal to Labour?
In the meantime, Meacher's commission can expect to hear a long list of complaints, not least from the trade union movement, which is helping to fund it. But what would it take to raise party morale?
Incidentally, Harriet Harman suggested today that British democracy could be invigorated by letting children enter polling boothes with their parents - surely a recipe for family tension and spoiled ballot papers. ("Mummy! You told Daddy you were going to vote Conservative!")
