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Free lunch for the workers, free labour for the bosses, and don't worry the government's

paying, a conservative government which came to power in part because they convinced voters

that labour's sums didn't add up.

These really are extraordinary times, and they pose a real challenge to the new labour

leadership.

How should they respond?

That is a question my guest on this week's political thinking.

We'll have to address.

Nick Thomas Simmons is the Shadow Home Secretary, a barrister like Keir Starmer who chose him

over better known and more experienced politicians.

He's the biographer of Labour's post-war giants, climateally a nightbeaven, and as a result

has been called Labour's History Man, like Bevan, he's a proud product of the valleys

of South Wales, an era he was born in and now represents.

Nick Thomas Simmons, welcome to Political Thinking.

Thank you very much for having me, Nick.

Big spending, big borrowing, free lunches, free labour.

What on earth would an eye beven have made of this coming from a Tory government?

Well, in terms of where we are in the coronavirus crisis, there clearly is a parallel in my view.

Between that extraordinary, elective sacrifice in the Second World War that led post-1945 to

that great reforming Labour government which produced institutions like the National Health

Service, and looking forward now, after this extraordinary period of collectives sacrifices

...