2012 will see voters lose faith in the government's economic policy and give Labour a fair hearing says Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor. In an interview in the Fabian Review, Balls says George Osborne's autumn statement marked a turning point:

“I think it [will prove] a game-changer in people’s understanding. When a government [takes office], you really want to believe these new guys are going to make it work. Then suddenly people realise that not only is there lower growth and high unemployment, but that the one thing this Government said it would do was to borrow less, and now it is borrowing more. In the next six to nine months, people are going to say: What’s the alternative? Our opportunity starts now.”

Victims are being overlooked by the criminal justice system, says a new Fabian Society report. Edited by Sadiq Khan MP, the shadow justice secretary, the report features contributions from a panel of experts brought together to inform the conclusions of the Labour Party’s policy review.

The report says victims are often treated as bystanders as their cases proceed through the courts, whereas they should be central to the criminal justice process – not only because they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, but also because their co-operation and trust is vital for it to function effectively and bring offenders to justice.

Read the full report here