Labour's poll ratings have peaked at 40 per cent over the last few weeks and they seem unable to get more than a 7 or 8 per cent lead over the Conservatives.

Of course, with Ed Miliband's own popularity still at rock bottom, this little bump in the party's approval ratings can be interpreted as a surge - but it is nowhere near the level it could be with so much public anger towards the coalition government.

Labour still doesn't seem to be offering a clear and coherent alternative.

This lack of difference has left them labelled "red Tories" and "Tory-lite" by the left.

The public does appear to have been swayed slightly by the last party conference where Miliband did rather well, making headlines and setting the agenda.

Whether you think his offer of a price freeze on the energy companies is workable or not, it is undeniable that he has kept David Cameron on the back foot for the past few months.

Although Labour proposals are popular with the public, according to the latest ComRes poll, 69 per cent of people actually want full renationalisation of energy companies, and similar numbers want the railways taken back into public ownership.

These polls aren't surprising after seeing price rises of 40 per cent in only five years, along with soaring profits and bonuses for the CEOs of the big six companies.

Why has Labour not offered renationalisation?

Partly because it's terrified of being seen as reckless with spending again - although I've not heard a good explanation of how spending on our NHS, education and welfare caused the recession - but it seems to be another right-wing myth that has stuck pretty well with the public.

Also, Labour leaders are afraid of being labelled as "socialist."

Miliband did joke that he was "bringing socialism back," but very quickly distanced himself from any mention of it.

Socialism has become a bit of a dirty word, associated and deliberately mixed up with Stalinism at every opportunity by many right-wing politicians and writers.

"Damn these socialists for wanting fairness and equality for all!" isn't something you hear often.

However, I don't think Labour should be afraid of these labels, or of being left-wing.

We, the public, the voters, don't think in terms of left and right, we think in terms of fairness, how we can afford our bills, and our general standard of living.

People are seeing the largest fall in living standards since Queen Victoria was on the throne, yet the only major action we see Cameron being involved in is taking the EU to court to protect bankers' bonuses.

Even if this is a tiny amount of money in the scale of things, it is indicative of the basic lack of fairness and justice under this government.

Another major pledge from Labour was the promise to build 200,000 houses per year if elected.

This major proposal was only brushed over at conference, but it is a significant offer. Housing prices have sky-rocketed recently and are still rising at up to 9.1 per cent every year.

This is linked with and worsened by the fact that Cameron is presiding over the lowest levels of peacetime house-building since the 1920s. The housing policy shows Labour trying to deal with a real crisis.

The housing benefit bill is rising. The rise in homelessness, the bedroom tax, slum housing and the huge rise in the cost of renting are national scandals.

These are all worsened by the lack of affordable housing and Labour needs to show the public how its targets will make life easier for people across the country, especially the poorest in society.

In 2014 Labour needs to present itself as a clear alternative to the Tories. It needs to show that yes, benefits are for people who need them and shouldn't be abused, but that welfare spending didn't cause this economic crisis.

Yes, welfare spending is spiralling, but it isn't making the recipients wealthy. Housing benefit lines the pockets of landlords charging extortionate rent and working tax credits are a substitute for bosses paying a low wage.

Left-wing policies need more emphasis from Miliband.

The living wage is popular, a mansion tax is popular, house-building is popular, a bankers' tax is popular.

Miliband needs to show that the economy will continue to grow under Labour but in a way that will benefit everyone, not just those at the top.