Not much is heard these days of Tony Blair's favourite slogan in opposition that New Labour would be tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime.
Those participating in the parliamentary process say that, despite the obvious limitations, the "space" (their favourite word) for opposition politics has widened; and that the government will sometimes even listen.
And for a statesmanlike Ed Miliband, who like Thatcher had not been the favourite to become Opposition leader, a chance to clasp the mantle of "this unique and towering figure" who believed that believed that "ideology mattered.
If she gets Michael Portillo's backing, she might overtake Ed Balls as the Opposition's favourite candidate.
Once the transition to socialism is complete, its spokesmen argue, crime will naturally disappear.Another favourite target is the opposition press.
The change was backed by the conservative Popular party (PP), in opposition but favourite to win power in the general election on 20 November.
Mr Capriles is now the odds-on favourite to win the opposition's primary and face Hugo Chávez, the incumbent, in October.The president of crime-ridden El Salvador, Mauricio Funes, appointed an army general, Francisco Salinas, to head the police force.
Victoria is in an election year, and wedging Premier Daniel Andrews for being "soft on crime" has become one of the Liberal opposition's favourite past times.
The name of the party, CISTA, stands for Cannabis Is Safer Than Alcohol, which seems to set two of the nation's favourite drugs in direct opposition to each other.
It has gone precisely nowhere but the opposition Conservatives, favourites to win a general election next spring, are unlikely to leave matters there.
