10 February 2007

Labour Deputy Leader

For some reason the waste of space position of deputy leader/PM is attracting a lot of interest from Labour politicians. So far, the only candidates running a half-way competent campaign are Jon Cruddas and Hillary Benn. It looks like David Miliband's QT gaffe means that he will have to play the long game. Both Johnson and Hain have had damaging leaks very early on and appear to have insufficiently broad support to mount a serious challenge. The potential female candidates (no pun intended) of Blears, Harman or Jowell are frankly not even rated by their colleagues. Straw is well-respected inside and outside of the party, but is probably hoping for a lower media profile at this time and Clarke (who has been floating ideas to the right of the Tories) is far too realistic to have a hope of charming the economic illiterates that comprise the Labour membership.

Vote in my poll for who would be the best candidate to fill Prescott's cowboy boots from the Tory point of view?

Update 1 - Harriet email problems

Is being an email mug the latest fashion? Harriet Harman has mailed a Tory council leader, Brian Silvester to ask for his support! Brian, fell free to vote here.

Update 2 - Useful Idiot Needed

Just for clarity, I'm not looking for a good candidate for this non-role and please don't take this poll seriously. Personally, I've yet to vote and am finding it very tricky. Which useful idiot to choose?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Someone on the left would probably be better for everyone. Obviously, it would benefit the Tories, but may also re-enfranchise those who, in feeling left-out by New Labour, have turned to the BNP.

Paul Burgin said...

The problem with online polls such as this, esp on your blog (given your politics), is that you could end up with a lot of Tories and Lib Dems voting for a candidate who they see as helping Labour lose the next election. True not all opposition members are so machavellian, but a lot are.

Croydonian said...

A tough call, and as Tories, of course we want the worst possible candidate from the point of view of Labour's electoral chances. I would be astonished if Labour partisans did not take the same approach to our leadership.

If we cannot keep Prescott, then it is a three way, erm, toss up between Blears, Clarke and Jowell, any of whom would infuriate the nation very quickly. If Labour has any residual sense left, it ought to choose Johnson.

dearieme said...

Blair

Stan Bull said...

Obviously, Croydonian's nominees are all guaranteed to provoke contempt all round. Yet I can't help thinking Harriet Harman would be good news for us. She is profoundly irritating...and none too bright. I mean even Blair ended up firing her from the Cabinet.

Praguetory said...

Just posted a Harperson update. Focus on her husband, Jack Dromey has always been beneficial in the past.

Anonymous said...

No question, Hazel Blears, the midget pervert.

Mr Eugenides said...

It's an agonizing choice. Peter Hain's risible intervention late last night, calling for two-thirds of company bonuses to be given to charity, has given him my vote on this occasion, but in all truth it could have been any one of five or six.

They're all idiots.

James Higham said...

Cruddas appears to be the one who might win through for them. Waht say you, PT?

dizzy said...

HIlary Benn camapigns in Alan Johnson's constituency

Anonymous said...

"Johnson and Hain have had damaging leaks very early on and appear to have insufficiently broad support to mount a serious challenge"

actually Johnson is supposed to be the one with highest number of MPs nominations

Praguetory said...

Just thought his supporters were very much on the right of the party. If I were in Labour I think he is probably the best pick (but obviously this is very hypothetical).

Anonymous said...

"Just thought his supporters were very much on the right of the party. "


ok, I thought you were saying that he has not enough support to reach the ballot. Sorry.

I think Johnson has a fighting chance to win the race though. MPs votes "weight" more than ordinary members. And among ordinary members, I think the second preferences and co can be difficult to predict.