Labour Leadership/Deputy Leadership Election thread

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Might as well bump a thread about an actual election, even if it's an internal one

Recent rumours are that Benn will stand (probably for Deputy, but some want him for Leader) and that Cruddas is close to getting the required number of M.P's signatures to get on the ballot. It looks like he'll get the backing of the engineering union Amicus.

If Benn joins the Deputy race, it's possible that Hain (finding himself squeezed between Benn to his right and Cruddas to his left) will fail to get enough signatures.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Benn has confirmed that he will run

[Serenity Now]

I'm likely to be voting for Cruddas as deputy, I like a lot of the things he's been saying..

[merseysider]

I'm likely to be voting for Cruddas as deputy, I like a lot of the things he's been saying..

You're not a Labour party member are you? I had you down as a Green or LibDem....

I think Cruddas will get some votes from the union brass (the likes of Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson) but not from rank and file party and union members as nobody knows who he is - the guy probably isn't even a household name in his own house.

Personally I have no interest whatsoever in who becomes our deputy leader. I wish some of the people who are hawking themselves around as deputy candidates would put themselves up for leader instead.

I'm hoping John Reid stands for Leader - he may not have a hope in hell of winning but I want to vote for someone whose politics match my own and who I can support with real enthusiasm.

If he were to make it, I think he could be very electable in a General Election. He's someone who understands that the people who decide general elections are the British public, the man and woman on the street. That to win an election, we need to cater our appeal to them, not to the Guardian, the Independent, human rights lawyers or the 'phantom army' of noisy, but not very numerous, disaffected middle-class lefties.

I'm most definitely not sold on Gordon Brown, for a number of reasons. Firstly, I hate the way he is officially loyal to government policy while his little cronies have been running around voting and agitating against the Government. I'm not just talking about the Tom Watson letter; this has been going on for years (remember the revolt on tuition fees in 2004). Hypocrisy is not on my list of desirable leadership qualities.

Secondly, we will not get the benefit parties normally get from changing their leader (a fresh face at the top, and the argument that the voters don't need to change the Government because the Government has already changed itself). Gordon has been on the front bench for 20 years and is a bit shop-soiled to say the least.

Also, I hate the way he's been trying to give the impression to the left that he's really more of a socialist than Blair (thankfully he isn't) even though he has been the joint architect of a lot of the Government's policy. A lot of these people are going to be very unhappy when he's in No 10 and they realise they've been had!

At the end of the day there are very, very few real Gordon Brown supporters. Most of the people who support him do so because they think everyone else supports him and they want to be on the winning side.

[Rural Radical]

I'm likely to be voting for Cruddas as deputy, I like a lot of the things he's been saying..

You're not a Labour party member are you? I had you down as a Green or LibDem....

I think Cruddas will get some votes from the union brass (the likes of Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson) but not from rank and file party and union members as nobody knows who he is - the guy probably isn't even a household name in his own house.

Personally I have no interest whatsoever in who becomes our deputy leader. I wish some of the people who are hawking themselves around as deputy candidates would put themselves up for leader instead.

I'm hoping John Reid stands for Leader - he may not have a hope in hell of winning but I want to vote for someone whose politics match my own and who I can support with real enthusiasm.

If he were to make it, I think he could be very electable in a General Election. He's someone who understands that the people who decide general elections are the British public, the man and woman on the street. That to win an election, we need to cater our appeal to them, not to the Guardian, the Independent, human rights lawyers or the 'phantom army' of noisy, but not very numerous, disaffected middle-class lefties.

I'm most definitely not sold on Gordon Brown, for a number of reasons. Firstly, I hate the way he is officially loyal to government policy while his little cronies have been running around voting and agitating against the Government. I'm not just talking about the Tom Watson letter; this has been going on for years (remember the revolt on tuition fees in 2004). Hypocrisy is not on my list of desirable leadership qualities.

Secondly, we will not get the benefit parties normally get from changing their leader (a fresh face at the top, and the argument that the voters don't need to change the Government because the Government has already changed itself). Gordon has been on the front bench for 20 years and is a bit shop-soiled to say the least.

Also, I hate the way he's been trying to give the impression to the left that he's really more of a socialist than Blair (thankfully he isn't) even though he has been the joint architect of a lot of the Government's policy. A lot of these people are going to be very unhappy when he's in No 10 and they realise they've been had!

At the end of the day there are very, very few real Gordon Brown supporters. Most of the people who support him do so because they think everyone else supports him and they want to be on the winning side.

Personally I would like Johnson as leader, but I could live with Reid. I have a feeling it isnt going to be Brown.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Various updates... Johnson will run for Deputy and will likely endorse Brown for Leader.
It now looks unlikely that we'll see a serious challenger for Brown, although it still can't entirely be ruled out.

[afleitch]

Various updates... Johnson will run for Deputy and will likely endorse Brown for Leader.
It now looks unlikely that we'll see a serious challenger for Brown, although it still can't entirely be ruled out.

Gordon is safe in the knowledge of his victory. That's why he has spent the last few weeks speaking outwith the brief of his portfolio (while Blair lays low waiting for the police to come a knockin') and declaring himself as robust against terror (the refuge of politicians with sod all else good to talk about)

That aside, Labour really has to be seen to have a contest of some sorts or it just looks terrible in the media

[Silent Hunter]

I think I might vote for Hilary Benn. I support his position on cluster bombs.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

In related news, Lloyd won the Lloyd v Clywd re-match for PLP chair. It'd be interesting to know which M.P's switched, although their reasons for doing so (Clwyd being seen as too close to Blair) are obvious.

[merseysider]

In related news, Lloyd won the Lloyd v Clywd re-match for PLP chair.

Brilliant. Just what we need (not). An ex-ministerial, left-wing troublemaker as chairman of the parliamentary party.

We ought to be the Natural Party of Government. Harold Wilson tried it, Tony Blair very nearly achieved it. But the Labour Party didn't want it. We are losing our discipline, our realism, and most importantly, the will to win.

[Rural Radical]

In related news, Lloyd won the Lloyd v Clywd re-match for PLP chair.

Brilliant. Just what we need (not). An ex-ministerial, left-wing troublemaker as chairman of the parliamentary party.

We ought to be the Natural Party of Government. Harold Wilson tried it, Tony Blair very nearly achieved it. But the Labour Party didn't want it. We are losing our discipline, our realism, and most importantly, the will to

I think we will be the natural party of government.

As far as the Tories go they are a one trick pony. With cameron having a free run for the past twelve months. Its hard to know what he is against.

As for the Lib Dems, well no comment.

[Ben.]

 

I think we will be the natural party of government.

LOL... oh the arrogance!

With the partisan dealignment which has characterised the electorates of most western democracies over the last decade or so do you have any idea how antiquated the concept of any party being "the natural party of government" actually is?

[afleitch]

 

I think we will be the natural party of government.

LOL... oh the arrogance!

With the partisan dealignment which has characterised the electorates of most western democracies over the last decade or so do you have any idea how antiquated the concept of any party being "the natural party of government" actually is?

It was the belief that the Conservatives had in being the 'natural party of government' that deservedly caused them to humped in May 1997- most Tories were genuinely shocked at the scale of their loss with some I've known believing Labour would have a small majority and they'd be back on the government benches five years down the line. Complacent Labour members thinking they are somehow indestructable is probably the best weapon the Conservatives (or the SNP for that matter) have.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Seeing as it's reasonable to assume that Labour would win a majority of seats in a hypothetical election in which all factors are equal, then asserting that Labour is a "natural party of government" is also reasonable.

Unless "natural party of government" is taken to mean "near-permanent party of government", o/c.

Interestingly enough, Labour was in power for a majority of the time between 1963 and 1980.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Apparently Jeremy Corbyn is considering running for Deputy Leader

[minionofmidas]

Seeing as it's reasonable to assume that Labour would win a majority of seats in a hypothetical election in which all factors are equal

Well, yeah. In other words, it's not about the British people so much as it's about the British parliamentary system.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Well, yeah. In other words, it's not about the British people so much as it's about the British parliamentary system.

True o/c. And also true of the Tories in the '80's; one book I read a while ago mentioned that Labour's hopes of winning a majority in the Commons were so small that one of the seats they'd have to win was Finchley.

[minionofmidas]

Well, yeah. In other words, it's not about the British people so much as it's about the British parliamentary system.

True o/c. And also true of the Tories in the '80's; one book I read a while ago mentioned that Labour's hopes of winning a majority in the Commons were so small that one of the seats they'd have to win was Finchley.

And they did, in 1997.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

And they did, in 1997.

Despite unfavourable boundary changes

(although quite how unfavourable they were is open to debate...)

[Filuwaúrdjan]

PLP Committee (sort of shop stewards for Labour M.P's really) election results out today; the five lefties running for re-election all won and the sixth seat went to Don Touhig.

[Serenity Now]

PLP Committee (sort of shop stewards for Labour M.P's really) election results out today; the five lefties running for re-election all won and the sixth seat went to Don Touhig.

Who were the 5 lefties?

[Silent Hunter]

Meacher's thrown his hat into the ring.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6385285.stm

[Democratic Hawk]

Latest polling with Brown as leader all looks rather grim . I'm genuinely undecided on the Labour leader- and deputy leadership

Dave

[Peter]

Redux:

Leadership candidates
Gordon Brown
Michael Meacher or John McDonnell - TBA Monday?

Deputy Leadership candidates
Peter Hain
Harriett Harman
Jon Cruddas
Hilary Benn
Alan Johnson
Hazel Blears

[Rural Radical]

At this stage:

Leader : Gordon Brown

Deputy Leader: Alan Johnson