Jon Cruddas seems to be the only candidate for the Labour Deputy leadership who is actually interested in debating issues. On tomorrow's GMTV Sunday Programme he will voice doubts about replacing Trident and say that if he knew then what he knows now he wouldn't have voted for the Iraq war (didn't Michael Howard do the same thing?). The others won't debate with him until after the May local elections. Being Cabinet colleagues they've UPDATE Wrinkled Weasel informs us that Red Pepper described Jon Cruddas in 2001 as an "Ambitious ultra Blair loyalist -- though that loyalty will seamlessly transfer as soon as it becomes apparent that Blair is on the slide." How prescient.
12 comments:
Leaving the devastating Harriet Harman imagery aside, Red Pepper described John Cruddas as a trades union fixer and an,
"Ambitious ultra Blair loyalist -- though that loyalty will seamlessly transfer as soon as it becomes apparent that Blair is on the slide."
That was in 2001..spooky isn't it?
As a Labour Party member I'm backing Cruddas for now, and Alan Johnson as my backup plan.Have to agree with you on what you said about Harriet Harman, really don't think she would do anything for the Party. We're not really spoiled for choice in terms of women with leadership-potential, at least within the cabinet.
Superb use of euphemism in your endorsement of Harriet Harman, there, Iain.
(Noting that you have no time for anonymous commenters one feels the need for a name, thus...)
It doesn't matter who is deputy as Gordon Brown is going to be the bossman. He's demonstrated that he's a control freak so any deputy who speaks out will feel those clunking fists. The deputy role will therefore be a token role that will be light on policy, so who better than Harriet Harman?
Great remark about the 'loyalist'.
Iain, I think you are being a little harsh on Harriet. Surely the fact she isn't 'married' to David Hill and is such a shameless 'brown-noser' puts her at least ahead of someone like Tessa Jowell ?
What's that you say ? TJ is one of the few people NOT standing for Deputy PM. Okay, it seems you may have a point.
Nightowl - can I suggest you try and copyright that 'logo' of yours ? It is in severe danger of being nicked by the new left-leaning conservatives..
for more on nightowl's logo, click here.
I thought Nightowl was premiering Gordon's new Labour logo - Labour's Clunking Fist
Cruddas is not a Minister. The other Deputy Leadership candidates are, and are bound by collective cabinet responsibility: they are not in a position to start outlining different policies without it being turned into a "Labour split" story. When the Deputy Leadership election starts, expect lots of alternative policies.
Cruddas is the weasel who's take on the BNP wins in Barking was that it didnt matter because in a few years so many immigrants will be shoehorned into the borough that 'the demographic' will have changed enough that it isnt a problem any more. Sounds like the perfect Labour Deputy Leader to me - the country and every bit of history and culture in it can go to the dogs - just as long as there are Labour votes in it.
For reasons explained by David Boothroyd earlier, Cruddas is the only candidate with a free hand at the moment in the deputy leadership campaign. It is, therefore, interesting that he says so little (consistent with his record in the Commons). The candidate with the main publications record is Peter Hain. How far can we ensure that his past views on libetarian socialism
still express closet aspirations ? Harold Wilson provided for an open form of debate over the EU referendum. We (labourites)need the same dispensation now over the leadership and deputy leadership contests.
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