The Strange Antics of Jon Cruddas

In yesterday's Times there was an article suggesting that the Conservatives could unseat Jon Cruddas from his seemingly safe seat of Dagenham & Rainham. It's easy to see why. Cruddas has let the BNP support in the constituency mushroom. He's bleated about it but done bugger all to stem it. This week Jack Straw made a statement to the Commons announcing that a new prison would be built in the constituency on prime development land.

Surprisingly Jon Cruddas sat on his hands during the statement. MPs from all sides of the House were shocked that he did not even try to ask a question or two. It does make you wonder why he was not willing to even ask for a few brief details. In the end, it was neighbouring MP James Brokenshire, who put forward some questions and held the government to account. However, Cruddas found his voice after the debate when he phoned the local paper to say how upset he was. So maybe it was shock that made him sit on his hands in the chamber.

Or perhaps he was thinking about how, after the election, he will run as Harriet Harman's deputy and then stab her in the back and ascend to the leadership. He'd do better to concentrate on winning his seat first.

Cruddas Targeted in Labour Dirty Tricks

The Mail on Sunday today contains a puff piece on Hazel Blears and a piece on Jon Cruddas which he will find very embarrassing. I am sure there is no link between the two!

The Cruddas story accuses him of buying a second home in Notting Hill to enable his child to be educated there. It was clearly leaked by one of the rival deputy leadership camps. I have no idea which campaign is responsible, but the man with most to gain from damaging Cruddas is Peter Hain, who has lost no time in slagging off Alan Johnson and repudiating much of the government policy he has got collective responsibility for. Cruddas has sewn up a lot of the left of centre vote which Hain is targeting. Hain knows he cannot win unless much of Cruddas's support transfers to him, and he's willing to do what it takes.

It's turning nasty.

PS Nice to see the Mail on Sunday take my Clive Betts McJobs story a little further HERE.

Is Hilary Benn Struggling to Make the Cut?

It's a political truism that nice guys often come last. Could it really be that Hilary Benn can't muster the 44 votes needed to progress to the final stage of Labour's Deputy Leadership contest? Labour MP Chris Bryant certainly thinks so. He was overheard in Portcullis House talking in a very loud voice telling a female Labour MP that Hilary Benn won't make it but Jon Cruddas will.