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Written by Austin Mitchell
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17 May 2007 |
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Having put my application to be made PPS to the Fisheries Minister to all of the Leader (1.5 candidates) and Deputy (5.5 candidates), I now stand back as the only disinterested voter and watch the form.
Hazel Blears is the continuation of Blairism, by minimal means, Harriet is Brown on earth. Hilary Benn is loved outside but not so much in the PLP, Peter Hain is ambivalent between Mr Management and Larry Left, while Alan Johnson looks likely to do a cheeky chappy and slip between them all to win for the right and thus balance Gordon`s militant leftism.
Me? John Cruddas is the only one talking sense. He`s standing for a job he wants to abolish. He wants to make it the elected head of the party and give Labour a voice in Cabinet. It would be an insult to the party and the unions if the man who voices their views didn`t even get nominated by the PLP.
So I`ve nominated him. Ben Bradshaw watch out. I`ll be sitting behind you before you can say “pelagic”. The only problem now is whether it`s too grovellingly sycophantic to nominate Gordon.
Wed. John Prescott gives bravura performance as stand in for the PM – whom he may be. Terrific in effectiveness, humour and volume. And good to know John’s staying on.
Nominations. John Cruddas has made it. 46. Benn is behind at 40. Alan Johnson is leagues ahead. All candidates are building on regional blocks. It`s Wales versus Yorkshire versus the South, not left versus right and I look to be the only non-Johnson vote in Humberside. |
