Comments on: My thoughts on the Deputy Leadership contest http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/ Still under development Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:23:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: James http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-125 James Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:32:09 +0000 /?p=112#comment-125 He said this in an ePolitix interview last year: Question: What do you think you can personally bring to the party? Jon Cruddas: Let He said this in an ePolitix interview last year:

Question: What do you think you can personally bring to the party?

Jon Cruddas: Let

]]> By: Political Penguin http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Political Penguin Thu, 22 Feb 2007 01:22:41 +0000 /?p=112#comment-124 Jo, where do you have it that Cruddas would refuse the DPM job, I haven't heard anything to that effect. Would certainly up him in my stakes if he had said that. Jo, where do you have it that Cruddas would refuse the DPM job, I haven’t heard anything to that effect. Would certainly up him in my stakes if he had said that.

]]> By: Jo http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Jo Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:18:37 +0000 /?p=112#comment-123 Mike, Jon Cruddas will win. My huge get at LadBrookes on him say so! Just to second Bob's post. Jon Cruddas is not interested in being DPM and would refuse to take the post but he's defintiely interested in being DL and carrying out exactly the role you talk about. Go with him. It will be worth it :-) Mike, Jon Cruddas will win. My huge get at LadBrookes on him say so! Just to second Bob’s post. Jon Cruddas is not interested in being DPM and would refuse to take the post but he’s defintiely interested in being DL and carrying out exactly the role you talk about. Go with him. It will be worth it :-)

]]> By: Mike Ion http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Mike Ion Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:05:48 +0000 /?p=112#comment-122 I think that you sum up the merits (and shortcomings) of the main contenders really well. I like Jon Cruddas and think he has been a breath of fresh air and has forced many of the so called 'heavyweights' to rethink their overall strategy and approach. But he will not win. For me Hilary Benn is the person that I think is best placed to restore trust in the leadership - at all levels. He is competent, approachable and has few enemies in the media. I also think his 'moral' authority will count for a good deal - particularly with the Labour/Lib Dem waverers. I think that you sum up the merits (and shortcomings) of the main contenders really well.

I like Jon Cruddas and think he has been a breath of fresh air and has forced many of the so called ‘heavyweights’ to rethink their overall strategy and approach. But he will not win.

For me Hilary Benn is the person that I think is best placed to restore trust in the leadership – at all levels. He is competent, approachable and has few enemies in the media. I also think his ‘moral’ authority will count for a good deal – particularly with the Labour/Lib Dem waverers.

]]> By: Bob Piper http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2007/02/my-thoughts-on-the-deputy-leadership-contest/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Bob Piper Wed, 21 Feb 2007 08:42:19 +0000 /?p=112#comment-121 Very interesting and a pretty good analysis too. The important thing to remember is that we are only being invited to elect the Deputy Leader of the Party, the Deputy PM is in the grace of the PM, as with all cabinet positions. So in a sense trhe experience of running a department isn't really relevant. You are right about Cruddas' relative lack of experience at Ministerial level, but he has made it clear he doesn't want to be Deputy PM and he sees the role of Deputy Leader as re-energising the Party, increasing membership, restoring party democracy and reconnecting the Party in Parliament with the Party membership. All of these things are vitally necessary, and that's why I'm backing Jon. Hain has the Apartheid years 25 years ago and more to fall back on (when he was a Liberal) but Cruddas is engaging in the grassroots campaign against the BNP now. I'm afraid Hain just doesn't inspire me at all. Benn I could go along with and I have uumhed and aahed about whether to reserve my position until I heard more from the candidates, but if Cruddas' campaign falls away, I suspect old sentiments will drag me round to Benn (be nice if he listned to the old man a bit more, but I suppose it at least shows he is his own man). Very interesting and a pretty good analysis too. The important thing to remember is that we are only being invited to elect the Deputy Leader of the Party, the Deputy PM is in the grace of the PM, as with all cabinet positions. So in a sense trhe experience of running a department isn’t really relevant.

You are right about Cruddas’ relative lack of experience at Ministerial level, but he has made it clear he doesn’t want to be Deputy PM and he sees the role of Deputy Leader as re-energising the Party, increasing membership, restoring party democracy and reconnecting the Party in Parliament with the Party membership. All of these things are vitally necessary, and that’s why I’m backing Jon.

Hain has the Apartheid years 25 years ago and more to fall back on (when he was a Liberal) but Cruddas is engaging in the grassroots campaign against the BNP now. I’m afraid Hain just doesn’t inspire me at all.

Benn I could go along with and I have uumhed and aahed about whether to reserve my position until I heard more from the candidates, but if Cruddas’ campaign falls away, I suspect old sentiments will drag me round to Benn (be nice if he listned to the old man a bit more, but I suppose it at least shows he is his own man).

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