Tuesday, 24th February 2009

Who Labour MPs would put in their top team

James Forsyth 8:39pm

Last week I noted that if Labour returned to opposition, the Parliamentary Labour Party would elect the shadow Cabinet. Politics Home has now asked their panel of Westminster experts who they think will be voted in--and out--by the PLP. The results, which they’ve kindly advanced to me, make for interesting reading.

The majority of the panel predict that Jon Cruddas will stroll in if he stands. Across the ideological spectrum, there’s a sense that Tony McNulty and Liam Byrne are also likely to make the cut. On the left, there is a strong expectation that Peter Hain, the blogging Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson and Sadiq Khan, who was named newcomer of the year at The Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year Awards in 2005 but later ran into controversy over the bugging of a conversation between him and Babar Ahmed, will also win promotion to the top table.

Of the current Cabinet, a majority believe that Shaun Woodward will not win election if he stands. There’s also a view on the left that John Hutton, Geoff Hoon and Paul Murphy will struggle to achieve the necessary support.

One consequence of electing the shadow Cabinet is that as it becomes increasingly likely that Labour will be sent into opposition by the electorate, pleasing the PLP selectorate is going to become more and more important to those Labour Cabinet Ministers and MPs who want to be on the frontline in opposition. It is yet another factor that is going to put a strain on the discipline and unity of the PLP.

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Alf Tupper

February 24th, 2009 9:30pm Report this comment

James, this is on a par with Fantasy Football League. Is this what you studied so hard for?

Gareth Williams

February 24th, 2009 10:00pm Report this comment

Tony McNulty will definitely lose his seat if Labour go in to opposition and John Cruddas will very likely go down because of the rise in the BNP vote

TrevorsDen

February 24th, 2009 10:10pm Report this comment

Have to agree with Alf.

What on earth should I as a Tory voting peruser of the Spectator blogs have an interest in the labour shadow cabinet.

My only interest is that there should be one.

James

February 24th, 2009 10:13pm Report this comment

Of course the PLP were responsible for people like Frank Dobson, George Robertson and David Clarke being in the first Blair Cabinet. No doubt they'll elect an equally inept bunch next time round!

James

February 24th, 2009 10:16pm Report this comment

Also let us not forget the truly unforgettable Gavin Strang.

stereodog

February 24th, 2009 10:38pm Report this comment

I think that this article corroborates the validity of a bet I have placed on the Conservatives increasing their majority at the election after next. If the Labour party thinks it's unpopular now it ain't seen nothing yet!

Will Yoxall

February 24th, 2009 11:13pm Report this comment

Labour would be mad to kick John Hutton out of the cabinet, he's one of their most competent ministers and has found a very suitable role as SofS for Defence.

oldrightie

February 24th, 2009 11:17pm Report this comment

Sooner the better.

mac

February 25th, 2009 8:16am Report this comment

Alf Tupper:

Steady on! Next, you'll be saying this isn't a meaningful way to spend 3 years to get a university degree:
Southampton University offer a 3 year course in "BA (Hons) Football Studies (Full Time)".

I wonder if our 'all shall prizes' government has Snooker and Darts degree courses in mind, too? It'd only be 'fair' and 'equalising', wouldn't it? After all, there's no merit in studying pointless subjects like Latin any more, not when the result is bright, articulate graduates like Gail Trimble . . .