Damning with faint praise
James Forsyth 7:38pmYou’re going to have to allow me one more post on Norwich North, this quote from the vice chair of the Norfolk Labour party is too good not to pass on:
In other words, the only problems with the candidate are that he’s the wrong sex and not from around here. A loss in Norwich North is pretty much already priced in to Brown’s survival chances but an embarrassingly poor performance would cause him trouble.“John Cowan, vice chairman of Norfolk Labour Party, said: “It's very interesting that they've opted for a male candidate, my preference was always going to be for a female candidate.“Chris is a fairly strong candidate. I worked with him during the Euro election campaign. He's obviously spent some time in Norwich at the UEA but it would've been nice to have someone a bit more local.”
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Morus
June 29th, 2009 8:28pm Report this commentJames - I suspect there's more to this quote than meets the eye.
Victoria McDonald was the favourite and (I'd guess) his preferred candidate.
The by-election will be fought on the old boundaries, giving Conservative Chloe Smith an advantage - she would have faced a larger notional majority if just fighting the General Election.
If I were Labour, unlikely to win, I'd put up a weaker candidate this time and use Victoria McDonald at the General Election when the national picture might have changed (Brown replaced by Johnson etc) and when the voundary changes are in Labour's favour.
In such a case, you might want to lull the Conservatives into a false sense of security at the by election - win it by as much as Crewe and Nantwich was won, and they might not try as hard at the General Election (thinking it a safe seat).
There is, of course, the danger that a sudden reversal in fortunes (Lab move within 7% natioanlly) could actually give Chris Ostrowsky a narrow victory in low turnout. Then they would be stuck with him for at least the General, and Victoria McDonald would have to wait a long long time or move to another seat.
This quote does just enough to undermine him, and tips a psychic wink to Labour voters that this isn't the Labour candidate they want as their MP, without undermining Ms McDonald's case if (as I expect) she stands as the PPC for Labour at the General Election.
Guy Incognito
June 29th, 2009 8:54pm Report this commentCOMPLETELY off topic, but where in the wide world of sport is The Wall? Eh, Hoskin? Get yer finger out.
anne allan
June 29th, 2009 9:54pm Report this commentA model endorsement - I can't stop laughing.
Verity
June 29th, 2009 10:02pm Report this commentJohn Cowan sounds like a real doozy.
lovett
June 29th, 2009 11:00pm Report this commentDid the BBC cut the Nick Robinson piece on purpose.....surely we should have seen what Cameron had to say today.
John Moss
June 29th, 2009 11:21pm Report this commentMorus,
You are obviously far too deeply involved with politics if you think that anybody, let alone Labour, could be so sophisticated as attempt, or expect the electorate, to understand anything that subtle!
Go out a bit more, meet real people - no, not canvassing - and get a life!
Morus
June 30th, 2009 12:30am Report this commentJohn Moss
Never done a day's canvassing in my life!
Honestly - the Vice Chair knows what he's doing - he knows it will be picked up by places like Coffee House, and repeated on Labour blogs, where the activists go, and the general media narrative of "Labour already struggling - not the right candidate" will filter through to those they're relying on for leafletting.
Am I too cynical?
Writing about Iranian claims of infiltration in the Iranian election, I found myself writing "not only could this government not run a whelk stall, they would sink a previously successful Whelk Stall at a Whelk Eating Festival in Whelkshire, the day after main rival Whelks R US announced an eColi outbreak"
Cock-up not conspiracy is usually the best explanation...but this sounds fishy to me!
Lee Jakeman
June 30th, 2009 12:31am Report this commentFunny how the anti-sexist, anti-racist Labour Party discriminates on the basis of sex and race more than any other party. When it comes to discrimination, even the BNP finds it hard to compete with Labour.
Fergus Pickering
June 30th, 2009 5:42am Report this commentWhat's wrong with Victoria McDonald's race Being Scotch?
David Ossitt
June 30th, 2009 9:01am Report this comment"my preference was always going to be for a female candidate"
For God's sake; when will they ever learn, the best man/woman for the job should always be the criteria.
John Cowan
June 30th, 2009 9:09am Report this commentWhen I decided to withdraw from the race to be the Labour Candidate for Norwich North it was on the basis that Norwich North the selection for the Labour Candidate would be an all women shortlist.
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/search/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&itemid=NOED19%20Jun%202009%2007:57:12:627&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=search
Last night Dr Ian Gibson decided not to stand as an independent Candidate I suspect he maybe seen in the House of Lords soon.
It might be a good time to follow my postings on Twitter
Johntheactivist
Sir Graphus
June 30th, 2009 9:38am Report this commentMessage to all Norfolk voters; Vote Labour or we'll take your flood defences away.
David
June 30th, 2009 11:35am Report this comment"Last night Dr Ian Gibson decided not to stand as an independent Candidate I suspect he maybe seen in the House of Lords soon."
What on earth has Ian Gibson done to merit a Peerage? I suppose being a big trougher is all being Labour peer requires these days...
John Boy
July 1st, 2009 10:45am Report this commentSo how come Brown hasn't called the Glasgow by-election?
Is he fearing a loss there too?
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