Another name for the hat
Peter Hoskin 2:26pm
First there was Ken, then Peter Mandelson, and now Jon Cruddas is the latest name to be linked with Labour's campaign for the London Mayoralty. According to the Standard, the Dageneham MP is winning "high level backing" to take on Boris in 2012.
As James said last week, there's every reason to believe that Cruddas will play an important role on Labour's post-election stage. Sure, his thinking is diametrically opposed to that of most CoffeeHousers – but at least he has some sort of political vision, more or less well-defined. That alone distinguishes him from many of his colleagues. Then throw in his general affability, and it's understandable why Cruddas has perhaps greater influence and stature among Labour backbenchers than ever before.
But is the Mayoralty a step too far? Ignoring any contests with other Labour figures and perhaps with Boris himself, I reckon the biggest impediment for Cruddas is the mechanism by which he might join the race. The Standard reports that he would only do so if he lost his Dagenham seat (current majority: 7,605), which is certainly a possibility judging by the swings we've seen in recent by-elections. But losing out in a London constituency would hardly be the best start to a bid for running the entire capital.
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Michael Booth
January 19th, 2010 2:59pm Report this commentVote Crud, you know it makes sense!
R
January 19th, 2010 3:01pm Report this commentI disagree with Cruddas about most things, but he stands out amongst the current crop of Labour MPs for having a mind (he actually reads some proper books not just public policy waffle from the sort of people who think Nudge is an intellectual milestone) and some integrity.
But what's he ever done in his political career, in terms of government rather than Labour politics? Not much that I've heard of, has he ever been a minister or influenced policy at all? (NB I do realise these are not the same thing, as many ministers probably don't influence policy!)
And outside politics, nothing. Aside from a (very) brief career as a academic he's always been a political hack. Boris Johnson was at least a journalistic hack, which implies that members of the public actually voluntarily paid money to read his output, and still do.
PS, I don't know about being London mayor, but re the other job Cruddas is mentioned around: it would be an extraordinary indictment of the leadership of the Labour Party if, immediately following a 3 term stint in government, they appointed as their leader someone with no government experience
Frank P
January 19th, 2010 3:31pm Report this commentOh Dear - first Purnell, now Cruddas is pushing the boat out at the nearest boozer to OQS!
Is there is little adobe hacienda I could rent for the missus and me in your locality, Verity. Strategic withdrawal seems the only answer just now - then we can gird our loins to plan and perfect sabotage from afar. No point in sabotage here, it's already a wasteland populated by brainwashed fellow travellers it would appear. (The usual notable exceptions apply of course). As the old Yorkshire saying goes, "There's nowt so queer as folk!! They're aw queer 'cept thee an' me
And thart a bit queer thissen sometimes too."
Chuck Unsworth
January 19th, 2010 3:35pm Report this commentThis is just an ongoing saga of putting names forward to see which gives rise to the least loathing and ridicule. Once they've gone through all these 'candidates' we'll see NuLab anoint the least offensive fall-guy as 'the chosen one'. The question, as always, is 'chosen by whom'?
Carroll Barry-Walsh
January 19th, 2010 4:25pm Report this commentRight: so Labour are thinking of having as their mayoral candidate a man who bought a flat at our expense in Notting Hill so that his daughter could go to the good state Catholic school there not in Dagenham and who will have lost his seat. A typical Labour hypocrite in other words. Just because he's not as obnoxious or mad as the other candidates doesn't make him a good candidate, you know.
jon
January 19th, 2010 5:23pm Report this commentLabour are also thinking of having someone who avoided paying inheritance tax as leader, David Miliband. They don't do god but hypocrisy is not a problem.
2trueblue
January 19th, 2010 6:08pm Report this commentThings must be bad in the bunker if Jon is thinking of auditions elsewhere. Either he thinks he will lose next time round, or he is sure that if he gets in Liebore will be totally finished and fancies something else?
Gone down a long way once the expenses thing got out, but then so have a lot of them and still they just don't get it. They have no idea how fed up we are with them, but they will soon.
David E. Jones
January 19th, 2010 7:48pm Report this commentAll the comments of Ken Livingstone in recent days would lead everyone listening to believe that he is going to be the Labour candidate. Where does that leave Jon Cruddas and the Labour party?
JohnAnt
January 19th, 2010 8:04pm Report this commentI hear Mandelson has offered to become Mayor of London, as long as they throw in Paris and Rome as well, just to make it worth his while.
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