The hunt for Hoon’s successor
David Blackburn 10:41am
Not the most arresting headline I grant you, but bear with me. Geoff Hoon’s political corpse is still warm (well, lukewarm as it’s Hoon), but the search for his successor is underway. The indefatigable Paul Waugh has the runners and riders: John Knight (the leader of Ashfield District Council), James Connell (Hoon’s former SpAd) and Michael Dugher (another former Hoon SpAd who is now Brown’s Chief Political Spokesman).
Mischievously, Waugh asks:
‘Will Labour insist on all-women shortlist? And if not, why not?’
Why not indeed? Perhaps Joanne Cash could complete her volte face and stand for Labour. What strikes me most about Waugh’s list is that all of the candidates are ‘career politicians’. Remember Sarah Wollaston, winner of the Totnes primary? She was victorious precisely because she had no previous connection with politics.
Now, I don’t have a pathological objection to career politicians - more variety is needed among MPs but I don’t see why political experience is less valuable than other experience. But with public confidence in political cliques at the nadir Labour could be making an error by offering an all political shortlist. It shouldn’t matter though: Ashfield is as safe as they come.
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Sally Chatterjee
February 12th, 2010 10:45am Report this commentMore Spads? Don't they get it? The public are sick of career toadies, we want real people to represent us. Political experience IS less valuable because it shows you owe your career to the greasy pole rather than creating something or achieving something positive.
Lord Monkington-Smythe
February 12th, 2010 11:07am Report this commentI have met Dugher... I believe his first name is Michael, but to be honest they are all much of a muchness, as if they were poured into identical moulds and then given different wigs. If Gordo wanted to do something PR savvy (a stretch, I know), he would make a big song and dance about allowing the local party to choose the shortlist, showing his love of the little people and undermining the "control-freak" image that surrounds him like a bad smell. He won't though, because he is a control-freak.
stepney
February 12th, 2010 11:23am Report this commentA replacement for Hoon?
Is the world completely out of incompetent jellyfish?
JohnOfEnfield
February 12th, 2010 11:24am Report this commentI suggest the candidate will be one put in place by Unite or the NUM or some other progressive union after political power.
David Blackburn
February 12th, 2010 11:27am Report this commentLord Monkington-Smythe,
Thanks for the correction, my mistake.
Rainer Unsinn
February 12th, 2010 11:34am Report this commentGood-bye, Blind Man's Buff
Nicholas
February 12th, 2010 1:02pm Report this commentSally Chatterjee, hear hear.
Peter From Maidstone
February 12th, 2010 1:28pm Report this commentI don’t see why political experience is less valuable than other experience.
Unfortunately that view is widespread at the Spectator and is one of the reasons why it is still part of the problem and not part of the solution.
Willie de Peepul
February 12th, 2010 2:00pm Report this commentIsn't it for the electorate in his constituency, in due course, to determine his successor?
MorrisOx
February 12th, 2010 2:06pm Report this comment'Ashfield is as safe as they come'.
Oh, what short memories you have. Remember Tim Smith?
Safe seats are generally pretty conservative places. Will they appreciate a women-only list full of foisted candidates?
A campaign opportunity methinks, but for the almlst moribund nature of some parts of East Midlands Conservatism.
N J Mayes
February 12th, 2010 3:53pm Report this commentI read he was leaving because his local constituency party were unhappy with his role in the recent attempted coup against Brown.
What, do they seriously think that's the worst thing he's done?
Liz Brown
February 12th, 2010 5:39pm Report this commentEntry Requirement: Candidate must have empathy with Muslims
MorrisOx
February 12th, 2010 8:43pm Report this commentLiz, with great respect, that's an incredibly ignorant comment.
Old Greg
February 12th, 2010 9:39pm Report this commentConnell or any other political opportunist will be unwelcome in Ashfield. The experience of Hoon in the last few years has wrenched the party from its roots. Another career focused outsider will only continue the drift to the BNP and Lib Dems.
Iain
February 13th, 2010 10:08am Report this commentAlmost anyone would do better than this colourless nonentity. Take the fist person who applies for the job.
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