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Monday, 19th May 2008

One to watch

James Forsyth 11:50pm

John Denham is now only 7 to 1 to be the next leader of the Labour party and Mike Smithson is tipping him as the potential Gordon replacement best placed to keep the government alive in the south. So, I was interested to see how he’d do on Straight Talk which is one of the tougher, most intellectually rigorous interviews out there. (You can watch the interview here)

Denham stands up pretty well; he does a particularly nice job of arguing that there’s no contradiction between courting the Labour base and the aspirational classes. However, his understated style makes it hard to see him as a leader.

One thing worth keeping an eye on at the moment, as Matt noted just after May 1st, is which Labour politicians start offering up grand theories about how the party can reconnect with voters. By my count, this interview is Denham’s second time round this course since Brown’s May Day drubbing. That puts him right up there with the more ambitious members of the Cabinet.

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Dave B

May 20th, 2008 1:50am Report this comment

Was he the man standing next to Ms Dunwoody when she thrice declined to describe Mr Brown as an asset?

TomTom

May 20th, 2008 6:43am Report this comment

Denham is another student politico. Really you journos must get away from the cloned types that appeal to you and think of voters...who simply despise insincerity

Steve Garner

May 20th, 2008 7:27am Report this comment

James, all of this Denham stuff is a load of nonsense. No matter how nice a chap he is and sounds Labour cannot put an untried in as PM. The public have not heard of him and would be outraged. Rightly so. The job of PM is far too important for a leap in the dark with a guy who has no Cabinet experience.

Prentia Clove

May 20th, 2008 8:23am Report this comment

All very good, until he loses his marginal seat at the election.

Diana

May 20th, 2008 9:59am Report this comment

Steve - Blair didn't have cabinet experience before becoming PM. Denham has held ministerial posts.

mitch

May 20th, 2008 11:21am Report this comment

I think Jack Straw would have something to say about that.

ACT

May 20th, 2008 12:38pm Report this comment

May I be the first to applaud your courage, integrity and unwavering commitment to the truth in proclaiming Straight Talk to be, 'one of the tougher, most intellectually rigorous interviews out there'?

Max Kaye

May 20th, 2008 2:24pm Report this comment

James, what is it about you media people that makes you think this non-entity is good for anything?

On May 1st, Denham was like a bunny caught in the headlights.... He really should be put out of his [political] misery.

Carol-Ann

May 20th, 2008 5:44pm Report this comment

I agree straight talk is a fantastic programme as was head2head until the beeb axed it.

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