Who is Labour's Chris Huhne?
James Forsyth 10:37pm
Reading Fraser’s posts about the odds on who will succeed Gordon Brown as Labour leader and whether he will be challenged this side of a general election, it struck me that we need to look for Labour’s Chris Huhne or John Redwood: someone who doesn’t have much chance of putting themselves into contention unless they steal a march on their rivals. To my mind, this rules out the Milibands, Purnell and Balls who all probably think that they are better served by waiting. I’d also put Jon Cruddas in this camp, one of his major selling points in a 2010 leadership election will be that he is the clean hands candidate.
Those who fall into the Huhne / Redwood category are John Hutton and John Denham. Whether either of them want to risk the consequences, which would not be pretty, of running against Brown seems extremely unlikely. But if either of them really does want the top job, now is their moment to move.
One other scenario to keep your eye on is the stalking horse that wounds but doesn’t kill. Imagine if a candidate announced saying, ‘I just want the party to have a choice so a vote for me is a vote for a leadership contest’ and got significant support. At this point, the floodgates would open and Alan Johnson or Jack Straw, the wiliest operator around, could emerge as a caretaker leader.
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Verity
May 6th, 2008 2:23am"...the floodgates would open and Alan Johnson or Jack Straw, the wiliest operator around, could emerge as a caretaker leader."
Please! Not Uriah Heep! He leaves a snail trail wherever he slithers. It's such toxic Trotism/student Marxism it glows in the dark.
On the other hand, rather the sliming Uriah than Alan Johnson, who may be a hit with the ladies. He is rather cute.
Straw is a sure-fire election loser, which we should promote.
Go Jack!
Cindy
May 6th, 2008 5:15amYou could be right about Denham as he is in danger of losing his seat at the next election and he is due to give a speech in the next few days entitled 'Labour: How to win the south of England', to some front organisation for the Blairites.
Livingstone supporter
May 6th, 2008 5:17amWhat about Livingstone?
Jess
May 6th, 2008 6:38amJames it is obvious FRANK FIELD MP. None so blind as them who will not see.
John Page
May 6th, 2008 6:52amGot him in one, Verity! If it's hand wringing and no action you want, it's the straw man for you. What resonance do any of these people have for the electorate? Anyone who's plotting on these lines should get out more.
Ann
May 6th, 2008 9:36amFrank Field? The leader with a backbone made of lettuce?
Roy Simpson
May 6th, 2008 9:54amAll this speculation is interesting, but I believe that Brown's position as PM is in his own hands. He would only need to pre-empt a leadership election by threatening to call a general election. This would concentrate the minds of all those Labour MPs whose seats would be at risk.
Max Kaye
May 6th, 2008 6:56pmVerity is right: Let's promote the Straw Man.