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Odds shorten on Benn victory | 50 comments (50 topical)

Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#16)

by Sensible Comrade on Thu May 24, 2007 at 05:13:37 PM GMT

Did the Campaign Group not just nominate Benn out of comradely generosity? I cant see the likes of Jeremy Corbyn giving him endorsements on his website. But it seems that Wedgwood Benn the elder is definitely supporting the fruit of his loins. It's touching that family loyalty comes before left/right divides. Reminds us that there are more important things in life. p.s Grim do you honestly expect Wedgie Benn Jr to suddenly prove more left-wing than he's been so far? Of course all the candidates are trying to court all sides of the party! Surely the most important thing to look at is voting records. p.p.s Piece in the latest Private Eye about the businessmen Hain gets all his money from. So you are supporting Blairite Benn and the Business-Sponsored Candidate? No wonder the far left is in such a mess


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#17)

by doctordunc on Thu May 24, 2007 at 06:22:11 PM GMT

Oh for goodness sake, can we stop it with all this 'far left', blah blah blah nonsense now. This contest is hardly a left/right one, is it? Are people poring through the supporters of the other candidates to make weird sectarian attacks? (We could all do it: "Oh look, Tom Watson supporting Jon Cruddas - he was about as right wing as you could get and still be Labour back when we were both in student politics - so is the person he's supporting the 'left candidate'?") But what's the point, I'm sure Tom has a variety of reasons for his choice of candidate, as have I - and I don't imagine who is meant to be more left wing is particularly influencing either of us!


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#22)

by Ian G on Thu May 24, 2007 at 09:00:50 PM GMT

Actually it's quite simple if you cut away the personalities and focus on some issues.

Which candidate will argue against more private involvement in the NHS at the cabinet table? Cruddas will, Hilary Benn won't. (see The Mirror Q&A today)

Which candidate admits the Iraq war was a mistake? Cruddas does, Benn doesn't.

Which candidate voted against trident replacement? Cruddas did, Hilary Benn didn't.

Which candidate voted against top-up fees? Cruddas did, Benn did't.

And so it goes on, but now you'll tell me that the Deputy Leader has no influence on anything so it doesn't matter anyway...


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#34)

by grimupnorth on Fri May 25, 2007 at 06:15:38 PM GMT

Which leadership candidate shared Cruddas's positions on all of the above and was shafted thanks to him and his mates? Oh, and I thought Cruddas wasn't after a Cabinet position.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#39)

by Ian G on Sat May 26, 2007 at 12:32:32 AM GMT

Jon is not after the position of deputy PM. He wants the chance to represent the party at the cabinet table. I don't give a **** who shafted who. Cruddas is the best candidate we have.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#35)

by jonesythered on Fri May 25, 2007 at 08:24:17 PM GMT

Even if Cruddas were to argue over these issues behind closed doors, do you think it would make any difference given he's got no power whatsoever? The new spin about Cruddas being opposed to private sector involvement in public services is, I'm afraid, just not true. He didn't vote against the privatisation of probation services and he's voted for marketisation of the NHS (i.e. Foundation Hospitals). Also note this from 2005: "However, Mr Cruddas had praise for the government's public service reform agenda, although he conceded it was "not going fast enough - it never can, but there are positive things around". Last week he joined a government minister to open one of eight integrated health centres in his borough, which was the result of a "radical partnership between the public and private sector", he said." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4268142.stm Neither am I convinced by him apologising for voting for the Iraq war (which, you should note, Harman is also doing). He's just admitting the obvious - i.e. now it hasn't turned out the way he wanted, he opposes it. Well guess what, even militant neoconservatives in the US say the same thing - in fact there was an issue of Vanity Fair last November devoted to their mea culpas. It is, in my view, an absolute scandal that, given 139 Labour MPs voted against the war, all six deputy leadership candidates voted for it. In my view, the soft left committed an absolute tactical disaster by not putting up Jon Trickett instead of Cruddas - who has a consistent political record, including voting against the war.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#36)

by alsoleeds on Fri May 25, 2007 at 09:09:29 PM GMT

I think much of Jon Trickett, but I think Jon Trickett was one of those who first encouraged Jon Cruddas to run for the deputy leadership.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#37)

by jonesythered on Fri May 25, 2007 at 09:35:24 PM GMT

Cruddas was approached by the T&G and Amicus to stand. Trickett obviously supported that (he's parliamentary manager, after all) - but there may well be additional context behind that


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#41)

by otware on Sat May 26, 2007 at 02:01:25 AM GMT

I hope we see Trickett come through a bit more in years to come. He's decent enough.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#50)

by doctordunc on Fri Jun 01, 2007 at 07:09:42 PM GMT

I wouldn't buy a used car from him though.


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Re: Odds shorten on Benn victory (#26)

by grassrootsgal on Fri May 25, 2007 at 09:34:47 AM GMT

At the Islington North nomination meeting last night Jeremy was invited by members to give his view of the candidates several times, but refused to do so. There was a big debate about the merits of harman and Cruddas, but Jeremy sad glued to his chair arms folded. I suppose you could regard this as loyalty to Hilary?(btw Harman won the nomination)


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Odds shorten on Benn victory | 50 comments (50 topical)
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