Benn guns for deputy

pauldburgin Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 10:35:46 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Originally posted on my Mars Hill blog, I felt I ought to share my thoughts here:



A no of fellow Labour bloggers have mentioned who they would like to see as Deputy Leader.
I would ideally like it to be a woman, but at the moment there doesn't seem to be anyone in the higher echelons in the Party who I think I would like to see in the role. The much maligned and misunderstood Ruth Kelly perhaps, although her track record is not impressive in some areas and she is not popular either.
So who out of the men would make a good deputy? Well apart from the title of this blog piece being a giveaway, I do like the idea of it being Peter Hain. I like Jon Cruddas, but I am not sure about the role of Deputy being distinct from that of a cabinet post. Alan Johnson I don't know much about, but of course there is Hilary Benn.
Why Hilary? Well he has been rather good at DfID, working hard to achieve those millenium development goals. He has a lot of experience at grassroots and local government level, he has good contacts, and has been involved in the running of three government departments. Like his father (although father and son are from different wings of the Party), he is charming, polite, sociable and thoughtful. Respecting those who hold different views to his own. He is also down-to-earth and the only sitting cabinet minister I have met who I have dared to address by his first name (that shows just what a friendly and approachable guy he is!)
So if Hilary stands for Deputy, then I will support him!

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Benn guns for deputy | 27 comments (27 topical)

Re: Benn guns for deputy (#1)

by Juvenal on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 12:49:43 PM GMT

Benn is certainly one of the best ministers we have.  However, my immediate thought was 'why would he stand?'- he is clearly commited to his current post and doesn't strike me as someone who would prefer a party management role over running a department (although it is possible to combine the two).

I'm not sure that I would recommend the post of deputy to anyone, given the chances of Brown becoming leader.  I just don't think that he is the sort of person who would give the deputy leader any real power or authority.


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#17)

by bornin84 on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 09:50:08 PM GMT

Since when was Deputy Leader a party management role? I haven't seen John Prescott doing much party organisation (more like disorganisation!) And he hasn't exactly had a lot of real power or authority either!

All that Deputy Leader guarantees is a seat in Cabinet, not that I think Hilary needs this! He is surely enough of a heavyweight to retain a seat for as long as he wants it!

But I think Hilary Benn would make a great Deputy Leader, he does come across as human but with gravitas. And perhaps a stepping stone to Leader one day!


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#20)

by alexhilton on Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 02:37:50 PM GMT

Historically not a very good stepping stone


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#25)

by bornin84 on Mon Oct 30, 2006 at 10:31:47 PM GMT

Alex, you're not wrong, but then historically we've never had a third term Labour Government.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#21)

by Ian G on Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 02:45:09 PM GMT

Prescott has always been hugely effective in rallying the party faithful, and amongst the core Labour vote in the country, even though a lot of his time has been spent telling people things they don't want to hear.

It's his public work in government which has attracted the adverse comment. Strikes me as another good reason for separating the deputy leader job from a cabinet portfolio.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#2)

by liz on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 12:58:25 PM GMT

I would have him for leader!  I am a great fan.  I wish the PM had moved him to a larger department in the last reshuffle to highlight his abilities. I agree with the comment above regarding his many personal qualities.  I would support him in the leadership or deputy leadership contest.


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#3)

by Glass House on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 01:03:53 PM GMT

Apparently Blair offered him a promotion at the last reshuffle but Benn turned it down, saying that he wanted to finish what he'd started at DfID


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#4)

by liz on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 01:08:17 PM GMT

Thank you I did not know this.  Can we add a man of great principle to the list of qualities.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#6)

by swatantra on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 01:46:37 PM GMT

I know. Hillary is talented and hasn't an enemy in the world; he could easily sneak in as the compromise candidate. But could anyone honestly stomach the sight of Wedgie Benn's smug satisfaction, smirking all over his face. Insufferable! I need a stiff whisky just  picturing the thought.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#9)

by otware on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 04:35:15 PM GMT

I agree that Hilary Benn is loved by all and could potentially sneak up the inside, but I somewhat think that he will be seen as a more leftish candidate, and as such will fail because of Jon Cruddas.

But I fail to see why Tony Benn smiling would make you upset. He has a lovely smile!


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#12)

by pauldburgin on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 06:03:39 PM GMT

I would find it difficult if Hilary shared his Dad's politics, and as for smirking, Benn Snr is one of those individuals whose politics I disagree with but who I admire and respect as an individual
That said had I been an activist in the 1970s I would probably found him a pain in the neck!


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#5)

by Andrea on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 01:46:34 PM GMT

He was also apparently offered the Work and Pensions department after Blunkett resigned (at least it's what Diane Abbott said in her sofa love fest with Neil and Portillo)


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#11)

by Anonymous on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 04:58:28 PM GMT

I have it on good authority that this story - and the notion that he was offered and turned down DWP when Blunkett resigned - are not true.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#23)

by smiley on Sat Oct 28, 2006 at 03:24:15 PM GMT

Care to expand on that anonymous?  Any backup for that?


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#7)

by Anonymous on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 01:55:33 PM GMT

Details on the story today at The Daily. Original report here.


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#8)

by Anonymous on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 03:20:29 PM GMT

Benn would be a great Foreign Secretary but I dont think he has what it takes to get the party into shape - just look at his CLP.  


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#14)

by stuartbruce on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 06:57:22 PM GMT

Unfair, his CLP has been dysfunctional for years and many people have tried to sort it out (and then gone on to higher profile roles within the party). Hilary has achieved a lot in improving the local situation.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#15)

by SW on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 07:42:11 PM GMT

I elected myself head of his leadership (no need to waste time with deputy) campaign a long time ago (I told Alex but neglected to tell Hilary Benn). I think he is a very, very skilled communicator who can articulate people's hopes and fears and reach out through the media to connect with people. This is what we need a leader to do. Slightly older than Blair so has gravitas. The famous name brings a whiff of authenticity and principles which enhance the cabinet experience. IMO, he should have taken another cabinet job when he had the chance (I think he was offered) but DfID a good blameless place to become leader from. He needs to change those glasses but apart from that....get the momentum building. This is the solution to our problems!


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#10)

by Barckley Sumner on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 04:47:06 PM GMT

Unlike everyone else I don't think that Benn has done a great job at Dfid.
Hehad to be dragged kicking and screaming away from the "conditionality" policy (the orginal brainchild of "Saint" Clare Short)which forced developing nations to privatise their public services, most notably water, in return for British aid.
This has led to fewer people having clean running water than previously and costs have greatly increased.he is clearly controlled by his civil servants.
Under his watch a Tanzanian pop singer was paid tens of thousands of Briitsh development money, to sing about why water privatisation was a good idea.
While the conditionality policy has now been dropped, Britian still pays for developing countries to privatise ther public services if that is what the IMF and World Bank has recommended.


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#13)

by Juvenal on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 06:46:29 PM GMT

I fail to see how the <u>public</u> ownership of utilities in Africa has done anyone any favours.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#16)

by Barckley Sumner on Thu Oct 26, 2006 at 09:21:53 PM GMT

Public services in developing countries need to be impoved. This should not be done through multinationals getting rich on the backs of the poor. With regard to water systems privatisations have often led to fewer poor people having access to a clean water supply.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#24)

by laurencemarshall on Mon Oct 30, 2006 at 07:28:37 PM GMT

Any evidence for that? I have yet to see anything conclusive regarding water privatisations.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#26)

by AJScobbie on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 04:58:30 PM GMT

There is a vast array of literature on the failures of privatisation in the developing world and especially central and southern america. Its all online if you care to look. What I intend to see is in more general terms.

I have no problem with privatisation in the West. The neo libreal agenda was a reaction to the failures of Keynesianism. Perhaps it could have all been mangaged better but we are where we are.

The problem arises in its application to the rest of the world. The policy agenda of the IMF and World Bank doesnt make sense for countries that lack the massive industrialisation and modern welfare state that Britain had. Before pruning your rose bush you need to at least allow it to grow beyond a shrub.


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#27)

by Barckley Sumner on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:11:41 PM GMT

I agree with most of this post. I have a problem with the West's privatisation agenda. Personally I think with the coming energy privatisation and the move back to nuclear, we could soon see some backdoor nationalisations, similar to Network Rail


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Re: Benn guns for deputy (#18)

by Anonymous on Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 10:54:23 AM GMT

Whenever I see Benn on the television or hear him on the radio he comes across as sensible and intelligent and interesting. I'm not a development expert so am not knowledgeable enough to comment on that aspect of being a minister but he does seem a good communicater.
http://gracchii.blogspot.com


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#19)

by Ian G on Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 02:35:14 PM GMT

Benn is a great minister, and I'm sure he'll continue to be a great minister whatever happens, but what would he bring to the job of Deputy Leader?

I'm still backing Cruddas. We need a face from outside this cabinet to freshen up the party's approach. We also need someone with a democratic mandate to reform our creaking party organisation. We have some serious problems to overcome, and we need more than an exercise in rearranging the deckchairs.


Re: Benn guns for deputy (#22)

by pauldburgin on Fri Oct 27, 2006 at 11:20:32 PM GMT

Well it's official, he will stand! See here.


Benn guns for deputy | 27 comments (27 topical)