Time for Harman to resign?

laurencemarshall Thu Nov 29, 2007 at 10:05:35 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

On Newsnight in half an hour, more about Harman's role in this latest Labour funding scandal will emerge. When will it be time for more heads to roll?



This all looks so embarrassing. Some one needs to take responsibility, and not just an unelected official. The problem today is that elected officials seem to cling on for dear life. Can't they just follow the Lord Carrington approach and fall on their sword quickly?

Furthermore, if Harman resigns from her ministerial post, is (or should there be) a new deputy leadership election on the cards?

What do you all think? 



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Time for Harman to resign? | 15 comments (15 topical)

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#1)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 12:37:18 AM GMT

I wouldn't agree with Harman resigning - I don't think she's done enough wrong to merit a resignation and it would damage the party more if she did.

Even though I didn't vote for Harman, I wouldn't want her to be 'unseated' and for us to go through yet another deputy leadership contest in the same year.


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#10)

by swatantra on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 10:09:49 AM GMT

Let Harman step down for 'personal reasons' and Johnson take over as Acting DL for the remainder. No point in going through another DL election.


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#2)

by Wilberforce on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 01:25:52 PM GMT

I think that she should go gracefully and more importantly quietly and quickly. 


An outright resignation, although desirable is probably out of the question as we would need another Dy Leadership election - which would also lead to calls for a Leadership Election and GE by the Tories.


She should stand aside from her position now, 'pending results of the investigation' which  she believes will 'clear her name'. She should refrain from further comments or dragging others down with her as the matter is under police investigation.


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#3)

by liz on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 02:23:03 PM GMT

Absolutely not and this comes from someone who is not  a fan of Harriet Harman.   I think it is wrong that she is being made a scapegoat over this sorry affair despite the error made by her campaign team and for which she is responsible.  If it is true that one of the PM's aides assisted with the donation then why not also call for the PM's resignation?   I do not believe for one moment that Harriet lacks integrity and, I thought the PM was despicable when he failed to support her at his press conference. 


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#4)

by rwendland on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 02:48:03 PM GMT

I don't think Harman should should resign, as she hasn't done much wrong here. It seems her team was given Janet Kidd's name as a possible donor by Brown's team.

If Harman goes, the pack will merely move onto the next target. And Hain has made a much more serious mistake by not registering a £5,000 donor - from Jon Mendelsohn! I thought Jon Mendelsohn was supposed to be a Labour fundraiser rather than a donor! Has Jon Mendelsohn ever donated to anyone else in Labour? Can't see any previous donations in the EC register.

Personally, I think the required resignations are within the top band of Labour Party employees. 


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#6)

by rwendland on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 05:12:49 PM GMT

And now Wendy Alexander joins Peter Hain in what looks like a clear breech of the PPERA. Wendy Alexander took donations from non UK-voter Paul Green, and even sent him in Jersey a thank-you note. Both are ahead of Harman in the PPERA  infringement seriousness queue.


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#5)

by Wildrose on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 04:20:59 PM GMT

Harriet Harman should definitely not resign.  Apart from being unfair it gives further legs to the story and the only people to benefit from that are the media and the opposition.  And I bet one or two of the opposition are having sleepless nights at the moment.


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#7)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 07:11:25 PM GMT

I notice that Guido has used this poll to somehow prove that Labour members want her to resign.

Given the comments on here, I think we all know that those results don't accurately reflect the situation of Labour members.


As it stands, 106 people have voted! I mean come on, we're lucky to get 20 votes on most things.


Can people be careful with what polls they post so as not to give ammunition to the opposition.


And also, Alex or Jag, is there any way of making the voting public so we can see who is voting and then we can accurately say whether these polls are being rigged by mischievous Tory boys with too much time on their hands?


Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#8)

by Jag Singh on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 09:08:57 PM GMT

Hi NorthernMonkey, unfortunately there isn't any easy way of making public the vote results (without a whole lot of code alterations) but I've had a look at the results and the people voting aren't recently-registered users, a large chunk are in fact regular commenters.

But on a serious note, there is lots of talk within the party grassroots about Harriet being compromised, and I think these feelings ought to be aired.

That being said, the media hacks are out in full force and they're looking for blood; the question I'm asking myself is, are we strengthening our faith in the system in any way by airing our/the party's dirty laundry, or should we ignore peoples (presumably serious) grievances for the sake of party-political stability?


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#9)

by swatantra on Fri Nov 30, 2007 at 10:04:56 PM GMT

I've always thought that if Crudas had been selected as DL we would have had a root and branch shake up of the whole Party. There are too many any the 'old guard' still hanging around. If Harriet stays, then that is what she must do.


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#11)

by treborc on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 12:11:09 PM GMT

Old guard in what way, Blair's gang or old Labour.

I think she will do anything to stay in power from leaving her husband to hanging on by finger tips, what annoys me more is how the hell her husband whom she left in what was a set up, has become a treasurer of Labour.

Boy thats takes some sauce


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#12)

by doctordunc on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 12:41:55 PM GMT

Are you not mixing our Harriet up with someone else? 


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#13)

by swatantra on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 02:15:47 PM GMT

Harriet? Tessa? No. Two of a kind.
It was Dromey that started the Cash for Honours enquiry; now its his wife who's implicated in the latest scadal. Harman is reputed to have spent £50 000 on her campaign. Why?


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#14)

by rwendland on Sat Dec 01, 2007 at 04:28:09 PM GMT

All the deputy candidates spent about the same I think, except one (Benn I recall) who spent less.  Saw a nifty chart on the TV. Didn't most of them post a letter to members, 180k 2nd class stamps cost £43k.

Cash for Honours rolling loans was already rumbled when Dromey announced it, it would have come out not much later anyway.


[ Parent ]

Re: Time for Harman to resign? (#15)

by treborc on Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 12:04:00 PM GMT

We are now told Harman took out another mortgage on her house to the sum of £40,000 to pay for her campaign and that the £5,000 in questions was given after the voting was over, smells is a word that comes to mind, but she will hang on tooth and nail, I mean come on easy earner this politics.


Time for Harman to resign? | 15 comments (15 topical)