I wouldn't say it placed her to the left of Cruddas. It certainly places her in similar waters, but I wouldn't go so far as to argue she's more left wing. If her surprisingly leftist views are genuine, then why has she been such a loyal member of the government? Cruddas has the policy and much more integrity - he's still the left candidate. I think it is a sign of things to come that even New Labourites are reverting back to their socialist roots though.

I think all any of this tells us is that it would have been a great thing to have a leadership contest. Then we could have had an actual debate between someone who wanted to stick with New Labour policies (with a few tweaks here and there) and somebody with a radical left agenda. Instead, we've got 6 people who - with the honorable exceptions of Blears and Benn - will chase the polls and look for 'gaps in the market'. It's quite funny really that 318 MPs apparently backed sticking to the New Labour approach (people could have chosen to nominate neither candidate, before I get the predictable responses to that suggestion) yet half of the candidates in the deputy contest seek to ape the left! Could I be any less enthusiastic?

To me, Harriet is the only one who has thought through what the job of Deputy might be about. Jon Crudass is amiable enough but not in with a chance - just doing his best to fly the flag for the 'left'. Alan Johnson ('generic politician' as my son named him) looking for promotion. Hazel I like but she is still in Party Chair mode and who knows where that is going. Harriet has also put her money where her mouth is on campaigning. The boys may be making the right noises but which of them has 700 members in their CLP? And she does her bit - many CLPs know her because she goes out on the streets campaigning with them.

Jon Cruddas has moved into 3rd favourite to be Deputy Leader with Betfair at 6/1 behind Benn and Johnson. Harman is next at 9/1, Blears on 12.5/1 and Peter Hain at 18.5/1. Cruddas stacking up a good sum of CLP nominations - 31 now behind Benn on 40 and ahead of the 4 others. It's still Benn's to lose, but the momentum is with Jon Cruddas at the moment and he has a bit of a chance of an upset. If Hain drops out first, I think many of his STV transfers will go to Cruddas which could really open things up. I'd be interested in how many of Harriet's actually go to Hazel too.

After reading this, I do indeed feel Harman is going to win. If she can convince grim and otware that despite her vote for Iraq, despite sending her child across town to a selective school, despite her scrapping one parent benefit and means testing invalidity, despite all this, they are prepared to believe a conversion on the basis of one tv show, she's going to win. I can never get over how nice we are in the labour party and how despite all the facts pointing otherwise we're always prepared to give the benefit of doubt, and we always end up being betrayed.
Well Hariet has pledged she'll be publicly loyal and privately honest. That's one hell of a get out of jail card. There's no doubt in my mind that she's played this election the best, she's gone for distance from everything she's voted for; I just don't believe her. She wasn't there when it mattered and she could have made a difference. And history tells us she never is.

I prefer candidates such as Blears and Benn. I may not agree with what they're saying but they are honest in their opinions. The same cannot be said for Hain or Harman. And this comes from a Cruddas supporting soft Leftie.

Oh dear. Poor old Harriet. Her MPs are chuntering as we speak after the shocker on Question Time - by clearly advocating a UN res against the USA she has blown the special relationship she had with Gordon.

Did anyone see this story? http://www.labourhome.org/story/2007/6/15/65325/1987