Mirror, mirror on the wall
NeilF Thu Jun 07, 2007 at 12:21:45 PM GMT 
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The Mirror newspaper put together a panel of six members of the public to interrogate the six candidates for the Deputy Leader's post. They all made good account of themselves, but one candidate stood out more than the others. The panel was made up of Silla Carron (Pride of Britain Neighbour of the Year), Mohamed Lodhi (pensioner), Lesley Ward (school teacher), Emma Chapman (nurse) and Katan Alder (student).
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=19257969%26siteid=89520-name_page. html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=19257969%26siteid=89520-name_page. html
Hilary Benn
And Mohamed agreed: "Jon's a man of the people. Hilary Benn is a good speaker but I found him to be too much like a very good salesman."
AFTER all the questions, answers and arguments our panel spoke unanimously - Jon Cruddas should be Labour's next Deputy Leader. Cruddas is the backbench MP for Dagenham, the only candidate who is not a minister and the only one who insists he is running for Deputy Labour Leader, not Deputy Prime Minister.
PANEL'S VERDICT: Straight answers: 7/10; trust factor: 6/10.
THEY were impressed that Hilary answered questions directly without waffling, but felt that he was not inspirational enough.
Hazel Blears
Hazel Blears
PANEL'S VERDICT: Straight answers: 7/10; trust factor: 6.5/10.
UNIMPRESSED Silla said she'd "heard it all before" but most were surprised to find that Hazel came across as a woman of the people.
Jon Cruddas
Jon Cruddas
PANEL'S VERDICT: Straight answers: 10/10; trust factor: 10/10.
THE panel appreciated his down-to-earth and direct approach and believed that he understands the big issues. Silla said that Jon could even persuade her to vote Labour for the first time in a national election.
Peter Hain
Peter Hain
PANEL'S VERDICT: Straight answers: 5/10; trust factor: 5/10.
THE panel was impressed that he was "honest enough" to admit the government had made mistakes but Mohamed, Nigel and Katan were concerned that he had not offered enough in the way of solutions.
Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman
PANEL'S VERDICT: Straight answers: 5/10; trust factor: 4/10.
ALTHOUGH impressed by her political experience and confidence, panelists were turned off by her Tory-bashing.
Alan Johnson
Alan Johnson
PANEL'S VERDICT: Direct answers: 6/10; trust factor: 5/10.
THE panel liked Alan's answers but, as with Peter, they were concerned about what new ideas he would bring to the table - and Silla thought he played up his working-class roots too much.
The panel's verdict:
Silla Carron said: "I'd love to see Jon get the job. I would trust him a lot more than any other politician, and that's a compliment."
The panel's verdict:
Silla Carron said: "I'd love to see Jon get the job. I would trust him a lot more than any other politician, and that's a compliment."
Labour chair Hazel Blears pipped Hilary Benn to second place with Education Secretary Alan Johnson fourth - the panel found him engaging but felt he made too much of his working-class roots.
Least favoured were "too slick" Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain and Harriet Harman who they thought "too patronising".
Lesley said: "I was expecting to be impressed with Peter Hain and Harriet Harman, but he was too slick and she was too obviously electioneering. But Jon could persuade me to vote Labour."
Lesley said: "I was expecting to be impressed with Peter Hain and Harriet Harman, but he was too slick and she was too obviously electioneering. But Jon could persuade me to vote Labour."
Emma said: "I felt Jon Cruddas was the most normal and he admits when he doesn't know something."
Nigel added: "Jon will bring traditional Labour members back - he believes in what we believe in. I thought Alan Johnson, a union man, should have had similar ideas but he didn't. The one that surprised me was Hazel Blears, she was more down to earth than I expected."
Nigel added: "Jon will bring traditional Labour members back - he believes in what we believe in. I thought Alan Johnson, a union man, should have had similar ideas but he didn't. The one that surprised me was Hazel Blears, she was more down to earth than I expected."
Katan said: "Jon was the one who was at least prepared to listen about the Iraq war."
And Mohamed agreed: "Jon's a man of the people. Hilary Benn is a good speaker but I found him to be too much like a very good salesman."
AFTER all the questions, answers and arguments our panel spoke unanimously - Jon Cruddas should be Labour's next Deputy Leader. Cruddas is the backbench MP for Dagenham, the only candidate who is not a minister and the only one who insists he is running for Deputy Labour Leader, not Deputy Prime Minister.
Mirror, mirror on the wall | 31 comments (31 topical)
Mirror, mirror on the wall | 31 comments (31 topical)
