Cruddas - career politician or not?

Reasonablesocialist Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 12:55:07 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

There's an excellent article in G2 today by John Harris on Compass.



In it, however, a Compass supporter suggests that the Cruddas candidacy in the Deputy Leadership contest ensured 'it wasn't just a carve-up between career politicians'.


Now, I quite like Cruddas, but his CV - Labour Head Office, No. 10, and then the House of Commons - seems to me to put him firmly in the career politician bracket.  Like most, he's someone with little experience of life outside Westminster, so as good as he is he would be even better if he had slightly broader experience.


What do people think? Is it pushing it to say he's not a career politician or is he firmly in that box?



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Cruddas - career politician or not? | 14 comments (14 topical)

Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#1)

by HenryG on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:18:56 PM GMT

I think that I read Jon Cruddas joined his first trade union when working as a brickie in Australia.  This interview with Soundings gives an interesting insight into what makes him tick.

What brought you into politics?

I was from a very political family, but not in terms of formal party politics. Ours were informed by Catholic social teaching and by liberation theology. We didn’t have labour movement heroes as such, it was more the likes of Oscar Romero or John F. Kennedy. My family came from Donegal and my dad was a sailor. I was one of five brothers and sisters, and we were the first generation in our family to go to university. Before I went there, I spent some time in Australia and got involved in trade union politics. After getting involved in the labour movement I gravitated towards the Labour Party.

More here: http://www.socialistunity.com/?cat=112


Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#2)

by e10rifles on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:20:11 PM GMT

The definition of a career politician. No 10 enforcer turned lefty late in life.

Ironic that Harris's paeon to the "principled" Compass set should appear on the day they sell out on a basic human rights principle of anti-internment.

I found the bit about having a "strong base in the trade unions" hilarious as well. Even Compass's staunchest supporters acknowledge they are "all brains and no brawn" i.e. no roots in the unions.


Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#3)

by andrew79 on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:25:21 PM GMT

In an article on Comment is Free, John McDonnell has announced he is pulling out of Compass conference.

His article is online at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/11/civilliberties.uksecurity

He states: "I was scheduled to speak at the Compass conference on Saturday at the LRC/ Labour Briefing breakout session. I will not do so now. I do not want to be associated with those that are willing to support undermining the basic human rights that socialists have fought and sacrificed themselves to secure and protect over generations. There are some lines in the sand you just do not cross. Undermining basic civil liberties by locking people up for long periods without charge is one of them."


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#5)

by e10rifles on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:36:13 PM GMT

Bang on the money from John there.


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#6)

by Reasonablesocialist on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 02:11:40 PM GMT

I'm against 42 days and not a member of Compass, but this article seems a little harsh.

Do the Compass group actually vote together as a group ever?  It was my understanding that they were just an informal association of people who were Compass members?


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#7)

by otware on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 02:48:20 PM GMT

I'm inclined to agree here. I get the impression that the Compass Group of Labour MPs (or whatever they call themselves) is very loose indeed. They have ministers for heavens sake!

I think John is being principled and is probaby morally right to do this. But doing this encourages factionalism on the left. He is playing the role of the stereotypical leftist. I know the Compass MPs are often spineless when it comes to actually voting against the government, but surely this speech was meant to be about the members & activists.

Don't do it John! This was a great opportunity that you've thrown away! 


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#4)

by swatantra on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 01:28:57 PM GMT

Of course he's a career politician! like a majority of the inmates of the House. We don't seem to get any more of those sons and daughters of toil any more; perhaps we should make it a compulsory requirement that there should be a minimum of 5 years in a real job before anyone gets sight of the Candidates Panel.


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#10)

by jkitleft on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 05:20:54 PM GMT

Didn't old Benn used to be a cabinet loyalist pre 1970's?


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#13)

by doctordunc on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 09:40:09 PM GMT

Well pre-1980s if you mean did he follow collective responsibility.  He did.  But criticise the Wilson and Callaghan governments as you like (and there's plenty to criticise) they didn't bring in 42 day detention without charge.

As it stands, I'm not querying why people haven't resigned from the Cabinet (or other government positions) - only why backbenchers should suddenly lose sight of their principles on the eve of a vote.

(For the historical record, Benn sr. was a careful and courteous rebel before and after his collective responsibility period)


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#8)

by otware on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 02:59:22 PM GMT

I think most politicians are careerists to some degree. You'd have to be naive to think otherwise. What is important, however, is what they have to offer. And I think Cruddas has a lot to offer, so we shouldn't be too hard on him. I have a lot more respect for him than for most other Labour politicians.

Also, him being an ex-Blairite isn't exactly the crime of the century. If the left/centre-left wishes to advance together then they're going to have to accept that not everybody was principled in opposing New Labour back in 1994/1995. In fact many probably support New Labour, at least the 1997 incarnation. There has to be some compromise and co-operation. Rather than focussing on the past people should look to the future. 


Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#9)

by HenryG on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 03:43:33 PM GMT

Kevin Maguire tells a story about Jon Cruddas here that I think says a lot about the man's guts. There's more to him than a career politician.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/columnists/maguire/2007/06/06/cruddas-is-a-brave-move---89520-19251534/


Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#11)

by grimupnorth on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 05:29:20 PM GMT

Oh, please. If he had any guts he would not be caving in over  42 days.


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Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#12)

by Free Radical on Wed Jun 11, 2008 at 08:03:48 PM GMT

I don't think whether he is a "career politician" is what matters. As others have said, it is what he has to offer that matters.

In some ways Cruddas has been very impressive, and thoughtful, on reform of the party and on education, and he is very astute over the BNP. But, and for me it is a big "but", he voted for the Iraq war, which he now regrets (though few don't regret it now), he has always voted for authoritarian anti-terror legislation and he supports ID cards. (On the other hand he opposed renewing Trident).

His voting record, is summarised by www.theyworkforyou.com as:
  • Has never voted on a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
  • Voted a mixture of for and against introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
  • Voted moderately for introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
  • Voted moderately against introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
  • Voted strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly for the Iraq war. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly against replacing Trident. votes, speeches
  • Voted very strongly for the hunting ban. votes, speeches
  • Voted moderately for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
I think he is very bright and capable, and a great thinker, but it's not really my politics. Though if I had to choose between...


Re: Cruddas - career politician or not? (#14)

by e10rifles on Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 10:21:59 AM GMT

Foundation hospitals FFS?

The worst Labour health policy since 1997!


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Cruddas - career politician or not? | 14 comments (14 topical)