Poor Peter Hain, he is being hounded for failing to declare donations to his DL election campaign. Its something that can be easily overlooked in the heat of an election campaign. Its wasn't his fault unless he was made directly aware of it himself. Surely he would have had his Agent take care of all those legal technicalities. If any heads should roll then its that of those Agents. He's done the right thing and apologised and it should be left at that.

A short blog from my university labour club homepage to which I contribute.

Just thought this might be a good place to post the results in full so people can comment on the statistical points. The first thing on my mind is that Benn was second in the Member section and a very slight third in the Union section when he was removed from the ballot - and was just 16 MPs short of beating Jon Cruddas...

...and who knows where Jon's preferences would have gone if a Benn were still in play?...

Who would have thought it?

Kate Allen, the UK Director of Amnesty International, was kind enough to sit down with Labourhome for a few minutes and offer some insight into how the Deputy Leadership hopefuls performed. She also offered her thoughts on the direction of foreign policy under a Gordon Brown administration, what the Labour party needs to work on, and how non-governmental organisations (like Amnesty) are also playing strategic roles as early-warning indicators in trying to highlight flare-ups around the world.
The event was hosted by Amnesty International UK, Human Rights Watch, Oxfam and Save The Children. In the last 10 years the host organisations have pressed for a UK foreign policy based firmly on human rights, humanitarian law and social justice.

Arms Control	Iran	Palestine	Darfur
Iraq	Guantanamo Bay	Candidates Heroes	International Aid

Straw polls before and after the event asked attendees for their Deputy Leadership choice.

We spent a day on the campaign trail with Jon Cruddas.  Click here, to read our exclusive insider's report of what it is like to put yourself at the mercy of 190,000 Labour members. 

P.S. Congrats to Labour Home on keeping us up to date on all the happenings during this deputy leadership campaign!  Great stuff.

What do we all think?  Somewhat more awkward and tougher for the candidates than Newsnight this one.

Some definite hostile vibes between Harriet and Hazel on show, with Hazel's "handbag wars" comment.  Hain giving off the "you've stolen my thunder" vibe to Cruddas - since when was Hain so concerned with affordable housing?  A bit of a Blears Johnson love-in at the end.  Harriet objecting to the Brown "patsy" jibe. Hmmmm........

Or should that be "whom"? I can never remember.

I guess most of us will have recieved our ballot papers now and many of us will have voted. Who's voted who?

This week has seen some heavy betting on Jon Cruddas to be Labour's next deputy leader.  Following his strong performance there was a marked movement in the money on Cruddas which was picked up on by Mike Smithson, here.

Mike wrote:

'Most of us have opinions about political outcomes - gamblers are prepared to back up their views with hard cash and that’s what these charts are showing.

Dear Comrades

It is beginning to look like the remarkable will happen and that Jon Cruddas may win.  The state of play at the moment is :-

Hilary Benn 76
Jon Cruddas 70

This result makes me even more happy because amongst hilary support is at least 24 left clps which have been loyal to the bennists, but amongst those clps many will vote for Cruddas.  I know anmongst the trade unionist Cruddas will lead ahead of Johnson.  The key will be in the membership vote.  I feel it will be between Cruddas and Benn.  I have Cruddas to snatch it.  I know it is not just me with this feeling.  So I again appeal to John McDonnell supporters. There is a still a victory to be gained here and I know a couple of dozen clps which would have backed McDonnell have supported Benn.  If you are on the left please back Jon.  I have listened to him several times and I must admit he is sounding a better actvist than ever.  Lets change the party, vote cruddas, vote for change and unity!!!

It seems to me that there is only one person who can admit to mistakes in their past and has the honesty to become the next deputy leader and that is John Cruddas.  He should have backed John McDonnell, but that is in the past now.  He is honest and to the point.  He easily out shone 4 ultra blair babes and decent performing Harriet Harman on the night and the Newsnight poll showed this.  Lets just say I feel this it is a done deal for Cruddas.  I have toured many consituencies recently (outside of london) and I can tell you where cruddas is not winning he is coming second and many trade unionists will back him.  Be warned he is not complacent. PS I will have grim and jonesy back on board even if I have to read a page of JR blogs.

The Newsnight deputy leadership hustings has surely turned this election upside down or are we at TMP getting a bit too excited!?

Please leave comments if you feel like it
My dad Norman, who first campaigned for the Labour Party at age 14 in the 1945 election, will be chipping in his occasional comments.

32 CLPs - Benn

18 CLPs - Johnson

17 CLPs - Harman

17 CLPs - Cruddas

9 CLPs - Blears

7 CLPs - Hain

In Hazel Blears' latest video, you can meet her campaign team including some of the MPs who are backing her.

Earlier today William Hill slashed the odds for a Benn victory - he is now 2-1 joint-favourite to become John Prescott's successor. Hilary's campaign chairman, Ian McCartney, said a successful start to the campaign and a good performance at the three deputy leadership hustings held so far was responsible for the turnaround.

This afternoon the executive of shop workers' union USDAW met and nominated Hazel Blears for deputy.

The Union also endorsed Gordon Brown for Leader.