CASH FOR CANDIDATES

At last week's UNISON leadership hustings in Leeds, Andy Burnham remarked, quite rightly, that it was time to retreat from "the old ways" of parachuting candidates in and the culture of control freakery which for years has disallowed debate and discussion at events like Party Conference. So it's immensely depressing to note that, yet again, money and famous connections are likely to determine the outcome of the Labour leadership election.
David Miliband has received an astonishing £185,000 from pals like Lord Putnam and that geezer from Blur who fancies his chances as an MP.
Ed Balls has a mere £28,000, from novelist Ken Follett, Ed Miliband £15,000 and poor relations Burnham and Abbott have declared nothing.
Maybe I am naive - but I view the fact that money can seemingly buy expensive leaflets, PR machines and ultimately the highest office in the Labour Party as deeply wrong.
This campaign should be about ideas, not who has most friends in high places. There should be a cap on individual donations -or the same amount allocated to all.