FIGHT FOR A PROPER CONTEST

Thanks to Katy Clark MP, Kate Hoey MP and Tom Harris MP for adding their voices to the increasing uproar from the Labour grassroots at the prospect of a leadership contest with MPs vetoing everyone but the likely winners. Bit like a Grand National with only the hot favourite runners and riders being allowed at Aintree.
What happened in 2007 was ultimately a disaster for Labour and for Gordon Brown. We simply cannot allow Westminster to tell us who we have a right to vote for.Or not.
I don't question the likelihood of one of the Milibands taking the top prize. But why can't Andy Burnham, John McDonnell and Dianne Abbott take their place at the hustings and let us at least rest safe afterwards knowing our views were represented
The rule-book has been torn up over the nominations period so now let's fight to have a leadership contest we can all participate in . Like Peter Kenyon, I urge CLPs and Party members to lobby the NEC. Now

BILL 4 DEPUTY IN SCOTLAND

In a previous life, I spent a lot of time in Glasgow. Particularly the West End. Fond memories of The Ubiquitous Chip and other haunts but I digress from the fact that I hope Bill Butler gets the Deputy Leadership of the Scottish Labour group in Holyrood. He's convenor of the Campaign for Socialism so would get my vote ( if I had one) .I still think it's a shame Elaine Smith did not stand but anyway good luck to Bill . Cathy Jamieson seems to be the best bet for Leader. Look forward to discussing more with Scottish comrades in a few weeks' time.

Latest Rumour Is........

That Harriet Harman is going to step in and challenge Gordon Brown in the event of things turning for the worse. Ironic, really, given her allegiance to "Team Brown" but a year ago. However, it is perhaps a measure of how bad things are that I find myself thinking it would at least NOT be Miliband or Purnell. And of course a woman......If this scenario ever came to pass ( and I think it's just the start of the silly season, really) HH would NOT be the first female Leader of the Labour Party. Technically, that's Margaret Beckett. I do know women MPs of the Left who have time for her. I cannot really comment. Other than to say never underestimate the ambition of any politician. And that, in a straight fight between Harman and New Labour Suits like Burnham or Balls, I would support her.

I'M NOT A STALKING HORSE.....

I didn't know whether to be amused or horrified that the Calder Valley resolution somehow became part of a story in the Independent yesterday suggesting that Charles Clarke was bidding to unseat Gordon Brown. Our resolution, may I repeat , is in the event of a vacancy and certainly not designed to help Clarke......its aim is to ensure next time there is a vacancy there will be candidates from all wings of the Party, including the left. But it does go to show the mainstream media read the blogs - even if they do end up getting it wrong

SPENDING ON LEADERSHIP BIDS SHOULD BE CAPPED

In the wake of the Peter Hain fiasco ( which I still don't expect him to survive ) Harriet Harman is apparently calling for a cap on spending for leadership and deputy leadership campaigns.
Sounds pretty sensible to me. After all, Hain wasted over £200,000 on his campaign, which was marked by slick and glossy literature and national newspaper advertising
However, no-one has mentioned the considerable amount of money which must also have been shelled out for Michael Meacher's campaign that never was . Perhaps this is because everyone has forgotten........ but in that dismal week after Brown became leader without a contest, our CLP secretary had to bin dozens of leaflets from the Meacher camp. Meacher, I recall, also had a pretty swanky website .
By way of contrast, John McDonnell's hard-working but cash-strapped team did their best with basic A4 leaflets - and an awful lot of volunteers who hoped good policies would win out over flash PR.
What is truly extraordinary I suppose is that Hain should spend so much - and do so appallingly badly. What is even more extraordinary is that Gordon Brown's unnecessary leadership "campaign" was the most expensive of all, costing £203,852. Talk about a waste of money.One wonders what would happen in such campaigns if there were a properly level playing field.