Labour 'fixing' leadership race.

bongo · 18th May 2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Left-wing Labour MP John McDonnell has accused the party of "fixing" the race to succeed Gordon Brown as leader.

He said he wanted to stand but would struggle to get the backing of the 33 MPs he needed to get by next Thursday.

Jon Cruddas - who ruled himself out of the race on Monday - also said it was not long enough for MPs to make up their minds.

Only ex-ministers, and brothers, Ed and David Miliband have so far said they will stand for leader.

Former Schools Secretary Ed Balls and former Health Secretary Andy Burnham are also thought to be considering a bid.
The result of the contest is due to be announced on 25 September, Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided.

But MPs who want to stand must gather 33 signatures of Labour MPs by 27 May, under the timetable announced by the party on Tuesday. They can then gather "supporting nominations" over seven weeks from constituency parties and unions.
Mr McDonnell, who wanted to stand against Gordon Brown for the leadership in 2007 but failed to receive enough nominations from MPs, said it was wrong to reduce the period for nominations to four days, from 24 to 27 May.

He said this was not enough time for the many newly elected Labour MPs to weigh up the merits of different candidates and for potential contenders to canvass for support - although he said he was still determined to try.

"I think it undermines the democratic process from the outset," he told the BBC News Channel.

"I thought we had learnt those lessons."

By "curtailing" the nomination process, Mr McDonnell said Labour officials were effectively "fixing" the contest in favour of establishment candidates such as David Miliband.

"It prevents people like me coming forward and securing nominations," he said.
The Hayes and Harlington MP said the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had held more open contests when they elected David Cameron and Nick Clegg as their leaders.

And influential backbencher Mr Cruddas - who was among those expected to stand and came third in the Labour deputy contest in 2007 - told the BBC he did not think it was long enough to gather signatures.

"These guys, if it's Ed, Ed and David, they have been ministers since the day they were MPs. I have known some of them for 20 years but I don't know what they stand for and I won't be able to make up my mind, I doubt, in nine days' time.

"I think we should extend this, crack it open, re-enfranchise the party and allow them to define what they are."

There has been anger within sections of the party that Mr Brown was elected without a contest in 2007.

Mr McDonnell, who chaired the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs in the last Parliament, is a leading voice on the left of the parliamentary party.

Mr Balls and Mr Burnham are thought to be weighing up their options amid calls for the contest to be as competitive as possible.

Several senior Labour figures have ruled themselves out, including acting leader Harriet Harman and former Home Secretary Alan Johnson.

The new leader will be elected by a ballot of Labour MPs, MEPs, party members and members of affiliated organisations such as trade unions and socialist societies.

Ms Harman has defended the election rules, saying they will lead to a "dynamic" contest, with up to four million people eligible to vote.

The ballot will take between 16 August and 22 September, with the result being announced on the first day of the party's conference in Manchester.

Hustings will take place in June and July, with some backbench MPs pressing for the candidates to square up in a TV debate.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8690259.stm

And so it begins...................

Gallows Kebabs · 18th May 2010, 08:54 PM

They would not do that they are so pure, surely

Tees Exile · 18th May 2010, 08:55 PM

More shenanigans....

Quote:

MILIBAND PISSED THE BED WHEN HE WAS 15, SAYS OTHER MILIBAND

LABOUR leadership challenger Ed Miliband pissed the bed when he was 15, David Miliband said yesterday.

At the official launch of his leadership campaign Mr Miliband said his parents had to throw out his younger brother's mattress because it was so completely saturated with urine.

He told supporters in his South Shields constituency: "While we felt really sorry for him, we simply could not believe the sheer quantity he had produced.

"He must have been pissing non-stop for about an hour. His teddy bear was absolutely soaked.

"My parents were a bit annoyed because that mattress was only a couple of years old. They'd had to buy a new one after the '3am diarrhea incident'. Sorry, did I not mention that?"

Calling for the party to move on from the New Labour era, Mr Miliband added: "And of course to save us from having to buy yet another mattress, he had to sleep on top of a rubber sheet. In fact I'm pretty sure he still does.

"But despite his horrible, horrible problem, I'm sure Ed would be a brilliant Labour leader - and ultimately prime minister of this country - as long as he doesn't have to make any decisions, because that does tend to be what triggers it off.

"And, at the end of the day, he's my brother, I love him dearly and I'd hate to see him standing outside Number 10, clutching his teddy bear with piss gushing out the bottom of his trousers."

Last night a source close to Ed Miliband insisted his brother would also make a brilliant Labour leader as long as everyone was okay with the fact that he spent most of 1983 in the downstairs toilet with a tube sock and a picture of David Hasselhoff.

Rurkah-Blurk · 18th May 2010, 08:59 PM

well they already parachute non locals into safe seats so.

Madmarx · 18th May 2010, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8690259.stm

And so it begins...................

Keep yer nose out of what doesnt concern you, cock end.. when you join up you can comment, until then youre just a spouting shite hawk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rurkah-Blurk

well they already parachute non locals into safe seats so.

Ey up heres "Bongo clone" AKA "Gobshite 2"

Rurkah-Blurk · 18th May 2010, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madmarx

Keep yer nose out of what doesnt concern you, cock end.. when you join up you can comment, until then youre just a spouting shite hawk.

Ey up heres "Bongo clone" AKA "Gobshite 2"

fuck off to cuba you fucking communist.