Comments on: This blog will be backing Jon Cruddas

By: David Holland

David Holland — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 16:02:43 +0000

I, on the other hand, am most reluctant to support anyone who voted for the war, as John Cruddas did.

And if I am not allowed to vote for John McDonnell, my feeling will be that the election is a sham, like the ludicrous ballot for Labour’s candidates for the European Parliament and I will conclude that the only effect of taking part is to legitimise it.

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 07:46:59 +0000

Well, actually, I don’t support the Lib Dems.

Judging by the smear tactics, I presume that’s Mr. Harris, who’s got a bit of a “my gang” mentality to politics, a bit tribal.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:21:54 +0000

Ignore Benjamin. He lives in Hong Kong, supports the Lib Dems and has a nice paranoid sideline in how “authoritarian” dastardly new Labour types are. If Benjamin were a member of the Labour Party, he would be the archetypal “pamphlet Labour” figure.

Is it really necessary for you to raise your dully ubiquitous head here as well as at HP, “old boy”?

I might vote for Cruddas. Seems like a sensible guy. But I shall certainly not vote for McDonnell. Wild horses wouldn’t drag me. I’d be interested to see if any moderate candidates emerge to challenge Brown - something that I think would be good for the party, especially in the face of consistent polls which show Brown as less popular than the incumbent. I would find it quite difficult to cast a positive vote for a candidate who, for the moment, it seems may be an electoral liability.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 07:51:51 +0000

Antonia,

On LabourHome.com you currently have 20% support in the 2022 Labour Deputy Leadership contest. http://www.labourhome.org/poll/1164031515_iSjjCIqd

I voted for you!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:09:18 +0000

Fantastic to hear that you’re supporting Cruddas. It’s a shame I didn’t get to hear him speak, I would have loved to hear a Labour MP say what you’ve reported!

By: Tim Almond

Tim Almond — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:45:37 +0000

Why do people assume that building more “social housing” is the answer?

A buyer will pay as little as they can, and a seller will pay for as much as they can.

If a house is selling for £250,000 instead of £150,000, that’s because it’s what the market will bear. Buyers won’t pay much more than they think someone else will pay.

Someone is buying at these high prices, or they wouldn’t stay that high. This may mean that poorer people are priced out, and that richer people are priced in. But it doesn’t make a whole load of difference to how many people are housed.

The real problem is that we simply don’t have enough property to go around. The answer is to either build more property in the South, or to find a way to reduce demand for property in the South (e.g. cut the amount of government spending in London).

By: Gracchi

Gracchi — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 16:43:33 +0000

Interesting post on Cruddas- I think there is something more to the rise of the BNP than just the economic dislocation- I wonder if there is a social problem as well in that lots of the sources of social capitol in traditional working class communities have begun to disappear- Unions, Working Mens Clubs, even football clubs- there was an article about it here http://www.bitsofnews.com/content/view/4350/43/ which makes the point but I wonder if there is something like this at work as well as the explanations that you rightly support Cruddas in providing above. Good post though really liked some of the examples you provided from his speech.

By: Tim Worstall

Tim Worstall — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:02:37 +0000

Britblog Roundup #92…

We seem to be getting closer to that century mark with our little roundups of your nominations of what you think the rest of us should see.You can add to next week’s set by simply emailing the URL to britblog…

By: Gregg

Gregg — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 12:37:58 +0000

Jo, I think you meant to address that to Benjamin - I am a member of the party, and may well vote for Cruddas (depending on who else enters the race, and what Cruddas says and does between now and the election).

By: Jo Malik

Jo Malik — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:03:50 +0000

Gregg, it is not too late for you to join the party and actually turn that “I would” vote for Jon Cruudas into “I will”!