How I voted this morning
Well, the Labour Deputy Leadership election. So, it's run under the Alternative Vote so we get to rank all candidates in order of preference from 1st to 2nd, etc. with the option of giving no preference at all. I ranked four of the six candidates.
Realistically, there is no need to rank all candidates, certainly not the last (Candidates -1 rankings are the maximum that can take effect, if we got to a fifth round without a candidate getting the quota (50% +1 of the vote) then the last candidate would be elected by elimination). I think it's an outside chance that there will be many rounds of transfering, I think at most three.
Anyway, here's my list:
| Preference | Candidate |
| 1st | Cruddas |
| 2nd | Harman |
| 3rd | Benn |
| 4th | Johnson |
So, why these choices? Well, Cruddas has talked left, walked left and has the serious left recommending him, his focus on council housing, opposition to Trident and the Union Freedom Bill are welcome - of course, sicne he wants to remove the Deputy Leader from government it could all be a cunning ploy to disarm the post, but despite that I don't think he will win, I think its worth sending the message that his policies are popular with members - he should get a big first preference vote, but not many transfers in.
Harman, erm, well, I was impressed by her at the hustings, she admitted on the PM programme that ashe would describe herself as a Socialist, is committed to equality of outcome, and I agree that the prospect of a woman in the post would be welcome, in that sense I'm voting the balanced ticket, especially as I'm not going to give any preference to Blears.
Benn, well, he is certainly a competent speaker, deals with journalists very well, and could well be the candidate to pick up support from all wings of the party, so he's my tip for likely winner. Although his Hustings was very much big picture global poverty stuff, i think it would be hard for him not to bring some of that to a central government post that he would expect for the DL.
Johnson was a sort of surprise to myself, I was thinking of stopping at three preferences, butr I agree with Luke Akehurst that my Union's (UNISON) nomination means something, and in elections it's often who you are voting with ratehr than what you are voting for that counts - I don't trust him, but I prefer him to the last two, and so have given him my grudge vote.
i don't trust Hain and I mislike Blears, while I think she talks some sense and has a place in any sort of left progressive movement, I think pragmatism can only get you so far, and certainly isn't a campaigning platform - that comes afterwards.
Labels: Alternative vote, Deputy Leader, Elections, Labour Party
posted by Bill at 08:20
9 Comments:
And i had Johnson as my union leader and i can vouch that he is a devious lying toe-rag who practiced undemocratic tactics to sabotage our industrial action ....grrrrrrrrrr...shame on you , Bill
Alan,
I really don't expect the preference to reach him - but just in case there's some dodgey deal to UNISON's benefit between him and Prentice...
Bill,
Who's the "serious left"?
Do you consider McDonnell as part of that serious left? Political differences aside, I was impressed by the way that McDonnell conducted himself during his leadership campaign. None of the bombast and grandstanding that usually gets me reaching for the mute button.
Surprised at your liking for Harman. Of all the candidates during the Newsnight hustings that I watched online a few weeks back, she was least impressive.
Btw, does the Co-operative Party as a section within the Labour Party endorse a candidate or is it left to individual members?
Serious left - well, the Labour left and the big battalions in the Unions, really - I didn't mean it in the same sort of context as peoploe use 'Decent left' as a distinguisher between factions. i.e. the left likely to have some sort of effect anytime soon.
McDonnell was good, but his campaign never sent me the manifesto I paid for. His debate with Gordon Brown (and Meacher was actually interesting to hear/read about.
I dunno, harman impressed me with a certain liveliness at the Hustings and made a good point about equality, which is what I hope my vote at least will express.
Hi Bill,
Just out of interest, do you think that the Labour party ever could become a vehicle for socialism (or a working class party)? And what's your view now of political leadership?
All the best
Stuart
leadership first - I'm still a democrat, I recognise in large complex organisation someone is going to be in a position/office of tremendous influence, but I'd rather than democratic institutions carried the big questions. As for the Labour party, I think it is what would happen to workers councils were they to survive a failed revolution, a platform where disparate parts of the workers movement meets, and a place to struggle for our interests. I think Labour would recuperate a socialistic movement, and it would be for that movement grow within and rransform the labour party - until then it's just a place where small things get done.
On an unrelated note, I can totally see you in this T shirt.
Bill,
Interested to see if you've watched Question Time this evening (14/6/07) and if so has what any of the candidates said changed your mind? To me Harman came across as simply arrogant and I agree with you about Hain, there's something about him that seems untrustworthy (well, more so than most politicians). Very impressed with Cruddas, wonder if he has any chance at all? And the other person who came out of it quite well I thought was Johnson. By the way for Darren and others you can download a podcast of the program at http://www.bbc.co.uk/questiontime/ (although this was down when I checked a few moments ago).
Jools,
I was under the impression that the inside track news was that Cruddas may poll heavily as a first preference vote amongst many Labour Party members but once it gets to the second, third and fourth preference votes phase he may suffer.
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