Who could take over from Ed Miliband?

[pemma]

With Ed Balls being ousted that's 1 potential person out.

Alan Johnson might have been tipped if it wasn't for his disastrous spell as Shadow Chancellor.

Louise Ellman would be a good choice if it wasn't for her age. (I'm not sure she could commit to trying to get the PM job in 2020.) So do you go for a younger person like Luciana Berger who in 2020 will be similar in age to what Tony Blair was in 1997?

Andy Burham could be a different option, as could Yvette Cooper. Any others?

I think the worst high profile choices I can think of would be one of the Eagle sisters (they make too many gaffes), Diane Abbott (too controversial) or Hazel Blears. I also don't think Harriett Harman would be a good choice, she claims to want to make sure women are properly represented but she seems to be resented by a lot of women.

 

[TheNewNo2]

Wolmar for Britain?

 

[Tubeboy]

I've always liked Chuka Umamna.

 

[90sWereBetter]

I'd suggest Stella Creasy. Strong, motivated woman, and last night she brought in a 23,000 majority in Walthamstow, which is not only a huge increase on her 2010 majority, I think it's also one of the biggest Labour majorities in the whole country.

 

[scott118]

Stella Artois, more likely...

 

[telstarbox]

Current odds are:

Chuka Umunna 5/2
Andy Burnham 5/2
Yvette Cooper 9/2
Dan Jarvis (who?) 8/1

Although not a Labour member I think a suitably qualified female leader would be a good move and provide a point of difference with the Conservatives and Lib Dems (who now have no female MPs). There are a record number of female MPs in the new parliament (1 in 3).

 

[TheNewNo2]

Although not a Labour member I think a suitably qualified female leader would be a good move and provide a point of difference with the Conservatives and Lib Dems (who now have no female MPs). There are a record number of female MPs in the new parliament (1 in 3).

I rather agree with that, time for someone who isn't a middle-aged white man.

 

[rdeez]

My money (well, not literally) is on Chuka Umunna. And that would be a choice I'd personally approve of.

 

[pemma]

Dan Jarvis (who?) 8/1

Apparently former British Army Officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[EM2]

Of those mentioned, Chuka Umunna is the one I've been most impressed with, but I would suspect that there are still enough people out there who are influenced by a person's name and the colour of their skin, that he would never make a PM.
David Lammy is another that would come into that category.
I engage with Stella Creasy on social media fairly often, and I am also very impressed with her, but she is relatively inexperienced. That might not be a bad thing, though.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Chuka Umunna would be a very good shout, I've always been impressed with him on the Today programme. He has gravitas that Ed Miliband never had.

I also don't think his name or his skin colour would be an issue. With the right personality and strength of character it is possible. If the US- which appears far more racist than we are- can elect a black President twice, I reckon we could have a black PM.

Stella Creasy would be another good shout, although I would worry with her we'd just have another Labour manifesto that targets the lefties rather than persuades the centre-right to come across from the Tories.

Andy Burnham is useless and Yvette Cooper is- rightly or wrongly- tainted by who she is married to.

 

[Busaholic]

With Ed Balls being ousted that's 1 potential person out.

Alan Johnson might have been tipped if it wasn't for his disastrous spell as Shadow Chancellor.

Louise Ellman would be a good choice if it wasn't for her age. (I'm not sure she could commit to trying to get the PM job in 2020.) So do you go for a younger person like Luciana Berger who in 2020 will be similar in age to what Tony Blair was in 1997?

Andy Burham could be a different option, as could Yvette Cooper. Any others?

I think the worst high profile choices I can think of would be one of the Eagle sisters (they make too many gaffes), Diane Abbott (too controversial) or Hazel Blears. I also don't think Harriett Harman would be a good choice, she claims to want to make sure women are properly represented but she seems to be resented by a lot of women.

Alan Johnson was Health Secretary during much of the Mid Staffs Hospital deaths scandal, and as recently as eighteen months ago when challenged on Andrew Neil's latenight political TV show about prosecution of anyone following the damning official report could be seen frowning and shaking his head vigourously. Too old to be considered too.

Hazel Blears has exited the Commons (of her own accord!) and Diane Abbott is way too lazy, in thought if not in a physical sense.
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Chuka Umunna would be a very good shout, I've always been impressed with him on the Today programme. He has gravitas that Ed Miliband never had.

I also don't think his name or his skin colour would be an issue. With the right personality and strength of character it is possible. If the US- which appears far more racist than we are- can elect a black President twice, I reckon we could have a black PM.

Stella Creasy would be another good shout, although I would worry with her we'd just have another Labour manifesto that targets the lefties rather than persuades the centre-right to come across from the Tories.

Andy Burnham is useless and Yvette Cooper is- rightly or wrongly- tainted by who she is married to.

Absolutely agree about Burnham, responsible for introducing some privatisation to the NHS, and same Oxbridge PPE background as the Millibands and Balls.

Chuka Umanna would be the first person that attended the same school as me to make it big in anything!

 

[telstarbox]

Alan Johnson has ruled himself out anyway.

 

[Jonny]

Chuka Umunna would be a very good shout, I've always been impressed with him on the Today programme. He has gravitas that Ed Miliband never had.

I also don't think his name or his skin colour would be an issue. With the right personality and strength of character it is possible. If the US- which appears far more racist than we are- can elect a black President twice, I reckon we could have a black PM.

Stella Creasy would be another good shout, although I would worry with her we'd just have another Labour manifesto that targets the lefties rather than persuades the centre-right to come across from the Tories.

Andy Burnham is useless and Yvette Cooper is- rightly or wrongly- tainted by who she is married to.

I would be concerned about Chuka Umunna as he sometimes condones "positive" discrimination - talk about serving one's own interests
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http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/chuka-umun...rdroom-quotas-women-ethnic-minorities-1435804

Chuka Umunna: Labour Could Introduce Boardroom Quotas for Women and Ethnic Minorities

The article title says it all. For this alone, just as well that they didn't get elected.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Grimsby's Melanie Onn has said she won't bother, if that's worth anything.
The only Lab MP I'd have a problem with is Harriet Harman because of one of her past jobs being unethical to say the the least.
Yvette and Chuka would be great choices. I still don't see Miliband as bad.
He lost because of the following:

1, SNP surge, little could stop that after indy ref.
2, Lib Dem collapse, more helpful to Tories as expected.
3, English nationalism being stirred up against SNP Labour coalition by Tories and demand for EU refferendum drummed up by media which helped Tories.

How is any of that Ed's fault?

 

[EM2]

Grimsby's Melanie Onn has said she won't bother, if that's worth anything.
The only Lab MP I'd have a problem with is Harriet Harman because of one of her past jobs being unethical to say the the least.

As far as I know, her only previous jobs were working for Brent Law Centre and as a legal officer for the National Council for Civil Liberties?
What's unethical there?

 

[Jonny]

As far as I know, her only previous jobs were working for Brent Law Centre and as a legal officer for the National Council for Civil Liberties?
What's unethical there?

Some of the organisations affiliated with the National Council for Civil Liberties were rather, erm, unsavoury

...including one particularly unsavoury PIE.

 

[MidlandMainlie]

The only Lab MP I'd have a problem with is Harriet Harman because of one of her past jobs being unethical to say the the least.
Yvette and Chuka would be great choices. I still don't see Miliband as bad.
He lost because of the following:

1, SNP surge, little could stop that after indy ref.
2, Lib Dem collapse, more helpful to Tories as expected.
3, English nationalism being stirred up against SNP Labour coalition by Tories and demand for EU refferendum drummed up by media which helped Tories.

How is any of that Ed's fault?

I think the reasons Labour lost the election are deep and varied. On point 1 the rise of the SNP in Scotland was a contributing factor but even if Labour had returned it's 40 Scottish MP's to Westminster they still would have been significantly behind the Tories (272 vs 331). Point 2 I agree with, the total collapse of the Lib Dems in the South East and South West handed the majority to the Tories. The main reason Labour lost the election was it failed to win key battlground seats from the Tories in the Midlands seats near where I live like Broxtowe and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire and Erewash and Amber Valley in Derbyshire with slim Tory majorities should have been easy gains for Labour instead the Tories held and increased their majorities in those seats. Point 3 may have had an impact on why Labour failed to gain those seats but fundamentally Labour lost out on the economic competence to the Tories.

So now the question for the Labour Party is where do we go from here? Fundamentally I think the Labour party needs to radically change. It is not seen as socialist enough and having moved too far away from its roots in Scotland to compete with the SNP and as too socialist in England and not on the side of aspirational people like small business owners and middle income families. It can't be both so what I think needs to happen is Scottish Labour needs to become entirely separate from English and Welsh Labour (and to adopt a relationship similar to the SDLP in Northern Ireland with English and Welsh Labour) so that it can then start the task of rebuilding in Scotland without being undermined by the Westminster leadership. For English and Welsh Labour with Scottish Labour independent it can now move to the centre ground vacated by the Lib Dems as the Tories lurch to the right over the European referendum.

Current odds are:

Chuka Umunna 5/2
Andy Burnham 5/2
Yvette Cooper 9/2
Dan Jarvis (who?) 8/1

Although not a Labour member I think a suitably qualified female leader would be a good move and provide a point of difference with the Conservatives and Lib Dems (who now have no female MPs). There are a record number of female MPs in the new parliament (1 in 3).

I agree Labour needs to broaden its support beyond its core vote and a strong female leader would attract more women voters to the party, an area where Cameron and the Tories in general are weaker at doing. It would also negate some of Cameron's personal attacks that undermined Ed Milliband. Chuka would also make a good leader but personally I think he would make an excellent shadow chancellor (certainly a lot more credible than Ed Balls ever was).

 

[Busaholic]

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, has been very impressive thus far but is maybe too much of a 'loner' to gain enough support. Rachel Reeves would forever be trying to live down her Newsnight 'boring, snoring' epithet: Harman is standing down from her deputy leader non-job, and not so she can fight for the leadership. The Daily Mail would be having another fieldday too if she went for the job : her very privileged background, which she continually plays down, rather like Margaret Hodge, would be a hostage to fortune.

 

[Wyvern]

Apparently former British Army Officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On so many occasions peope resort to ad hominem attcks to reinforce their arguments. It has been pointed out that, as a decorated former serviceman, people would have to focus on issues and avoid personal insults.

Another point with any choice is that there is a perception that politicians come from a privileged background with no real understanding of the lives that their electorate lives. Reading Wikipedia, Dan Jarvis is not one of them.

 

[Tetchytyke]

I would be concerned about Chuka Umunna as he sometimes condones "positive" discrimination - talk about serving one's own interests

Don't see a problem with that tbh. Women and ethnic minorities are severely unrepresented in the top levels. The fact we're having a conversation about "whether his name fits" proves that something needs to be done, and that these companies are incapable of doing it themselves.

 

[scottish rider]

Caroline Flint. Has been a strong media performer with the Energy brief.

 

[EM2]

Having read up a bit more, I think Dan Jarvis would make an excellent leader.

 

[DynamicSpirit]

Lots of people here apparently assessing leaders on their image, but there doesn't seem to me to be much discussion about the direction the new leader should take.

In this regard two articles were published today by Tony Blair and Chuka Umunna - both of them excellent in my view - arguing for Labour to reconnect with a sense of aspiration.

Tony Blair's article

Chuka Umunna's article

 

[90sWereBetter]

So Liz Kendall becomes the first to throw her hat into the ring. Thoughts?
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Having read up a bit more, I think Dan Jarvis would make an excellent leader.

Definitely. The Tories would find it difficult to attack him in the way they did with Miliband.

 

[Busaholic]

So Liz Kendall becomes the first to throw her hat into the ring. Thoughts?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Definitely. The Tories would find it difficult to attack him in the way they did with Miliband.

I've seen her on 'Question Time' but she didn't leave much of an impression either way. Would need to see and hear more before expressing an opinion.

Dan Jarvis has tonight refused to throw his hat into the ring.

 

[Oswyntail]

It is interesting to see people asking why Labour lost, and asking which direction they should go in. Perhaps they lost because they are seen as trimmers, ready to adopt any stance that takes them into power. Stick by a genuine set of principals, and accept it may not always be popular - but have a strong message to put across and try to persuade people to join you. Only then can the party choose a leader.

 

[Amberley54]

Some of the organisations affiliated with the National Council for Civil Liberties were rather, erm, unsavoury

...including one particularly unsavoury PIE.

Indeed, but the Daily hate Mail were very selective with the information they used when they ran this 'expose' a few years back. They failed to include the fact that at the time the NCCL had an open affiliation register and ANYONE could pay their £15 and affiliate.

Once the NCCL realised that vile organisations like PIE and ultra-right racist groups were taking advantage and 'affiliating' they changed the rules to stop it.

However, it still gets dusted off and trotted out from time to time, 30 years later.

On this basis may I point out that in the 1930s several members of the royal family and the then Tory cabinet thought a certain Mr Hitler, was a 'decent man' that could be trusted to help maintain peace in Europe.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It must be a matter of concern that since the Blair New Labour days of the Labour Party and the wish for certain sectional elements who chose to distance themselves that particular ideology with a return to what they saw as an agenda more closer to their own brand of socialism did not seem to have the desired effect upon the electorate after those years in opposition, led by a leader of the choice of that particular faction.

"The other Milliband" always looked more like a Prime Minister in those early days of the last Labour opposition prior to their leadership election, but was anathema to those requiring a return to the values that they espoused, as he looked far too much a member of the New Labour modern 21st century ideal.

I make this comment as one from the other side of the political divide, as you will all be aware.

 

[Johnuk123]

Dan Jarvis - 24.1%
Anybody else - 19.8%
Andy Burnham - 14.1%
Ed Miliband - 13.9%
Chuka Umunna - 13.7%
Yvette Cooper - 8.5%
Tristram Hunt - 3.3%
Rachel Reeves - 2.6%

This list is from a Daily Mirror readers poll and it doesn't say a lot about what labour have to pick from.

Top is a bloke who doesn't want the job, 2nd is a rejection of the rest of the candidates and 4th is the bloke whose just resigned after leading the party to a humiliating defeat.

Chuka Umunna makes Keith Vaz look respectable and honest, doesn't do well in interviews but it's probably between him and Burnham.
Burnham will try and take labour even more left than Miliband so that will guarantee they'll be outcasts for a generation.