Rumours of a possible return to the front bench by David Milliband abound. That, some pundits say, is the reason for abolishing shadow cabinet elections. As we argued last week, we favour democracy but the 300,000 plus people that put Ed into his job carry more weight with us than the 258 people who isolated […]
Posts Tagged ‘PLP’
By all means bring back David …. to a new shadow cabinet, which understands why New Labour lost
Jun 27th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.
Ed goes for broke, and quite right
Jun 25th, 2011 by Michael Meacher.One’s first reaction to Ed Miliband’s abolition of shadow cabinet elections is that this is a step away from party democracy. But on closer reflection this is a shrewd, and radical, break with tradition which makes a lot of sense in current circumstances. Ed is faced with a shadow cabinet in which only 4 of […]
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Why has Ed initiated a policy review that by-passes the party?
Feb 22nd, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Ed Miliband wants to undertake a policy review which reconnects with the lives of people with whom we lost touch to develop a programme for government. He also wants “to give party members a proper voice” in “a living breathing party of which people are proud to say they are members and proud to call their […]
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What really matters about Labour Leadership elections?
Feb 17th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Labour’s review of its structure is right to include the way it elects its leader but public attention has so far been drawn to the wrong things. That’s happened because Ed’s recent victory surprised many, not least his brother and his brother’s supporters, and some of Ed’s people see a need to spin away the […]
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Parliamentary Labour Party Rules OK. But not if you believe in accountability
Feb 9th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.The Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) is not big on accountability – command and control goes way back before Blair extended it to the rest of the Labour Party, although MPs’ willingness to use even the limited levers available did rather evaporate during the New Labour years. But it looks like the PLP may abandon still […]
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David Davis and the ‘common people’….
Jan 28th, 2011 by Darrell Goodliffe.I predict that David Davis is going to become and remain something of a regular thorn in David Cameron’s side. Obviously, he has one eye on being the next Prime Minister and, as such, he will do his best to step-forward as the champion of the already disaffected Conservative right. In addition to his defence […]
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Contest in the Parliamentary Party – foul play alleged
Jan 25th, 2011 by Jon Lansman.Democracy is alive and well in the Parliamentary Labour Party. There is to be an election. Not for the PLP (backbench) vacancy on the party’s national executive caused by the promotion to the front bench of Angela Smith. She is to be replaced by Margaret Beckett, elected unopposed (and yes, she is a backbencher), such […]
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PLP rebellion against action on Woolas
Nov 9th, 2010 by Jon Lansman.The news is leaking out of a substantial rebellion — “carnage” said one report — at last night’s parliamentary party meeting in opposition to the decisive action taken over Phil Woolas, suspending him from membership following the decision of the election court. In the absence on paternity leave of Ed Miliband, Hariet Harman has been […]
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How should the left deal with corruption?
Oct 17th, 2010 by Darrell Goodliffe.I noticed this quote on Guido Fawkes blog regarding the Dennis MacShane saga: “The Labour leaning blogosphere’s credibility really suffers at times like this from being reluctant to criticise allies.” I don’t know which blogs Guido reads but, speaking for myself, I have never been shy of criticising ‘allies’ and being honest I don’t think […]
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A shadow team with a new political balance
Oct 11th, 2010 by Jon Lansman.The full shadow team has now been published. It consists of 101 members of the Commons (out of 269 – more than the parliamentary party rules permit). It includes 23 of the 2010 intake – a new generation indeed (well, apart from Jack Dromey). But there is a significant shift to the left: 49 supported […]
