A prediction

[undyingking]

John Cruddas to join the Cabinet in next week's reshuffle, in a significant role. You saw it here first¹. A year ago, it would have been unthinkable -- a Bateman cartoon made flesh. But with the current financio-political situation, the time could just be right for a gesture that reaches out to Labour's base, adds some support to the contention that they are actually concered about ordinary people's welfare, etc. I'm not sure I would expect any other prominent left-wingers to be brought in -- but Alan Johnson might get promoted I guess, as he must surely be the heir presumptive now that David Milliband appears to have shot his bolt?

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1 Unless you saw it somewhere else first. Please don't tell me that this theory has already been all over the papers.

Comments

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

I am not sure what to make of the Miliband situation... I mean he performs very well in interviews, I thought he came across as very plausible when head to head with Paxman a few weeks ago (a trick that not many cabinet members manage with much aplomb) and he is clearly considered to be imbued with considerable nouse and talent (not to mention ambition that borders on the overweening)... but who would follow him?

I mean even without inadvertently inviting comparisons between himself and Heseltine, the man positively exudes oiliness. The sort of person who makes you subconsciously wipe your palm on your trouser leg after shaking his hand.

He seems to be trying as hard as he can to position himself optimally for a leadership bid, without actually being seen holding the knife himself, but there are clearly Labour MPs who would line up behind him, though I have no idea how many. I'm not even sure what proportion of the parliamentary Labour party are actually vaguely Socialist anymore, compared to the pseudo-thatcherites that Blair left us.

Still... Cruddas you reckon? I'll watch with interest.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Most of the remaining left-wingers are in safe seats (although not Cruddas, interestingly), so if there is a wipeout at the next election, the profile remaining will shift quite sharply leftwards. Not that that will be much help to anyone by that stage.

I think Milliband or anyone will find it difficult to convincingly present themselves as a sharp change from Blair / Brownism while continuing to serve those policies in the Cabinet. Having been fooled once by expecting Brown to break with Blairism once he got in, but that then not happening, I don't think the party will buy it again. Milliband's attempts to subtly position himself will only heighten the creepy impression that you identify.

Of course, if the economic gloom persists and Brown can appear to be acting decisively, he might start making up opinion-poll ground on the Tories and keep the job himself. It's an ill wind, etc...