A blog by Luke Akehurst about politics, elections, and the Labour Party - With subtitles for the Hard of Left. Just for the record: all the views expressed here are entirely personal and do not necessarily represent the positions of any organisations I am a member of.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Praise for Blears from an unexpected quarter

Having said nice things about Jon Cruddas yesterday, I'm pleased to see that one of his supporters Kerron Cross, previously rather hostile to Hazel, has been extremely complimentary about her performance at last night's Christian Socialist Movement hustings:

http://kerroncross.blogspot.com/2007/05/csm-hustings.html

2 observations:

- the number of Cruddas supporters with Blears as their second preference is very high (based on my anecdotal experience) - people that are judging the candidates not on ideology but their commitment to focusing on party building and campaigning work
- Hazel is getting plaudits from every hustings so far - the more members that hear her in person the more votes (and crucial high preference transfers) she is getting - I keep getting people saying things like "I didn't expect to be supporting her, but having seen them all, now I am".

10 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

As predicted. I am huge Cruddas fan but will be giving Blears my second preference. Like others I hope he gets DL and she gets DPM.

6:10 pm, May 23, 2007

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

PS: Will Mr Akehurst be reciprocating?

6:38 pm, May 23, 2007

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It didn't last terrible long though, Luke!

http://kerroncross.blogspot.com/2007/05/hazel-hazel-hazeljust-no.html

7:20 pm, May 23, 2007

 
Blogger Kerron said...

Yes, I wasn't particular impressed about being quoted out of context.

In fairness to Hazel, she probably didn't have anything to do with the news item I highlighted, hopefully it was someone over-eager in her campaign team - I have therefore e-mailed her asking to rectify the situation. I am sure she will be happy to do so once she notices it!

I was impressed last night, but her team do need to realise that I am a) backing Jon Cruddas - which I made clear in the post, b) I was not talking in any official capacity - which I made clear in the post and c) that she didn't "win the hustings" - as I make clear in my second post.

Well done you Luke for fully quoting me and noticing that I was talking about my second preference.

I went into the hustings wanting to back Benn with my second preference and came out veering more towards Hazel.

She still has time to win my second preference vote - as does Hilary, in the unlikely event of him reading this!

All the best.

8:27 pm, May 23, 2007

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If Cruddas supporters are switching to Hazel it's yet another reason not to vote for him. Now I know that the vindictive Kerron Cross is voting for cruddas well it wil give me even more pleasure to put my X elsewhere.

7:49 am, May 24, 2007

 
Blogger Bill said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:11 am, May 24, 2007

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

cruddasnothanks = Owen, John McDonnell's bitch

4:06 pm, May 24, 2007

 
Blogger Kerron said...

Er, I believe this is one of the things I was correcting Hazel's piece for - implying I am supporting her, when I have consistently said I am backing Cruddas.

I think you will find if you read my piece, that I point out that I am backing Cruddas - but when talking about my second preference I had wanted to back Hilary Benn, but given the performances at the hustings I was more inclined to give my second preference to Hazel Blears.

To be honest, the article on her site and these discussions make me more inclined to not give her even my second preference.

Still backing Cruddas - he is by far the best candidate. Sorry, but that's the truth.

5:31 pm, May 24, 2007

 
Blogger Owen said...

"cruddasnothanks = Owen, John McDonnell's bitch"

No, cruddasnothanks was not "Owen, John McDonnell's bitch"

Indeed, I am personally abstaining in this election and will not be putting my "X" anywhere.

Keep the abuse coming though!

6:40 pm, May 24, 2007

 
Blogger HenryG said...

I'll be voting Cruddas, Blears, Harman, Johnson, Benn and Hain. So I am party of that 1. Cruddas, 2. Blears group.

2:34 pm, June 02, 2007

 

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