Labour leadership challenge - not now!

A lively debate has developed on Labourhome started by a question about what proportion of the PLP should be able to trigger a leadership contest posed by Susan Press aka grimmerupnorth. Do we really want a Leadership contest between now and the next British General Election? I think not, even though loyal lieutenants of the 'has-beens' and the young pretenders are reportedly out on the prowl - just in case.

No, whether we like him or not our Great Leader needs better advice. We all want to win the next British General Election, and give the opposition parties a pasting in the elections in three weeks time.

That's only going to come from a carefully crafted narrative linking real achievements to Labour values, and making amends for diverging from them in the first place.

My suggestion to take the opposition by storm and make the electorate sit up and think - "Yes, Labour is on my side" - is that pesky 10p tax decision. We don't need a U-turn. We just want compensation. When do we want a commitment? Now. Well before 1 May. The opposition can scream 'bribe' as much as they like. Tough. A mistake has been made. We should own up and correct it.

Peter Kenyon
CLGA candidate for the NEC constituency section election 2008