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Labour battle over safe seat candidate
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent17.04.09
A LABOUR civil war escalated today over who should contest a safe seat in London at the next general election.
John Austin, the retiring Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, reacted furiously after Blairite minister Tessa Jowell spoke in his constituency supporting the selection of 22-year-old Georgia Gould tomorrow to fight the seat.
He sent an angry letter to Ms Jowell, the MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, accusing her of behaving in a "highly inappropriate" manner for "interfering" in another constituency party's selection process.
Mr Austin also wrote to Commons Speaker Michael Martin accusing Ms Jowell of breaching the protocol that MPs tell their colleagues if they officially visit another MP's constituency.
Oxford graduate Miss Gould is the daughter of Lord Gould, one of the architects of New Labour, and is backed by many of former prime minister Tony Blair's supporters including his former press chief Alastair Campbell.
But Brownites and other Labour Left-wingers are fighting to stop her being chosen as the party's candidate from the eight-strong all-women shortlist.
Mr Campbell has suggested Charlie Whelan, the political director of the Unite union and Gordon Brown's ex-press chief, is behind the anti-Gould campaign.
About a third of the Erith and Thamesmead party has registered to vote by post, sparking accusations that Blairites have campaigned to persuade people to back Ms Gould by turning up with postal voting election forms already filled in with their name, address and telephone number.
Mr Austin holds the seat with a 11,500 majority.
Reader views (18)
Just two questions. Were reporters David Cohen and Joe Murphy actually at the interview or is this a press relaese from Alistair Campbell?
- Les Abbey, Bangkok, Thailand
Whatever the merits of Ms Gould (and at just 22 it's hard too make too much of a judegment on her), surely someone would have advised Labour of the likely neoptism charges they'd face?
- Ed Wood, Farnham, Surrey
Keith, why have you given up on 606?
- Eob, London
A Labour Safe Seat? Is there such a thing after the mess they have caused and will take years to clean up after they are long gone?
- Mike, London England
Phil, you took the words right out my mouth.
Keith, you've forgotten to take your tablets again, dear.
- Marianne, SW France
"Labour safe-seat"? Isn't that an oxymoron in the current political climate?
- Phil Jones, London UK
Why doesn't KEITH PRICE, LUTON stand as the Labour Party candidate for this constituency.
Because I aim to stand in Luton. Thanks for your vote of confidence anyway.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
The Liebore leeches will try every trick in the book to get back in at the next election. Forget the 22-year old ingenue they want to put up as the candidate. What the Tories have to watch like hawks is the postal voting fraud the leeches will undoubtedly be perpetrating.
- Judith C, London, UK
'In-breeding' and nepotism is now rife amongst the all too many dubious career politicians in mine-all-mine 'neuvo-establishment' McLabour.
These grotesquely deluded 'untouchables' see themselves as dynastic 'Party-State' leaders, and the new Royalty.
Viz, The Blairs!
And which political Party was it who 'conveniently' and dodgily introduced these slackly monitored, all too rapidly expanded and spurious postal voting systems?
You've guessed it.
- Dave, Cumbria
Safe seat for Labour? Where!
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Annabelle says "without experience of life let alone anything else, and in no fit state to by an MP." Take away the age of 22 and that sums up David Cameron and most Tories who've never done a day's work in their life.
- Jonathan, London, England
A 22 year old MP? She's a child, without experience of life let alone anything else, and in no fit state to by an MP. Having said that, it's all academic as Labour will be gone for good at the next election.
- Annabelle, london
In almost no circumstances should any 22-year-old be selected as a party candidate. MPs should have the experience and maturity that only another 15 or more years of life should give them. Preferably they should have spent most of this time working for something other than the party, so they can enter politics un-indoctrinated.
An exception? A young person passionately committed to a local issue, backed by the constituency, but opposed by the national party. There may be a few others, but nothing usual.
We also see here the corrupting influence of postal votes. We should return to the days when postal votes are only granted to the infirm or those with prearranged travel away on election day. Frankly, anyone who can't be bothered to turn up to vote, should be happy enough with whatever is decided by those who do turn up.
- Nigel, London
Why doesn't KEITH PRICE, LUTON stand as the Labour Party candidate for this constituency.
HE WOULD SURELY DEMOLISH ALL THE OPPOSITION.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
Liberals are more likely than the Tories to win this one from Labour although I feel Labour will hold on to it
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Yet again Labour go for the heredity principle above equality of opportunity.
- Dave, London England
What's the point? Nulabour will be exterminated at the next election, and probably take the old Labour psrty with it, which is why Bodger Brown and his bunch of parasites are hanging for dear life. RIP and good riddance
- Lezli Taubler, London / UK
Conservative gain methinks!!
- Chris, Brighton, England.
