‘Too many candidates’ for Prescott’s job
Alan Milburn has condemned the candidates for the Labour deputy leadership for throwing their hats into the ring too early.
The former health secretary said the decision by Harriet Harman, Peter Hain and Alan Johnson to declare their interest – and the continuing speculation about Jack Straw and Hilary Benn’s plans – was undermining the serious debate about the party’s future.
Reports this morning also suggested that they may be being premature – John Prescott, the current deputy leader, has reportedly told allies that he would not step down if Gordon Brown were crowned Tony Blair’s successor without a challenge.
Cabinet ministers have agreed not to talk about the Labour leadership or deputy leadership during the party’s conference in Manchester this week, to avoid it descending into a series of campaign speeches.
But the issue continues to dominate the headlines and the presence of three potential deputy leaders at a fringe meeting this evening prompted Mr Milburn to attack the candidates for jumping the gun.
“I think that given where we are at and given the concern about personalities, we need fewer hats in the ring and more ideas,” he said.
But Ms Harman hit back, telling the same meeting that in fact the forthcoming leadership race made the debate about policy more important.
“We can perfectly well put forward our ideas – the fact that there is a forthcoming leadership race has only improved the debate,” she said.
“I do not think we need to be fearful, we just need to not do it wrong.”
