Deputy Leadership vote

[anotheoldgit]

On Tuesday night's BBC's Newsnight Jeramy Paxton conducted a live debate with the 6 candidates for the post of Labour's Deputy Leadship, the 6 candidates were.

Jon Cruddas, Harriet Harman, Alan Johnson, Hazel Blair, Hilary Ben, & Peter Hain. Viewers were asked to vote on their preferences after listening to the candidates state why they should get the post, and after answering questions from Jeramy Paxton.

The final vote placed the 6 candidates in the order set out above. Having watched the debate, I agree with the 1st & 2nd selections, but I am not sure about the other 4 only to say if I was forced I would say 3rd Hazel Blair (although I dislike the woman), 4th Hilary Benn, 5th Alan Johnson and 6th Peter Hain.

I think it was neck and neck between 1st & 2nd but Harriet Harman refused to answer who she would vote for if she wasn't taking part, all the others skated around this question (as politicians do) except for Jon Cruddas who said he would vote for Harriet Harman.

In what order would you place them and why? You can watch the debate on the following link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnigh t/default.stm?survey=no&url=news.bbc.co.uk/1/h i/programmes/newsnight/default.stm&site=sitela bel&js=yes&uid=5486e53e6dbd415953a23132c080800 b32bb79f65050a0b3eb9afc482b695d25

[Gromit]

To be honest, I thought it was a terrible parade of mediocrity, and I was constantly thinking
"Is this the best they can come up with?"
I agree that Cruddas was the best. Can't stand Harriet Harman, and the rest were generally very poor. Hain was shifty, Benn way out of his depth.

[kwicky]

I think this selection process is being carried out in the wrong manner. The successful candidate will need to work closely with Gordon Brown but he does not have a say in the selection. Then we have Hilary Benn, He is only interested in running as Deputy Leader of the labour party not as deputy PM which may cause some anomoly. Judging by the ex Deputy PM John Prescott with the high salary, freebies and no real power do we seriously want a rerun of this. Save the taxpayer some money and abolish the post!