Alan Johnson would not have been my choice for shadow chancellor.
I hope he talks to Ed Balls, a lot.
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Nor mine, Richard, though I would have gone with Yvette Cooper rather than Ed.
By the way, you might want to remind Johnson and co of your report into pensions before the debate gets much more steam. I read it earlier today (I too have a day job ;-)) It makes a very clear and compelling case for real reform – which now we’re onto the subject of ‘fundamental’ reform ought to be the case Labour are making.
Anyway, enough of blogs. The weekend beckons.
I think from a voter perspective Alan Johnson has far more appeal to the public. As for Ed Balls, he only just scrapped in at the last election…it would be hugely embarrassing for the Shadow Chancellor to miss the cut at the next election. Perhaps Milliband has decided to plump for a safe pair of hands?
Not my choice either (and I hope he will talk to Ed B alot)- but there is no doubt that the ex-postman ranged against the multimillionaire baronet making the cuts, will make difficulties for the Murdock press. On the whole the LP can only be reactive to the CSR, for which Alan Johnson is probably very able. I just hope that there will be a re-shuffle at the slightest hint of an election.
I’m afraid Ed Milliband has just lost all credibility. Alan Johnson seems to be a nice enough guy, but he is no economist and I doubt he has the intellectual horsepower for finance, particularly in these times. He would be ruled by his civil servants. You cannot appoint him to the most challenging post in the shadow cabinet (for your own factional internal party political reasons) and retain any claim to competence as an alternative leader of government. Poor judgement and a fail. Even if I had any potential to, I now definitely won’t be voting Labour.
@roger rabbit
I understand
But candidly I also think I understand Ed
For the next two years cutting the deficit is the narrative – like it or not
Labour loses if it appears to oppose
It winds by making Osborne look a pratt
Johnson can make Osborne look a pratt
He does not have to offer much of an alternative but less and ‘Not hat one’
But in two years when labour has to begin to create a winning policy Ed is then in charge, the leadership election is forgotten, John son is required and Balls or Cooper comes in
It’s a game of politics
And Johnson will never be Chancellor – of that I am sure
Johnson may not be an economist but neither are Osborne or Alexander, and noone could accuse that pair of having any intellectual horsepower at all.
This is a tough one. I think Ed Balls or Yvette Cooper were the obvious choices for the job but Ed Miliband was worried about a repeat of the Tony Blair/Gordon Brown standoff with the Balls/Cooper axis forming an alternative power base in the party. Ed M has considerable economic policy experience himself having been an adviser in the Treasury for many years and I get the impression he wants to take more of a hands on approach to Labour economic policy rather than leaving it in the hands of the Shadow Chancellor. Hence Alan Johnson – who should not be underestimated as a politician. A friend of mine was a SpAd to Johnson when he was Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and then Industry and he is a very bright guy who can get on top of a brief v quickly. He’s also much more liked by the public than Osborne.
We’ll have to see how this pans out but I think we can expect to see Alan J moving to a greater reliance on tax increases rather than spending cuts as the deficit reduction strategy while staying nominally within the Darling timetable, but in practice allowing more flexibility to react to events. So hopefully Labour’s policy will not end up too far away from what Ed Balls is recommending anyhow. At the moment I’m prepared to give Ed M the benefit of the doubt on this one in terms of political strategy.
@paul
and
@Howard
I tend to agree
I think there’s a chance for a couple of years he may be quite a good choice
But the jury is out…
I sincerely hope that Yvette Cooper never gets her hands on the Treasury. She has absolutely no understanding of the importance of land in the economy, as I confirmed on speaking to her a couple of weeks ago. She actually still believes that demand/supply is the only determinant of house prices and that the planning gain gain supplement was a good way to collect land rent, as well as coming out with the hoary argument against LVT of the poor widow in expensive house. Anyway, I’m due to meet her soon but don’t have much hope of educating her. Great pity Andy Burnham is unlikely now to get the chancellorship – he ‘got it’ right away.