COULD ALAN JOHNSON BE THE NEXT LABOUR LEADER

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Is Alan emerging as the “obvious” choice?
February 17th, 2009

Could a Johnson-led party contain more of the losses?

One of the great pieces of wisdom about party leadership betting is that Labour and the Lib Dems always seem to end up with the obvious candidate while being the Conservative front-runner is the “kiss of death”.

So what are we to make of the recent suggestions in several quarters about Alan Johnson’s chances? Hardly a day goes by at the moment without one pundit or another pondering over whether an Johnson-led Labour would be able to reduce the expected seat losses at the election or even, hope among Labour hopes, stopping Cameron from getting an overall majority altogether.

Could it be that the former London postman, who as a child was brought up for a time by his 15-year old sister, is now moving into the “obvious” slot - and if so should you be betting on him?

Jackie Ashley wrote yesterday: “.. The one quality Johnson does have is authenticity - and that is what is needed right now. Labour people aren’t saying they would actually win it, but think that they could limit a Tory majority, or hold them to a hung parliament.”

The idea that a Johnson-leadership is the one that the Tories fear most is starting to gather momentum and you just wonder where this is coming from? It sounds a bit like Mandy to me.

I was pretty impressed by the reported Johnson comments the week before last over how Labour should deal with David Cameron. His main theme was that Labour talks about the Tory leader in positive terms but then raise questions about his party seemed very smart. It chimes, I believe, with public opinion and could sustain him during a three week election campaign.

Yesterday I bet a three figure sum on Johnson at 10/1 as next leader. The betting has now moved in a bit and the best you can get is 8/1.

[carpbarbel]

i am not getting excited

[TrueBlueTerrier]

i am not getting excited

Excited No!

Concerned, Yes - AJ is for an Ex Postie the biggest sell out going. At least thats my opinion.

[ar26]

who cares labours lost any election and lost the good will of most labour voters. Doesn't matter who they put forward now they'll be lucky to come in 3rd in any election

[k979aaa]

who cares labours lost any election and lost the good will of most labour voters. Doesn't matter who they put forward now they'll be lucky to come in 3rd in any election

Third would be too good for JOHN'O and NEW LABOUR how about last or not at all i would rather vote of adolf hitler and his thousand year Reich than the ten year's of sh*te we have had so far!. And this is the new labour lie that they are on our side for without doubt they are not they look too feather their own nest's smith (home office) and the blair's!. It is too their downfall we all await and a new and enlightened British public and union movement which encompasses all in the UK and not just the few at the top!.

[Thorby Bislam]

Yes. I can see him being the next Labour leader. But as the next leader of the opposition, not as Prime Minister.

When New Labour lose the next election, Gordon Brown will have to resign. The party then will be looking for a 'safe pair of hands' to take charge while they regroup and prepare to take on the Conservatives again.

[Shrek]

With his track record for stabbing former colleagues in the back he would probably turn Tory anyway

[britwrit]

It's amazing. Whenever the press write about Johnson, they almost always assume that us posties love the guy. You know, doesn't he have the common touch and isn't it great he used to push that little trolley around and blah blah blah? Whereas, if they ever bothered to talk to anyone of us, they'd realize that we either (a) loathe him or (b) have no idea who he is, if we came in after 1998.

Seriously, I don't wish the guy harm. But if I have to read one more fawning profile of him (or God forbid, see him ascend to the top of the Labour Party), I know exactly where he can put that wee little trolley of his.