The Labour Leader race is hotting up!

Ed Milliband the only one with enough votes to stand atm. It seems as though he is more popular than David in the parliamentary party.

maktaitai - I use private schools for my kids but i am happy for the Labour party to abolish private schools. Where does that leave me?

(a working father in the playground with children is 'taking the kids off his wife's hands for a bit to give her a break'?? i disagree)

in my heart of hearts I think that anyone who decides their child needs to go to private school should probably think more than twice about their membership of the Labour party, or alternatively should aim to get the party to do a root-and-branch teardown of its educational thinking

labour public policy naturally doesn't say anything about abolishing independent schools but i would bet it's quite a common view in the party; i think DA would show maximum bravery by debating this at conference

to be fair, perhaps she already has

i feel frankly a bit about all the candidates

Will Harriet H be Labour's Vince Cable (much hailed acting leader) or will she be persuaded to stand? She is a good performer. If Labour had a strong, electable woman then that would be one way of distinguishing itself from the LibCon (or ConLib).

Three of us for McDonnell? That's not bad going. Better than the Ladbrokes odds!

Rosa and gillg, I'm with you - if McDonnell gets on the ballot paper I'll vote for him. If he doesn't and Abbott does... I'm surprised the bookies are only offering 150-1 though.

So all fat people are fat because they can't resist a fry up?

Quattro - I agree about the importance of the Labour party choosing a strong leader: both in terms of providing good opposition and ultimately a credible PM candidate. Imo either Miliband may have the potential to do the job (don't have enough evidence to tell) but DM might be too much 'Blair's heir' for many in the party.

Having the left wing candidates (especially Abbott and McDonnell) standing should give Labour members the chance to debate what they really want from a Labour leader, and to decide if that includes winning the next general election for them.

David Milliband so far ahead that it looks like a one-horse race

The calibre of the next Labour leader is such a crucial issue. A weak opposition is not useful to the country.

If the Labour party carries on with the refusal to acknowledge economic reality, it's going to spend 10 years minimum in the wilderness. So it's critical to find someone who is convincing about being able to handle the economy.

Ten years in the wilderness it is then.

Diane Abbott has two major attractions:

1. she sent her son to public school
2. her association with Michael Portillo

I enjoy watching her on Thursday nights, and respect her views, but she would never be enough to make me vote Labour. The others are just a shower.

Blindness is not generally a result of lifestyle choice is it?

Ben - if you extend that argument then you could have said the same about blind David Blunkett and partially sighted Gordon Brown? And then you could exlcude any PM who smokes. Or you could subject them to genetic tests to ensure that they are not likely to be a strain on the NHS.

Sorry to mention the elephant in the room,but does it really send out the right message having an obese person leading a major(debatable I concede)political party given the obvious and increasing strain placed on the NHS by obesity?Just a thought!

RamblingRosa - they are all nice guys these days

I think that many of us men can out-domesticate WebCameron but no one is filming

I respect Diane Abbott ensuring that women and minorities are represented but I am very interested in seeing her operate in a more constructive mode than I am used to seeing her!

I just saw David Milliband with his kids in the playground! I had to really refrain from gawping. Good on him for still making the time to go to the playground with the kids when he must be rather busy. It didn't look like his wife was with him so extra brownie points if he was taking the kids off her hands for a bit to give her a break.

I don't get the Andy Burnham thing. I've spoken to 17 year old girls who had just met him for some meet and greet thing and they were all swooning about his eyelashes and how fit he was. I really don't see it. Maybe you have to see him in the flesh.

I can assure you Tdiddy that re Andy Burnham there is really not much between the ears! (see my post further up thread).

Kinnock's come out for Ed Milliband today.

YOu guys are still asleep so I will chatter away:

Andy Burnham...is he just a "himbo" ? He is pretty but is there anything there?

Litchick Fri 21-May-10 10:23:39

makes good point about Labour positioning. DA would be a definite move to the left and would easily give the Tories 3 full terms.

I think that Labour needs to stay on centre ground but use green and young issues to energise itself. In a way this this is what Obama did/is doing. he is a pragmatic centrist that managed to energise and organise the young. I think hope Ed Milliband has the vision and charisma to do exactly this. David M probably can do this but is more tainted and is too much of a Blair clone.

Gillg57 and RamblingRosa I will offer you 150 to 1 all day long on John McDonnell!

I don't particularly like Diane Abbott and I don't think that she has any chance of winning anything but I completely understand her not sending her boy to comprehensive in Hackney. Lots of potential issues for black boys in Hackney and I wouldn't play politics with my child's education. Perhaps I am also defending her because I send my children private although I am "centre left".

I think that it is sad that electable women like Yvette Cooper and Patricia Hewitt are not standing. I guess YC doesn't want Ed Balls tio read her kids bed time stories .

Of the candidates it has to be Ed Milliband as he has the cleanest hands, can give Labour an edge with young and green issues, and can be dolled up to look darker and more handsome than Clegg and Cameron. Needs to hait cut though.

Gillg57...looks like it's just you and me backing Mcdonnell. Odds in the Guardian today suggest that he's 100 to one.

John McDonald is the man for me.