Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable

With Ed Balls and John McDonnell expected to announce their candidacy today, the Labour leadership election is well under way. But although campaigners are pleased that there will be a lengthy contest concluding on the eve of Labour’s annual conference, there is disquiet that the nomination process concludes in just eight days time.

Speaking on BBC News yesterday, Jon Cruddas MP said:

“I’ve just found that our National Executive Committee has agreed that it should only be nine days until we all nominate which the [leadership candidates] should be. Now I’ve known David Miliband for 20 years, I’ve known Ed Balls for 20 years but I don’t know what they stand for. And I’ve known them.

“If you’re a new MP who’s just walked through the gates, you should be given more time. It will disenfranchise the party. It’s not good for the MPs themselves, the candidates, because they won’t be able to fully explain where they’re coming from. So I think the NEC should reconvene and change this timetable.”

Watch it:

A press release from the Labour party yesterday announced that nominations would open on Monday and close just three days later on Thursday, May 27th. On Labour List, Alex Smith wrote:

I, like others, am not sure about the decision for having such a short window for nominations – just nine days. It does seem counter-productive to the idea of a deep discussion with a wide field: the NEC has opted for a long leadership campaign, but a peculiarly short nominations process, which would block the arrival of late candidates who wish to try to shape the campaign.

Left Foot Forward understands that the short nomination period was a result of a misreading of the Labour rule book which suggests that Parliamentary Labour Party nominations must take place before the contest can commence. But in 2007, the Deputy Leadership contest kicked off before nominations were finalised. The process could be revisited if sufficient objections are raised by the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday and by local constituency parties.

UPDATE 15.09

A little earlier today, leadership candidate Ed Miliband tweeted:

“MPs/members annoyed about short nominations timetable: I have to say I agree. Need broadest possible choice & time for MPs to decide & consult”

• twitter.com/nextleft/status/14285313891 Sunder Katwala

  Completely agree > RT @leftfootfwd Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/mcgregormt/status/14285410657 Matthew McGregor

  RT @nextleft: Completely agree > RT @leftfootfwd Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/ciphergoth/status/14285553265 ciphergoth

  RT @leftfootfwd: Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/samjay67/status/14285756185 Sam Johnstone

  RT @leftfootfwd: Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/jonewilson/status/14286582834 Jon Wilson

  I agree with whatever John Cruddas says: in this case lengthen leader nomination timetable bit.ly/bV0AIy

• twitter.com/justinthelibsoc/status/14286961009 Justin Baidoo

  RT @leftfootfwd: Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/neilolivier/status/14285330531 Neil Borg-Olivier

  RT @leftfootfwd: Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• threescoreyearsandten.blogspot.com/ Harry Barnes

  Apart from waiting for Ann Black to send out her unofficial report how do we find out who supported what at the NEC? It is run like the Committee for Public Safety. You don’t find out what is happening until they chop your head off.

• twitter.com/veganpanda/status/14290145148 Vegan Panda

  RT @leftfootfwd: Cruddas: Labour should change nominations timetable bit.ly/aeBV6y

• twitter.com/leloveluck/status/14297974422 Louisa Loveluck

  Wise words from Jon Cruddas on the need for Labour’s NEC to extend the election timetable: bit.ly/bV0AIy

• twitter.com/houseoftwits/status/14298045811 House Of Twits

  RT @leloveluck Wise words from Jon Cruddas on the need for Labour’s NEC to extend the election timetable: bit.ly/bV0AIy

• www.leftfootforward.org/2010/05/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-21-05-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

  [...] Labour Party, which this week listened to concerns from party members, MPs and even leadership contenders themsleves and extended the period until [...]

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