I thought I would start a blog, but was never quite sure what to write on. This morning I do - so this is my first post.
Last night I made my way to the London Labour leadership hustings in Docklands. I have a vote in the leadership election and I wanted to hear what the candidates had to say for themselves.
The evening was hosted by John O'Farrell who was very funny but managed to keep the candidates in order. Each question was answered by all the candidates with them taking it in turns to answer first.
The questions ranged widely from serious issues such as the Iraq war, council housing and the NHS to a couple of frivoulous ones such as would they be writing their memoirs like Mandelson and also if they are not leader who would be the best leader.
There was no sense of animosity between the candidates for most of the time, although Balls and Abbott clashed when Balls challenged her on saying if he hadn't briefed against people it must have been his evil twin brother!
All the candidates performed well on their own areas of expertise.
David Milliband spoke passionately about foreign affairs and the subject of extraordinary rendition. Ed Balls was excellent on eduction. Ed Milliband was very good on climate change and showing how he gained world experience in Copenhagen. Andy Burnham was amazing when he spoke on the NHS and the dangers facing it from the Con-dem plans. Diane Abbott was very good on not being any of 'the men in suits'.
In reflecting overnight on how the candidates came across I have made my own judgements. I'm not giving an in depth political analysis so please indulge me!
David Milliband. He certainly has the experience of high office and was keen to let us know that. He has certainly been the front runner in this contest so far. The thing that seemed to let him down in my eyes was that he was a bit arrogant and when it came to having an extra go on speaking on the issue of new council housing he didn't have anything to say.
Ed Balls. I have never really been able to warm to the man. He was excellent when talking about education, but there was something about him that I don't think would work in this media image filled world. Whilst the other men took their jackets off, he kept his on and when he stood up to talk at the end his jacket was buttoned up. He didn't come across as that relaxed or natural. Perhaps I am just biased.
Ed Milliband. I arrived feeling slighty sceptical about him. For me the thing that puts me off him is his lisp. His answers to the questions were excellent and he was keen to show the experience he had. When it came up to the summing up speeches, he blew my socks off. It was fantastic and there was a real buzz in the room after he spoke.
Diane Abbot. She is very much the "I am not one of them" candidate. This is because she is black, female and was never in government in the Blair/Brown years. She was able to criticise the previous government with what she saw was wrong, but she was also quick to show the positive things that Labour did whilst in power. I like Diane Abbott on TV, but I think she is really wanting to be an opposition leader rather than a Prime Minister.
Andy Burnham. The card that Andy plays is that he's from a northern working class background. He feels that he can connect with the grassroots of the party who were lost at the last election. He was also able to show how he has held two important posts that will come up in the battles ahead; Chief Secretary to the Treasury (he oversaw the last spending review) and Health Secretary (Tory NHS plans look like a battle is ahead). His summing up speech was just as good as Ed Milliband's one.
So how did I feel when I came away from the hustings? I still don't know who I am going to vote for (or in what preference). I am now swinging between Andy Burnham and Ed Milliband for my first preference.
I think this election is going to be interesting over the summer, and possibly David Milliband won't get the result he wants. I'll keep watching!
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