I guess Gordon’s view of Hazel is nearer to mine than your’s.

I did though, know a handful of people who went Blears - 1, Cruddas - 2, contrary to your suggestion that it was simply Blears or nothing voters that caused the small switch to Jon. The rationale behind this was party-building. Whatever your policy disagreements with Blears (and I have many - she didn’t get a preference from me), she understands the party and the need to rebuild. Likewise so does Jon and he also put it central to his campaign.

Interested in what you say about FH and Bevan and Morrison, prompting me to rethink my holiday reading.

The other thing that may have helped her was her statement on Newsnight that we should have an apology for the war, which she, immediately after winning, says officially says never happened. I must admit I find that sickening - Orwell would have understood.

Fixing the housing crisis is not necesarily a left wing issue. The Barker Reort & common sense, show that the only way of fixing the housing shortage is building them. Whether that is done by the state or merely by the state removing controls & allowing the private sector to build. One option is left 7 the other right.

I put myself on the Right of the Party- but declined to give Blears a preference. Why? Because it was clear that she would offer only ‘Blairism without Blair’. I was one of the people who believed in Blairism- but it was right for its time. That time is not now. I hope the Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the Lords awaits this lady- she has no career left in the Commons. And, on many occasions, I noted how her supporters were ‘Blears or nothing’…she looked like turning amongst her fanbase into a female David Owen.

I split my vote between Hain/Harman/Cruddas in that order. Peter was a radical arguably before the Party was; a stalwart anti-apartheid campaigner[a founder member of ANL, Jon…] and a vigorous and irreplaceable part of peace in Northern Ireland and devolution in Wales. I hope he stays in post.

Jon only won my third preference through reading this blog and others like it. It was obvious that he would not win, but he had the grassroots support in the Midlands alone that converted me. He will make an excellent inaugeral Secretary of State for Housing..I hope he notes that places like Lincolnshire and north Shropshire are empty enough to build new ‘eco-towns’.

Harriet was the vote of my head if Peter was the vote of my heart. Her ability to please middle-class women, the union rank-and-file, the public servants that we depend on and the forces of human rights, freedom and democracy meant she ticked many of the boxes we will need to win in 2009 [or 2008?]. She will be a superb Deputy Leader and Party Chair.

A good day for democracy and a great day for democratic socialism.

Tom Watson for Cabinet? I do hope so. Stranger things have happened.