Would-be leaders lacking charisma

THE FRIDAY THING: 

SO we have four would-be candidates for the poisoned chalice that is leadership of the Labour Party.

The only thing that can safely be said about the four is that they cannot be worse than their predecessor. Ed Miliband, with his partner Ed Balls, was a disaster that could have put the Labour party back several decades.

So what about the gang of four? They certainly are a mixed bunch. For a time Andy Burnham gave the impression of being the likely leader in waiting, but he could have a long time to wait.

He always reminds me of a schoolboy in short trousers, standing in a corner wondering who he could play with.

But while Andy is very much the new kid on the block, little-heard-of Jeremy Corbyn has become a fringe player whose presence among the four goes little or no further than cries of “Jeremy who?”

The two women in the running, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall, bring a kind of glamour to the contest, but do they have what it takes to cure the current ills that weigh down Labour candidates?

With the exception of Corbyn, the candidates have proved they can smile - which is something, I suppose. But how will their smiles stand the test when David Miliband finally throws his hat into the ring.

The truth is that Labour simply doesn’t have candidates with the foresight and charisma of some of their previous leaders. Labour supporters must prepare themselves for a long wait before party members finally throw the dice to decide who is going to be their next leader.

Many in Oldham will be taking bets on how soon current council leader Jim McMahon OBE steps into the national political ring.

It’s a good while since I had lunch with Councillor McMahon and spent most of the time persuading him he could beat some of the big beasts of the Oldham Labour group to become local leader.

Jim is quick to share his success thus far, pointing out that his hard work is all for and about Oldham. Unlike the national Labour politicians, Jim has dedicated himself to working for Oldham and its people and has already made a huge impact.

Jim will continue with his mission to get Oldhamers on side by convincing them the fears of the past are a long way behind them. The promise of Oldham’s future is reality, not fantasy. We must, at all costs, keep him for the sake of Oldham and its people.