The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

John Prescott loses race to become Labour treasurer

The third New Labour figure of the week to be defeated.

By George Eaton Published 26 September 2010 13:24

Paul Waugh reports that John Prescott has lost the race to become the treasurer of the Labour Party, with Diana Holland, assistant general secretary of Unite, beating the former deputy prime minister to the prize.

With the party still reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy (debts are estimated at more than £20m), she'll have her work cut out getting Labour battle-ready for 2015.

It's notable that the three big losers of this week, Oona King, David Miliband and Prescott, are all in their own way closely associated with the New Labour project. The "death of New Labour" has often been proclaimed. But as Ed Miliband told Andrew Marr that "the era of New Labour has passed", one finally felt as if it was true.

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12 comments

Sun, 2010-09-26 13:29 — JohnRuddy

Why are these results being found out from websites such as this, or even twitter? They dont seem to be posted on the offical Labour website!

Sun, 2010-09-26 13:34 — David Vinter (not verified)

Would you want Prescott doing your accounts?

Sun, 2010-09-26 14:02 — paul barker (not verified)

When you say "more than" £20Million you are being misleading while sticking to the literal truth, you should be in advertising. The actual figure is £27Million.

Sun, 2010-09-26 17:19 — Robert Taggart

" and the winner is "... LIEBOUR !

Sun, 2010-09-26 18:36 — Dave C (not verified)

I have a lot of time for John Prescott. However, I didn't support him as Treasurer. It struck me he was just using the post as a vehicle to get on the NEC, rather than any deep commitment to sorting out the finances.

Sun, 2010-09-26 18:46 — Hans Castorp (not verified)

New Labour may well be dead, but should it's replacement by union bods be treated as good news? Prescott's defeat to Holland is grist to the Tory mill, like it or not.

The fianncial situation makes things even worse. Who will gat Labour in fighting condition? Given the new treasurer, it looks like the unions.

I agree with James MacIntyre: the LP and the unions should be separate, but should have been so before the leadership election! To say so now rings hollow.

I wonder what shadow cabinet post Brendan Barber will get.

Sun, 2010-09-26 18:56 — The Luddite (not verified)

Thtch Tee. go to bed there a good chap!!

Sun, 2010-09-26 19:08 — treborc

Well Ed has said he will now work hard for Middle England which is what Blair said, I will do more for the hard working people which is what Blair said, so no surprise then it's Newer Labour.

Sun, 2010-09-26 20:16 — Karl (not verified)

And yet Prezza seems a man of such integrity...

Tue, 2010-09-28 03:37 — Geraint (not verified)

Maybe Diana Holland was the only pragmatic and sensible choice.

Lord Prescott might be good at rattling Tory cages, he might be good at rallying the party faithful. But the treasurer needs to sort out the accounts and make sure we can afford to fight elections, I think that Lord Prescott would struggle to do that myself.

Mon, 2010-09-27 01:35 — Clem the Gem (not verified)

Dear Hans and James, you are once again asking for the Labour Party and the trades unions to split. This is a move that will only help the coalition, and hurt both parties. Compared to the business donations from national and multinational companies that finance the Tory and Lib Dem parties, the opt-in clause in Union political funds is not only closely regulated, but also much more open.
Union accounts should be more open to members scrutiny, but as not even all shareholders have an effective say over the political donations made by, say, Bae Systems across the world, Unions are already streets ahead.
It is patently false that the unions exert undue influence over the Labour Party, you simply need to look at legislation passed since 1997. Those who seek to destroy our special link to organised Labour would ultimately like to see us become similar to the US Democratic Party. A Party with no firm roots to its blue collar voters. Which may be why it rarely enacts policies to close the huge divide in US society.
http://clemthegem.wordpress.com/