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Is Alan Johnson the best person to lead the Labour Party?

52% are saying yes
48% are saying no

comments from readers

Stephen
26 May 2009

yes

Anyone is better than dreary old Gordon

TomFranklin
27 May 2009

we need a socialist

ssarson
28 May 2009

Why, it only replaces one tired old 'has-been' with another.

bedabs
28 May 2009

see tom franklin

Sungei Patani
29 May 2009

He is image over substance. Just because he was a postman and has an engaging manner does not make him prime minister material. But he would be better than Gordon Brown - anyone would be.

29 May 2009

He may well be now, but will he survive the drubbing that New Labour will receive in the next election? It's better to wait and pick the best from those that survive in 2010!

Alan Briggs
Cambridge

Sadie
29 May 2009

Labour suddenly wants proportional rep? What a laugh. The whole sorry bunch have given the Tories the next ten years. Johnson is not the saviour nor are any of the rest of this sad bunch

B Fox
30 May 2009

We need a major overhaul of the Labour party and Alan simply represents more of the same.

Celia C
31 May 2009

It depends upon whether the words Titanic ... deckchairs ... rearrange ... come to mind

suell
31 May 2009

yes

Yes, he sounds as though he is a steady, tho,ughtful politician who might just be able to look at some long-term thinking which the country and the economy, badly need.
Sue Lloyd

Bob AH
31 May 2009

Even were he the best successor, declaring himself this early and before the election that could result in a savage drubbing, is merely setting himself up as a stalking-horse. It speaks poorly for his political acumen.

Gerry Myer
01 June 2009

Lead them to where? Oblivion? Gordon is already doing a fine job. Now policy on the hoof - e.g. isolation for North Korea

Walec
03 June 2009

yes

Yes. Brown's blundering about like a bear with a sore head. I like Brown. His heart's in the right place. He's stuffed a lot of money into schools and hospitals. But he's a poor leader in a media age.

rogerwhitewick
03 June 2009

Another Labour leader who voted for an illegal war? No thanks. What about a man of principle like John McDonnell?

medic05
03 June 2009

Gordon Brown should stay where he is. As far as the other two partied are concerned, when we are in a recession, shouldn't they be working to bring us out OR passing reformation legislation like Clegg promised rather than consistantly calling for a general election that Brown has said he won't call?

gilbertpinfold
04 June 2009

As a resident of Johnson's Hull patch, on his record as a constituency MP, I wouldn't trust him to lead the party or the country. He's rarely seen up here and has displayed a lamentable lack of interest in major local issues such as Humber Bridge tolls.

colin94
04 June 2009

yes

if gordon brown makes everyone in goverment a lord we have no need to have a vote anymore brown would love that.tony blair knew what he was doing when he gave the job to brown what a do as i say man
not as i do. go back to your own planet brown.

changemaker
06 June 2009

yes

I like Alan Johnson be cause he is more media-savvy than Gordon. However, I don't think a change of leader will make any difference to Labour's electoral popularity next year. The expenses scandal, and now the hissy fits within the Cabinet continue to demonstrate the lack of focus beyond the Westminster village. Long-standing Labour members like me are still very angry with the way parliamentarians have let the party down. Gordon, if you are listening, don't let the bankers off the hook, and use this crisis to make some radical changes to how parliament works.

jackw
06 June 2009

A heavy Labour defeat in the next general election is unavoidable and necessary - if we are to reclaim a left of centre party, all those involved in the Blairite era of mendacity and war-mongering need to be swept away. It matters not whether Brown or Johnson leads into the wilderness as long as new leaders are found there.

Nilsey105
06 June 2009

No Gordon Brown is the only person capable of doing the job that is underway.

Simon Icke
09 June 2009

yes

an ordinary guy for ordinary people but that would upset the influential Guardianist writers and their like, also the champagne socialist but he might stop the rise of the BNP filling the vacuum left by old labour. Imagine Labour getting back to its roots, now that would be a step in the right direction.

William
09 June 2009

Michael Meacher & Hilary Benn still outshines any EU opposition.

John F
09 June 2009

Now is not the hour for our discontent. The country, The Labour Party needs Gordon Brown's grasp of big economic and politcal issues. Let the policies roll and develop: let us see if he and the government can turn the tides around and let those in the cabinet who say they support him; really support him by telling the people of Labour's successes and of the future direction to come. Now really is the time to "fight and fight and fight again".

n.r.williams
11 June 2009

Alan Johnson would be a caretaker-leader, perhaps a very good one. But Labour needs someone who can resonate with a younger generation who want a real alternative not a continuation.

andydoak67
11 June 2009

yes

Labour need to find their voice again and connect with their core support. Labour should be a cause to fight for and a standard that people rally to. We need a strong Party with a Leader that clearly sets out a vision for Labour that distinguishes us from the tories. They should be radical, progressive and willing to take risks on big bold policies that engage the electorate. After all, if the polls are indication of what might happen at a general election, what is there left to lose.

jonny99
11 June 2009