Why should a long-standing Labour Party member who happens to have consummate financial and administrative skills, be any less deserving of support for the post of General Secretary than a long-standing Labour Party member who happens to be a consummate political fixer?

In terms of performance we know that the Party’s finances were robust on the City-whiz-kid’s watch as Labour Party Director of Finance. While on the other hand we know that the pass was sold to the Leadership over Party Conference by a long-standing Labour Party member who happens to be a consummate political fixer.

I hope the NEC treats this as a genuine equal opportunity appointment, with a rather better informed view of the Party’s current needs than is evident from your Editorial.

Yours with no hope of being salvaged from the applicants’ list in the event of unforeseen events.

Peter Kenyon