by Chris McLaughlin
THE appointment of a new Labour general secretary is set to be a photo-finish between a “party candidate” and Number 10’s favoured runner.
Party officials and members of the National Executive Committee reduced the applicants to a shortlist of three this week in advance of the appointment by secret ballot at a special meeting of the NEC on March 10.
The party refused to disclose the shortlisted applicants on the grounds that all recruitment processes are confidential in the interests of the applicants.
But the contest is between Unite/Amicus union official Mike Griffiths and former assistant general secretary David Pitt-Watson, founder and chair of City firm Hermes Equity Ownership, who is backed by party leader Gordon Brown.
Support for Mr Griffiths has been growing, with ministers and MPs considering a lobby to Downing Street as Tribune went to press. Mr Griffiths met
Mr Brown last week in what was described as a “cordial” meeting.
Insiders at Number 10 conceded that the NEC decision would be “quite a tight vote”.
Mr Griffiths is picking up support as the candidate whose experience in the labour movement and knowledge of the workings of the Labour machine will enable him better to stand up for the interests of the party.
Mr Pitt-Watson is being championed as a candidate with party experience and a track record in financial management.
Mr Brown is said to be “obsessing” about the overriding need for fund-raising and financial discipline. Mr Griffiths is said to have accepted that he is not Mr Brown’s “ideal choice” but believes that should not be a hindrance to his chances.
The battle for the key party post comes amid signs of a grassroots fightback against Blairite “parachutists” attempting to pluck selection as candidates in winnable Westminster seats.
Former minister Chris Leslie, an ultra-loyalist who lost his Shipley seat at the last election, failed to win a single nomination in his attempt to be selected for John Prescott’s Hull East seat. The snub follows the rejection of former Home Office minister Barbara Roche by Stockton North after an 18-month successful campaign to unseat left-winger Frank Cook.
Other seats showing signs of a determined effort to pick local candidates against Blairite incomers include Nottingham South, Streatham, Tooting and Leeds Central.
Mr Prescott’s son David is on the shortlist for Hull East with Mr Prescott’s chief of staff Della Georgeson and the son of Mr Prescott’s former flatmate, local barrister Karl Turner.
Others are ASLEF member Gary Fabian, Hackney councillor Sally Mulready, London activist Adenike Akindele and George McNamara, son of former Hull MP Kevin McNamara.
