At the end of June Labour and the Country will be under different leadership. We all know that Gordon Brown will be Prime Minister but I am supporting Education Secretary Alan Johnson to be his Deputy. A lot of comment has appeared in the press about how Gordon Brown over the years has run the Treasury with a tight grip. To this I say – so he should, he is effectively the Government’s Accountant and the guy that holds the purse strings. I would much rather see a financial adviser or accountant pouring over books looking at his or her clients’ investments than, say, be out on the Golf Course glad-handing clients. As Chancellor, you are responsible for spending peoples’ hard earned taxes and therefore I think it is only right that Gordon has always challenged and made his colleagues justify spending plans. And knowing that Gordon has done this has been of comfort. I am sure that if he carries through some of the lessons he has learned as Chancellor he will succeed at eliminating wastage and spend public funds more wisely. Of course, the role of Prime Minister is very different and it will be impossible for our Prime Minister in waiting to have his eyes and ears everywhere but with his vast Government experience, Gordon has all the key assets for the top job and as all politicians have to adapt to constantly changing circumstances, I am sure that Gordon will do exactly that as he learns in his new Office. He may not have the same media friendly style as Tony Blair, or dare I say David Cameron, but he has formidable political clout and in a battle of substance and policy he has the ability to knock out all opponents with one sweep of his clunking fist.  

As Deputy Leader, Alan Johnson, in my view, will be the best person to compliment Gordon. He has considerable experience in Government and has spent time in major Government Departments of Work and Pensions, Trade and Industry and Education. His years of Union experience also taught him to be a skilled negotiator. This experience means he will be able to challenge and debate with Gordon in a way that will help to make policy better.  But above all, I think Alan’s greatest strength is that he understands people. His personal story speaks for itself.  Orphaned at a young age, he was forced to leave school at 15 to help support his sister.  He was a shelf stacker in a supermarket (from which he was sacked!) before becoming a postman, and after years of hard work he moved his way through his Union and into politics. Alan knows that hard work does not automatically bring Yachts, Ferraris and Private Jets and that Government can, if it is working well, a force for good that creates opportunities for all. Moreover, he has an affable and friendly manner that means he will always be approachable.  So, with Gordon as Leader and, hopefully, Alan as Deputy what will this mean to people in Derby? Gordon has already stated that he will listen and learn but over the years we have seen a number of these listening initiatives from all major parties and I have to admit that the reaction to most, certainly in Derby, has been lukewarm at best. To make this one work I think that people have to feel a better connection or ownership of the policies that are produced from Gordon’s travels around the country. Of course, in a diverse and open democracy there will always be minorities that disagree but if Gordon wants to see a truly positive response to his new policies we have to restore the connection between policy and people and the electorate has to feel that policies are not merely being handed down from upon high. Gordon pledging that he will give more power to Parliament is a great start but this has to be part of a bigger programme so we feel that we are all working together to fix the problems in our schools, hospitals and social problems like anti social behaviour and affordable housing.  

The course that Tony Blair has set us on in the last ten years is undoubtedly the right one but we now need a keen and experienced eye for policy that will keep pushing through reforms, spend wisely and remove waste from Government Departments and I believe that Gordon and Alan are the best team to do that.