Campbell endorses Johnson for deputy position
Alan Johnson was praised by Alistair Campbell for his personality
Saturday, 19, May 2007 07:05
Alistair Campbell, Tony Blair's former communications guru, has backed Alan Johnson for the deputy leadership of the Labour party.
The education secretary is in the running for the position along with party chairman Hazel Blears, Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain, backbencher Jon Cruddas, international development secretary Hilary Benn and constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman.
But the former Downing Street representative believes Mr Johnson's personality would be the perfect accompaniment for prime-minister-in-waiting Gordon Brown.
He told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm really thinking about the best kind of combination that's going to help the Labour party stay in power.
"I think that if you get Gordon, with his strengths and experience, I think Alan's got a very attractive personality and has also got a real understanding of the Labour party and Labour politics.
"You then throw in the David Milibands and all the rest of it, who are going to become the young kind of intellectual driving forces and I think we'll be in a very, very strong position come the next election."
Mr Cruddas also received a supporter boost, with London mayor Ken Livingstone saying that the backbencher's "tenacity" could see him through.
All of the competitors will take part in a series of hustings around the UK before the ballot for votes from party members and trade unionists closes on June 22nd.
Ms Blears has said that, far from being a competitive contest, the deputy leadership debates are a good thing for the Labour party in order to raise key issues.