Mandelson finally gets his man

For months now Lord Mandelson has been encouraging his friend and former colleague Tristram Hunt to continue the quest for a safe Labour seat. Indeed, there was a furore last month when Labour supporters in the Leyton and Wanstead constituency – a Labour stronghold – objected to the support Hunt was receiving from Downing Street in his bid for that candidature. At the time, the Standard ran quotes from a local member stating bluntly: “We do not want a No 10 candidate being pushed on the constituency.”
 
Duly, the candidature was given to John Cryer and not another word was mentioned. Until this Monday that is, when the FT broke the story that Hunt has made the shortlist for Stoke Central, and is now the hot favourite to win selection for this safe seat later this week.
 
What the FT did not mention however, is that Labour supporters are nothing short of “up in arms” about the selection, as one told me.