Coffee House is running a series of posts on the contenders to succeed Gordon Brown as Labour party leader. The latest is below. Click here for our profile of David Miliband, here for Jon Cruddas, and here for Alan Johnson.
Jack Straw, 62, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Pros
Experience: This is a man who has been an MP since 1979, and who – in his near thirty year career – has filled positions including Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary. On paper, at least, it’s not a bad record, perhaps the best among any of the potential leadership candidates. Straw’s got experience by the bucketful. And that’s a useful commodity as the economic storm clouds darken.
Inoffensively grey: With a few exceptions, leaders in British politics are chosen for who they’re not. IDS was not Portillo, Major was not Heseltine, Thatcher was not Heath, Foot was not Healey, Wilson was not George Brown and Attlee was not anybody.
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