There were some surprising results in Labour’s selection of candidates for elected Police Commissioners. No, not “Kojag” in Hull, but victories for two ultra-Blairites in the face of the full weight of opposition from Tom Watson. Jane Kennedy, the former Liverpool MP who resigned as a Junior Minister in June 2009 saying she was unable to affirm her loyalty to the then PM because of Brown’s briefing against colleagues, is back. She beat Watson-backed drunkard Peter Kilfoyle, who sources say “Tommo threw everything behind”, arranging heavy union support and giving a very personal endorsement:
“Mr Watson said: “Peter is tough but he has compassion. He is larger than life but wise. I admire him. I cannot think of a better person to be Merseyside Police Commissioner.””
Ouch. Guido takes particular pleasure in this result given the last time he saw Peter, it was when the thirsty former MP took a swing at him in the Strangers Bar …
The defeats didn’t stop there for Watson and his allies. Over in South Wales former Blarite-Minister and sitting MP Alun Michael beat Unite and Watson backed Paul Cannon. Watson was ably assisted by local MP Chris Bryant, who was apparently desperate to avoid a Welsh by-election. Another failure then…
