The Labour Party are holding another coronation. After Gordon Brown was unopposed for the leadership of the main party, the same is happening in the Scottish Labour Party:

But at least there appeared to actually be some opposition from within the main party, either the failed candidacies of Michael Meacher and John McDonnell. There doesn’t seem to be anyone else who is even willing to put their name forward in Scotland.

This is despite Wendy Alexander being wanted as Scotland’s First Minister by only 7% of Scottish voters, behind Alex Salmond on 38% and even her predecessor Jack McConnell, who is off to Malawi, on 10%. She is level with Annabel Goldie, the Scottish Conservative leader, and with only Nicol Stephen, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, being more unpopular, with just 5% wanting him to be First Minister.

This spate of coronations in the Labour Party, when contrasted with the last leadership elections in the other main parties, is odd. David Cameron and Ming Campbell had to actually fight and be elected to become the leaders of their parties. Thus, it can mean one of three things: either Gordon Brown and Wendy Alexander really are “head and shoulders” above any other possible candidates, including their own colleagues, that there is a concerted attempt to get and keep Brown and his cronies in the top positions in the Labour Party, or no-one dares challenge anyone else. None of these are good options, really.

If Brown and Alexander really are “head and shoulders” above the others, then that is (a) a damning indictment of Labour talent, and (b) means that when they’re gone, Labour really are screwed. If none of their colleagues are even good enough to even challenge for the leadership, why are they good enough for a high-powered Cabinet job?

Sources: BBC, The Times