Anthony Barnett (London, OK): Wendy Alexander has launched her bid to become leader of the Scottish Labour Party. Everyone seems to think she will win it and become the leader of the opposition to Salmond. The BBC quotes her as saying, "The SNP didn't just win with slick presentational tricks. Nor did they win thanks to their manifesto. They won because they seized Labour's agenda of hope and aspiration. Well I'm here to tell you that we're going to seize it back."
I'm sure the issue will be raised in a tacky way, so let me be among the first (to my knowledge) and raise it myself. Is there something significant about the Labour Cabinet and families? David and Ed Milliband are brothers in the cabinet. Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper are man and wife in the Cabinet and now Cabinet Minister Douglas Alexander's elder sister is to become leader of the Scottish party.
Also, these are not peripheral Cabinet members. David and Ed B are the leading contenders for the succession, Ed M is writing the Manifesto, Scotland is vital territory for the Prime Minister. No one has suggested that the individuals concerned are not top class. But it is odd. Once could be mere chance. Twice could still be one of those accidents. But three times? I'm beginning to fear it may be part of our unwritten constitution....
