There may be little between them but Labour supporters are spoilt for choice

The Labour Leadership Hustings, organised by the Fabian Society, LabourList, Left Foot Forward and Compass, was a truly eye-opening event. For all those who think that Labour will disappear into the oblivion of opposition and descend into the mire that the Conservatives occupied post 1997 then yesterday’s proceedings gave them something new to ponder. Consider this: the next Labour leader will be the next prime minister. What’s more, the next Labour leader will have the almost complete backing of his or her party, from the grassroots up, a novelty in today’s politics and for the Labour party itself given its recent history.

Make no mistake. The party is in need of its current catharsis. Labour is in the process of healing the scars of the last 13 years, which it needs to do in order to come back revitalised and rejuvenated. And it's clear from the hustings that the best thing that could have happened to Labour was to suffer electoral defeat and take an enforced time out to regroup and reposition itself as, dare I say, the people’s party or, at least, the party of the people.

Thank goodness there was no LibLab coalition. The LibDems would've been a noose around Labour's neck, depriving the party of the new energy and introspection it so badly needs. These are exciting times for Labour. There’s a good feeling about the party and the prospect of change.

Labour is in its strongest position for years, blessed with an abundance of ideas, ideals and able potential leaders, in contrast to the Conservatives and the LibDems who, without Cameron and Clegg, would struggle to muster even a couple of credible candidates. Each Labour leadership contender has the credentials to justify their place on the podium and on the evidence of the hustings every candidate should have a place on the shadow front bench. And what a formidable government-in-waiting they would be – Milliband and Milliband, Balls and Burnham and Diane Abbott - offering a solid counterbalance and presenting a united front. Opposition has rarely looked so good.

Abbott, in particular, has increasingly shown herself to be the Grand Dame, and not the Pantomime Dame, of the party, a Beckett or a Harman for the grassroots and a legend of the Left. Ed Balls, like his one-time boss Gordon Brown, is not a natural orator but what he lacks in presentation he makes up for in passion. Ed Milliband's vision for an inclusive party includes wooing Green voters and pledging to make his shadow cabinet 50% women, something I disagree with but that's another article. Oddly, the economy featured little in the debate although the issue of inequality came up towards the end. Andy Burnham, with his distinctly Northern down-to-earth charm, spoke of better care for the elderly and much was made of 'values' and being the 'voice for the voiceless.' David Milliband’s aim of creating a social movement resonated with the other candidates and went down well with supporters, many of whom have felt excluded from the conversation under previous leaderships.

It's good that Old New Labour is out of the picture, leaving the aspirants to get on with it and distinguish themselves without the burden of the past. The public backing of grandees like Neil Kinnock and Tony Benn won't help, and may even damage, a candidate’s campaign. The spectre of Blair-Brown is nowhere to be seen. A new agenda for a new century of leadership is what’s required.

So on the evidence of last night’s debate, it seems the ideal candidate would be a mixture of youthful idealism i.e. Ed Milliband and rugged experience i.e. Diane Abbott, which may be Ed Balls or even Andy Burnham but if you want a ready-made PM then David Milliband is your man, which is all as clear as mud but leaves us spoilt for choice if not for obvious differences. So do you vote with your head or your heart? That, indeed, remains the question. But one thing’s certain – whatever the outcome, there will be no losers in this race and the party will be the ultimate winner.

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