Jon Cruddas and the Labour leadership race

After interviewing Labour MP Jon Cruddas for this week's New Statesman, the magazine's editor Jason Cowley concludes that "he's in the race" to be Labour leader after the general election.

Iain Dale has pointed out several flaws in this argument, not least the fact that there is an increasingly high chance that he will fail even to retain his redrawn Dagenham and Rainham constituency, where he faces a strong challenge from Conservative candidate, Simon Jones.

One other issue which in any case complicates matters in the Cruddas household is Mrs Cruddas, known in Westminster as Anna Healey.

She happens to be special adviser to one Harriet Harman - who I imagine is currently plotting a leadership campaign of her own...

Jonathan Isaby