Chorlton Against War: Nothing To Be Scared Of

No worry about room capacity. But a good meeting. Jenny Lennox and Naheed Arshad-Mather seized their chance of practice in a realistic hustings environment.

Apology from Lucy as blogged before - keeping the process internal to the party. No sign of a written statement from Nargis or Yogesh. But it was announced that both had written to SMR with anti-war positions. Personally I'm pretty sure Lucy would back Keith Bradley's stance of 2003 if she were not keeping her cards so close to her chest.

Both nominees made a very good fist of five minute speeches focussed on the Iraq War with a dabble at Trident. Naheed with a well structured speech she had prepared earlier and delivered fluently. Jenny deliberately choosing to extemporise. Both were on the nail of five minutes.

Jenny showed initiative and commitment introducing letters to MPs, Attorney General and Foreign Secretary to be signed by all the gathering. On the issue of frontline Journalist casualties. Last year these exceeded those of British service personnel. LOL will post the letters or link to them if they are available. Click, ye shall receive. Thanks Miles and Stephen.

In their different ways both dealt with some REAL questions very well indeed. We must only hope that the questions on Saturday are as effective at giving candidates a chance to distinguish themselves as tonight's were. These two women were able to deal with tough questions very effectively.

Any tendancy for planted questions and pat answers on Saturday, while not actually being booed, hissed or jeered will be noted by all selectorites keen for a PPC who can really think on their feet. Hard ball please.

Some distinctions were drawn following a fiery speech by ex-Labour Member and until recently Labour supporter Colin Barker (SWP/Respect) who had a not so little list of ten or more failures of Blair's Labour that certainly coincides fairly well with those concerning Labour people outside TB's inner circle.

Both candidates answered well and Jenny was again on the ball. Actually distributing membership application forms!

Jenny connected best with this audience. She was passionate, humourous, intelligent and coherent.

Naheed was impressive and brave in taking unpopular policy areas - such as Top Up Fees - and expressing why it was she was prepared to live with them even as a socialist.

Both were asked (by Miles, natch) about their preferences on the leader/deputy leader field so far. Jenny said McDonnell and hoped for a strong left of centre woman to throw her hat in the ring. Naheed said she could stand Brown, and might back Blears as a strong woman in a neighbouring constituency.

This was just a little surprising. But refreshingly honest and no dodging or framing answers for the gallery.

Jenny well ahead for me. Others strongly for Naheed. If it were between these two my view is that we could pick an excellent candidate and enjoy a return to a decent and honest MP. As it should be. This process is so much stronger than the Lib Dems had in ditching Yasmin Zalzala OVERTLY in some quarters for being a single-minded, black, muslim woman. The desperado John Leech got the nod as by-any-and-all-means-necessary crypto-fib-candidate.

Audience may come here and comment. Pictures coming. Over to the floor. Miles blogged it HERE.