As Gordon Brown prepares to face the PLP tonight he appears set to name Peter Mandelson, Douglas Alexander and Harriet Harman to senior election roles.
It is important to note that this is not the whole of the top campaign team; these are just the politicians. Equally important to successful Labour general election campaigns have been party general secretaries and other key campaign staff at party HQ in Victoria Street; as general secretary Ray Collins is very experienced and a calm leader of the professional team. The involvement of key front rank politicians in the day-to-day running of the election is still important for building a public face and for the morale of Labour volunteers, activists and staff.
This line-up will fulfil these roles. They are all good communicators and they know what they are doing with election campaigning both at constituency and national level.
Harriet Harman has demonstrated that she has the support of the membership after being elected in a highly contested election, while Douglas Alexander is well liked and has years of experience behind him. Peter Mandelson’s communication skills and strategic judgment are unrivalled. He is without doubt the most talented campaign organiser since his grandfather Herbert Morrison.