The Skakagrall

Love coming back to your site every few days. Very informative. Started a site up myself last week -My father was from Blackburn

Thanks - I wonder what Craig Murray's chances are? Maybe we will get some feedback later.

Thanks for the info, Simon.

It's good to see a healthy challenge like this. Theoretically Murray could have a good chance - he has a track record and a powerful issue. And Blackburn has, as I understand it, a large Muslim vote. On the down side, despite his eminence as a public servant, he doesn't have the name-recognition of Martin Bell. Nor is Jack Straw a hate figure like the Hamiltons had become in 1997.

A lot will depend on how he runs his campaign - he must reassure voters that he'll be a worthy MP, not just a guy with a grievance - however shockingly justified his grievance is. He would do well to pick some controversial local issues to campaign on as well.

My first thought when I heard that he's running was "brilliant - hopefully some publicity for the Uzbekistan issue, and for possible UK complicity in torture generally." But I can't decide whether I'd like him to win or not. It depends on how he handles himself politically. I'm also not sure if taking out the Foreign Secretary is what I'd like to see happen. If Straw has literally sanctioned turning a blind eye to torture, then I can't vouch for him. But overall, he doesn't seem to be a bad Foreign Secretary. Feel free to put me wise on that though!

I wish someone would stand against Geoff Hoon. The Socialist Worker reported that Reg Keys, the father of a British soldier killed in Iraq, would do so, but he is now standing against Blair in Sedgefield. Hoon really makes me angry, and I'm sure he'd be ripe for the picking by the right candidate. I'm not vehemently anti-war, but Hoon's conduct has been disgraceful. He should have resigned the day it became clear that a British soldier died because his body armour was taken from him, as there wasn't enough for all our servicemen and women. What happened to ministerial honour? I don't know how he can sleep at night. On a practical basis, he doesn't seem to do a good job, and sends out bad vibes to the country and the Armed Forces in general. As someone who hopes soon to be joining the British Army, I am aware of the contempt in which he is held by many soldiers, and that puts a serious dent in morale.

Thank you, Amy.

I would like to see Straw lose. He is just a careerist. It's OK for someone like that to be Minister of Pensions but not Foreign Secretary.

It's a pity that both Shayler and Keys are standing in Sedgefield, and that no-one is standing against Hoon. Who could stand against him. Any ideas? How about Elisabeth Wilmshurst? But I think she is an academic now. Or Katherine Gun maybe?

[By the way, I tried to email you after your previous comments, but I couldn't get through.]

Thanks Simon. Sorry you couldn't get through - I fear spam! After this I'll email you so you'll have my address.

Thanks also for fixing my typo.

Yes, if Shayler and Keys both run, it'll split the anti-Blair vote. Group Captain Al Lockwood would surely have had a better chance as an independent - I can't see Sedgefield voting for him as a Tory. The Guardian said on Wednesday that Shayler and Keys would be meeting to discuss whether one would be prepared to step down. I haven't heard of any progress on this. I don't have any time for Shayler. In my opinion it was very wrong of him to break the Official Secrets Act.

I have no better ideas for an anti-Hoon candidate. Katherine Gunn for me is a no-no for the same reason as Shayler. She failed in her duty to the country. You don't have to be anti-war to be anti-Hoon either. I'd like to see someone stand against him who will support the military, but not in a way that undermines the Government's decision to go to war, just his failure to provide the necessary equipment for our defence commitments.

There was some discussion about the Shayler/Keys situation on BackingBlair. I think everyone agreed that Keys was the more suitable candidate.

The MOD has seen a succession of problems - Deep Cut, planning and equipment failures, Dr Kelly, the Scottish regiments reorganization. It would be good to have a candidate who can pin Hoon down.

I think Katherine Gun is legitimate. Given the failures in the MOD and the intelligence services, whistleblowers who look to the wider public interest are necessary. I don't feel they have let anybody down. (Perhaps Shayler belongs in a slightly different category? I don't know a lot about his case.)