Cruddas backs Ken

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

It’s perhaps not all too surprising, but it’s significant nonetheless that Jon Cruddas last night backed Ken to be Labour’s candidate for mayor of London.

While Oona King’s campaign has attracted some support – and she gave a powerful speech to the Compass conference on Saturday, which I know shocked Sunny Hundal for its hard criticism of Labour’s old guard – it’s yet to really gain momentum.

Ken, meanwhile, is showing a continued ability to connect with people. Cruddas called for the Labour Party to united behind Livingstone:

“Labour needs a candidate who can win in 2012, uniting the party and taking the fight to a Boris Johnson administration that has let Londoners down. Labour needs a candidate who will be a top class Mayor from day one, who knows the levers of power, and how to use power in the interests of all Londoners. For me, Labour’s candidate must be Ken Livingstone. He has my vote, and I call on all Labour members to unite behind him too.”