10 lessons from the Yoosk hustings

By Rob MacPherson

The first phase of the Yoosk Hustings is coming to a close and while the answers will tell us a lot about the candidates’ position on various issues, the questions that have been asked are equally illuminating.

Like a two-way mirror, the questions not only say a lot about the strengths, weaknesses and image of the five hopefuls but also reflect back on the ideas, doubts and perceptions held by Labour party members and the general public.

As the voting continues for its last weekend, we can only pencil in at this stage what the final 30 questions will be, but there are clear trends and it isn’t too early to sneak a peek at what we can learn from the questions alone.

These are not the views of the author, or even necessarily the views of Yooskers – merely speculation on the opinions that may have fuelled some of the recurring questions.

Gay marriage is the next big cause for equality: Yoosk is the perfect platform for people to thrust otherwise-ignored niche issues into the limelight and ensure politicians answer. Gay marriage equality has been snowballing in the media and dominates the top spot for not only the whole panel but also both Milibands thanks to the efforts of blogger @JaeKay and other campaigners.

People don’t like Ed Balls but don’t know why: The only candidate asked to pinpoint and address his biggest weakness. Will also likely have the joy of answering why he is so unpopular amongst many ranks of the Labour Party.

Coalition politics is here to stay: Peter Mandelson isn’t the only one to predicting that coalition, and therefore Lib Dem support, is now the immediate future of British politics. Yooskers wonder which candidate would be best placed to lead a coalition government and also ask if they would court or vilify the Lib Dems whilst in opposition.

The candidates underperformed in government – particularly in the latter stages: Questions for all four previous cabinet members show disappointment at their performance towards the end of their time in government. Hardly a surprise given the election result.

Real people aren’t interested in the candidate’s leadership campaigns: It might get campaign volunteers and party insiders in a tizz, but the truth is out of over 100 questions in the Yoosk Hustings none were about any of the five candidate’s campaign ideas. No mention of the living wage, nothing of Ed Balls’ free school meals or VAT bombshell and nowt on Burnham’s “National Care Service” or the ‘Save our Services’ campaign. Only David Miliband’s Movement for Change gets a mention – and that is to ask if its merely a gimmick.

Ed Miliband is a bit of a hypocrite: A telling pair of questions sum up what some see as a key weakness of Miliband the younger. How can he be so quick to denounce and distance himself from policies that he not only supported in government but also authored in the manifesto?

People want a debate on English devolution: Another perfect example of an issue that hasn’t dominated the campaign and therefore has encouraged supporters of an English parliament to seek answers via Yoosk on a range of topics from inequalities in healthcare policy to a separate English anthem.

Diane Abbott is eyeing a prize other than becoming Labour leader: Whilst one Yoosker bluntly asks if she’s really ‘in it to win it’ a better questions comes from another who wonders if Abbott is angling for enough respectability to warrant a cabinet post in a future Labour government.

Trade Union issues aren’t a part of mainstream politics: Unison may have promoted the hustings to their members, but question on trade union issues are few and far between. Only Ed Balls and Diane Abbott were quizzed on the topic, leaving the rest (including Ed Miliband, the ‘trade union candidate’) ignored.

David Miliband hasn’t shed the ‘Heir to Blair’ tag just yet: Apart from being asked if he is too much like Tony, and whether he still supports his infamous Guardian leadership bid that wasn’t, there is another question that hints at David’s leadership potential. Asking how he would have run Labour’s election campaign differently if he were leader may seem innocuous enough, it is not asked of any of the other candidates and reminds us that he’ss the only one who’s had a serious chance of already becoming leader.

Visit www.Yoosk.com/Labour for your last chance to vote on the Yoosk Hustings questions for the five Labour Leadership candidates and also to put your questions to both Labour Mayoral Candidates.