Miliband’s greatest quality is that he’s willing to have a “bloody good think”, says Dobson

Last week, Frank Dobson announced his intention to stand down as MP for Holborn and St Pancras after 35 years. Today, The Guardian have a candid and, at times, touching interview with the former Health Secretary.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Owen Jones, Dobson sounds optimistic about the current state of the Labour Party: he’s “very confident” Labour will win next year’s election and is pleased that the Party has avoided going “a bit 1979”. Ed Miliband has ensured that party unity has remained largely intact, saying that if David had won there was a chance we could “flown apart”.

This could be largely attributed to Miliband’s hesitance to rush into decisions, instead weighing up options and considering the best course of action, which Dobson views as his best characteristic:

“His greatest quality is he has a bloody good think before he does things.”

Dobson does, however, have a little less time for Miliband’s inner circle – and has concerns about Labour’s strategy:

Though “very confident” Labour will win, Dobson has harsh words for Ed Miliband’s inner circle. Are they useless, I ask him? “Yeah!” he says instantly, roaring with laughter. He composes himself, and searches for more diplomatic language. “Useless isn’t the right word. They’re … not of sufficient quality and clarity.” He is not impressed with much of the shadow cabinet, either. Calling for a clearer message, he says: “It would be considerably assisted if all the rest of the shadow ministers were knocking lumps off opposite numbers. You need to boil things down to a few simple, short, sharp concepts and say them time and time and time again. It’s no good thinking you can convince the public with a lecture that you might deliver to some postgraduate thing at All Souls.”

Interestingly, this interview is published the same day as the first name comes forward in the race to replace Dobson. Sir Keir Starmer, the former Director of Public Prosecutions, has thrown his hat into the ring to be the Labour candidate in the inner London constituency. It is widely regarded as a ‘safe seat’ and, after boundary changes, Dobson added 5,000 to his majority in 2010 – so expect the selection to be hotly contested.

Starmer told the Camden New Journal: “It would be an honour for anyone to succeed Frank Dobson. It will now be for the party to agree the process and timetable but if it is an open shortlist I intend to seek selection from members of Holborn and St Pancras, my home for over 15 years.

“Our constituency needs an MP who will continue Frank’s principled campaigning, fight to get the Tories out of power and be able to influence a future Labour government. I believe I can bring my experience as a human rights lawyer, DPP and campaigner to do that. I am only too aware of the impact that politics has on the daily lives of all of us.”