Chris Rumfitt, founder and chief executive, says Yes
In the wake of the Paris attacks, security has risen to the top of the political agenda. As the world brimmed with anger and calculated how best to eradicate the Isis threat, Jeremy Corbyn decided it was the right moment to appoint Ken Livingstone to co-chair the Labour Party’s defence review.
Whatever Livingstone’s qualities and experience in other areas, he has zero defence experience and his past ties to CND and support for a United Ireland will cause alarm among many, not least shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle, who learnt of his appointment via Twitter.
Shadow ministers’ discontent has been rumbling below the surface til now – this could blow it wide open. Certain matters are hygiene factors for a political leader – economic competence, personal leadership qualities, and soundness on defence and security.
Labour lost the last election because it failed the first two of those tests. With this appointment, on top of Corbyn’s reaction to Paris, they might now fail on all three.
