Georgia Gould’s ‘fast track’ route to Commons consisted of fourteen years as a councillor

SO Camden is to get a new council leader, with Labour councillors due to vote at a special meeting scheduled for Sunday.

The wisecrack doing the rounds is that it would be quicker the name the people not wanting to take the job, than those who do – such is the large number of potential candidates who have been sounding out whether there is enough support for them.

Normally, such a crossroads event would be suspenseful and steeped in intrigue, a debate about direction and politics.

But this time it has been more regularly described as a personality contest, possibly an inevitable product of the ruthless candidate selection process run by Labour ahead of the last council elections.

This ensured that – more or less – we have a large ruling group which thinks as one.

And while there is very much something to be said for the effectiveness of team unity, the end product means it is hard to distinguish too much contrast over how things would be so different if any of the contenders are chosen over another.

With so little light and shade, members should be at least looking for somebody with the conviction to take on this intense role for what it is, and not be governed by what unelected officers insist on – be they too overbearing or too timid.

The outgoing leader, Georgia Gould, brought this 24/7 energy to the role and, while advised by the chief officers she trusted, she came to her own conclusions. There will be readers who have never liked her, and if you are a tenant on the Chalcots estate your low opinion would be understandable.

We never did see a full review of events that caused the distress of being moved from homes at a moment’s notice due to years of failing. Problems still exist in the blocks now. But in terms of the unique challenges she faced during her seven years in charge, she should be remembered as the best council leader of the past couple of decades.

Councillors must look among their colleagues and wonder which of those who want to replace her could respond as she did to Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.

Ms Gould has been dubbed a “red princess” and told her privilege and background has got her an easy line to power. If 14 years as a local councillor going to meetings in community centres can be called fast-track, maybe that expression needs to be redefined.

More MPs should gain experience at the local government coalface before jostling for parliamentary opportunities.

Leading Camden is arguably an even bigger job than sitting in the Commons.