On and off and on again

Even if he's not going to be Labour's candidate for Hartlepool (and I still wouldn't rule it out at this stage - he is a former adviser to Mandelson, after all) Patrick Diamond already has the ability to change his mind six times before breakfast. The latest is:

London-based Patrick Diamond, tipped by many pundits as favourite to be Labour's man in the forthcoming contest, has ruled himself out of the running.
And another front-runner, experienced North-East Labour campaigner Paul Brannen, also ruled himself out of contention today, claiming people wanted a local candidate.
Speculation had been rife that Mr Diamond, a policy advisor to Number 10 Downing Street, and former special advisor to Peter Mandelson, would seek nomination to replace his old boss in Hartlepool.
But Mr Diamond said today: "There has been much speculation throughout the last week.
"I have made many good friends in the Hartlepool Labour Party who urged me to consider putting my name forward.
"However, I decided at the weekend that I would not seek selection on this occasion.'' Mr Diamond stood for election to Cambridge City Council in 1998 and lost.

(Note: he also stood for Lambeth Council - Oval Ward - in 2002 and lost then)

Via Guacamoleville