Brown is neither feared nor loved
James Forsyth 3:57pm
When David Miliband wrote his infamous Guardian piece and then further stoked the controversy with a series of provocative media appearances many of us expected the Brownites to knee-cap him. After all, vicious party in-fighting is what they do best. But the Brownites—reportedly because of Stephen Carter’s intervention—backed away. At this point, the air of almost physical menace that surrounded the Brownites evaporated.
Maintaining discipline within the Labour party has consequently become far harder. No one now fears the consequences of speaking out in the way they once did. (It was once seriously put to me that Charles Clarke was prepared to stand up to Brown because his belly acted as a physical buffer zone between him and Brown).
The danger for Brown is that he neither feared nor loved by most of his Cabinet colleagues. As Iain Martin points out, one can count on the fingers on one hand the number of Cabinet ministers who would fight with all their heart for Gordon.
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Martin Adamson
September 1st, 2008 4:51pm Report this commentIndeed, you could count on the fingers of a Dalek's hand the number of people willing to fight for him.
Jonathan
September 1st, 2008 4:52pm Report this commentMore accurately the thumbs of one hand. And I suspect you would have one left over.
Max Kaye
September 1st, 2008 5:09pm Report this commentWho slipped Brown the ecstasy?
Verity
September 1st, 2008 6:38pm Report this commentMax Kaye - LOL!
David C
September 1st, 2008 7:07pm Report this commentBrown was never going to be loved. Iconoclasts are usually not comfortable to be with.
If he cannot be charming and cuddly, or even warm and human, then fear is his only recourse.
Unless he is prepared now, at this very minute, to lay about him with the jawbone of an ass (step forward Ed) then the vestiges of whatever control he could once muster will slip from his hand and he will exist in his position as a puppet, to be quickly disposed of by whichever faction assumes power.
Personally, I think Carter was a clandestine Blairite mole, sent in to sabotage Brown's premiership (well, it makes an interesting narrative).
Silent Hunter
September 1st, 2008 7:41pm Report this commentWhere's the category .....
"Universally hated by the electorate"
.....and that goes for his New Nasty Party too.
mitch
September 1st, 2008 9:48pm Report this commentor listened too anymore.
Alfred T Mahan
September 2nd, 2008 9:36am Report this commentCaligula's motto was Oderint dum metuant- "let them hate as long as they fear." Was it a Freudian connection that made you use similar terms in relation to our own mad Emperor?
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