The extent of the reshuffle
Peter Hoskin 8:58am
As usual, Rachel Sylvester's column in the Times is essential reading. Today, she writes - contrary to Ben Brogan - that relations between Brown and Darling are poor. But goes on to suggest that Darling will hang on to his job in a "limited reshuffle" later this week. Here's the key passage:
"A limited reshuffle - focused on merging the Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland jobs into a single constitutional secretary role - had been pencilled into the No 10 diary for this week. Mr Brown is being urged to postpone it and carry out a wider reshuffle involving Mr Darling. It would be wrong of the Prime Minister to pin the blame for his and the country's difficulties on the Chancellor - and foolish for him to sack someone who knows where the political bodies are buried. But already Mr Brown has been forced to reassure David Miliband that his job is safe, after the Downing Street attack dogs went on the offensive against him. His political authority is starting to look dangerously weak."
Whether the particulars are true or not, they highlight the challenge that Gordon Brown faces with this reshuffle. On the one hand he can keep things largely as they are, and risk both looking weak and prompting a collective, dissatisfied shrug from voters in the process. Or, on the other hand, he can make sweeping changes - such as giving Darling the chop - and risk adding to the ranks of those operating against him. The question for Brown is which of these two scenarios is less damaging to his prospects of short-term survival.
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C Powell
September 2nd, 2008 9:44am Report this commentIt doesn't matter how the numpties in this Government are moved around. We want all of them out, and the sooner the better.
Chris Heathcote
September 2nd, 2008 9:44am Report this commentI thought Darling was right when he said in his Guardian interview on Saturday: "You name me a reshuffle that ever made a difference to a government, actually".
Tankus
September 2nd, 2008 9:51am Report this commentwhat if Darling just thinks of himself and walks ....?
might it not possibly do him some good in his own constituency ?
Liz Brown
September 2nd, 2008 10:01am Report this commentGordo can shuffle, reshuffle or fly to the moon as often as he wants but the writing remains on the wall - zanulab is DEAD but sadly won't lie down. There is not one iota of talent in that godforsaken party and if he were to his MiniMe "sowhatballsup" in as Chancellor - the already sinking ratings would plummet faster than a grouse on the Glorious Twelth
Ian C
September 2nd, 2008 10:03am Report this commentIf he sacks Darling, Brown knows only too well that will be his downfall. Darling may have been a naiive follower of Brown's before he went to No 11 but he certainly is not that any longer.
He is not going to allow his reputation to be destroyed by Brown blaming him for Labour's disastrous stewardship when it was too late for him to do anything when he took over from Brown.
Ian OLIVE
September 2nd, 2008 10:12am Report this commentThe only shuffle most people are interested in the the shuffle out of the door of No 10 into political obvlivion and the sooner it happens to this bunch of losers, the better.
jeff
September 2nd, 2008 10:14am Report this commentNone of Rachel Sylvester's "insights" ever come to pass. She is such a vulgar thoughtless hack.
Northern John
September 2nd, 2008 10:28am Report this commentI don't see how he can sack Darling - he's the only guy who has told it like it is. If he gets rid of him, there'll be more King Canute comparisons.
If he wants to show some bottle, sack Miliband. It's no great loss to government and shows he's not prepared to be undermined.
David C
September 2nd, 2008 10:46am Report this commentIf these are the limits of the reshuffle then interest must centre on what happens to Browne and Defence.
Is he enhanced or diminished?
Does he spend more time with his family and somebody else sups from NuLabour's poison'd chalice?
Harry T.
September 2nd, 2008 11:23am Report this commentShe got Stamp Duty wrong as well.
GS London
September 2nd, 2008 1:33pm Report this comment"Rather have the bastards on the inside pissing out, than on the outside pissing in."
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