Charles Clarke throws the cat among the pigeons
Peter Hoskin 5:32pm
As Nick Robinson suggests, this New Statesman article by Charles Clarke will throw the cat among the Labour pigeons. There are two particularly incendiary quotes in it, both expressing the same sentiment:
"...Labour's current course will lead to utter destruction at the next general election."And
"There is, however, a deep and widely shared concern - which does not derive from ideology - that Labour is destined to disaster if we go on as we are..."
Of course, we've heard similar from Clarke - and other Labour figures - before. But it's the timing of this article which is especially worrying for Team Brown. The general assumption is that we're in the middle of a truce period between the PM and his party - a kind of "give Brown a chance" pact - during which Labour knives were expected to be sheathed. Clarke's article not only upsets that truce, but it should ensure that full-blown leadership speculation returns to the headlines. And just as Brown's gearing up to deliver his economic recovery plan.
Previous
maas101
September 3rd, 2008 6:03pm Report this commentFerrets in a sack. This would be great entertainment if they weren't supposed to be running the country at the time when the wheels are coming off.
Anan The Cat
September 3rd, 2008 6:21pm Report this commentYou don't 'throw' the cat among the pigeons. The cat has been up at the window, monitoring the pigeons obsessively for an hour.
You open the window.
Prodicus
September 3rd, 2008 6:37pm Report this commentAw.
Ian C
September 3rd, 2008 6:42pm Report this commentWelcome to the end of the silly season, and the Brown government. This month was always going to be the time for the storm to break and for Broon to be washed awa'.
john miller
September 3rd, 2008 6:45pm Report this commentGo to Guido's place and follow the link to Clarkies article in the DT circa 2006.
Absolutely spot on the money. And if someone as (Ahem) sensitive as Clarkie knew it, then I guess you all did.
So really, you have all just been waiting for this to happen - thanks guys...
mitch
September 3rd, 2008 7:11pm Report this commentTaxi for the prime mentalist!
Pete, Scotland
September 3rd, 2008 7:38pm Report this commentJust read the 2006 article.
The fact that this was being openly discussed at that time and still the Labour party, along with the Unions, put him in power says as much about the socialists as it does about Brown's personality.
David C
September 3rd, 2008 8:58pm Report this commentThe article is a defense couched in ideological terms for what has no bearing on NuLabour's current problem.
In short, it is relevant only insofar as it voices a pragmatic appraisal of Labour's GE chances.
NuLabour is in the thrall of the cult of personality. It believes in Brown - still; and at gut level.
Brown pressed all the right buttons for NuLabour. He is actually more successful in this respect than Blair ever was.
Brown is the arch(and proto)-blairite. They, Brown and Blair form the twin pillars for NuLabour's victory in three elections.
The disharmony came because of Brown's ambition and character flaws.
Hysteria
September 3rd, 2008 10:08pm Report this commentThe big ideological difference between Mr Blair and Mr Brown, he says, is that the Chancellor wants to run the country by "pulling levers at the centre", while the Prime Minister is more inclined to "trust the people".
There you go ..........
David Lindsay
September 3rd, 2008 11:04pm Report this commentCharles Clarke is still alive? Who knew?
And who cares?
As much as anything, he'll lose his seat in any Labour defeat.
Mike, Brighton
September 4th, 2008 9:09am Report this commentDivid Lindsay.....along with a awful lot of Labour MPs
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