The plotters insist that a leadership contest could help Brown

Ivor

Isn't this the same justification that Judas used - in that he was actually helping Christ to reveal himself.

David C

I see they still have a sense of humour.
Trying to tempt the monster from its lair with the enticing aroma of an election victory.
Like Clarke's 'step down with honour' (instead of being labelled the worst PM in History) meme.

Brown isn't going to 'come out and fight like a man'. He's going to sit in the bunker and have his minions saw off his challengers at the knees.

Brown is the only one with a streak of ruthlessness and he's the one Labour have to get rid of if they wish to survive.
All this would be hilarious if the rest of us weren't suffering the fallout of Labour's dereliction.

Keith

"It's quite possible that Gordon could contest a contest and emerge stronger."

Of course it is, of course it is!
Can you see that pig flying past the window? Thought not.

Slim Jim

I have said before that I think Brown will (should?) have a 'back-me-or-sack-me' moment, like John Major. There are a couple of problems with this notion:

1. He's a coward;
2. There's no other contenders yet and the brand is currently toxic;
3. We voters couldn't care less who is steering the Titanic - it's going under whoever is in charge.

The big problem for New Labour and Brown is that everything they have done to date has been planned meticulously, and is not an accident, including the 10p tax debacle. THERE IS NO PLAN 'B'! That's it. They're fecked whatever they do. Don't they just deserve it?

Slim Jim

Another thing I find amazing is all the rebel calls for 'unity of purpose', 'vision' and 'reconnecting with the people'. How can this be possible when Labour's underlying strategy has been to govern by deceit, and marginalising any democratic process when it thinks it can get away with it? Witness the Iraq war and the Lisbon Con-Treaty to name but two.

C Powell

I'm surprised you're falling for this disingenuous rubbish. They're primarily concerned about their own seats and hanging onto their salaries and expenses. They may be concerned about the party. They're most emphatically not concerned about us, the voters, and the country. And this last point should be made, every single time one of these numpties appears on TV or radio, maybe even by the Opposition (hello? HELLO? Or maybe they're worried about not taking over the country just before the mess we're in becomes even worse i.e. they don't care about us either.)

Liz Brown

Gordo could eme Heathcliffee Jonah rge triumphant and I could fly to the moon
But the Government does need to think about the country and stop this navel gazing

Mike, Brighton (in India)

Speaking of the Titanic cliche....
Wouldn't a leadership contest be helpful for Brown in the same manner as a new paint job would have been helpful for the Titanic?

Tiberius

Don't his teeth look nice now.

Unimpeachable, in fact.

LSS

It's all very enjoyable to watch the Nulab spin machine imploding on itself but the sad realisation is that we have to put up with this until 2010.

Anglica

Tiberius - Yes, I noticed the teeth. I think he's trying to look happy and unfazed, but it is rather horrifying.