The Cabinet fall for another set of cheap promises about Brown changing how he does business

DownTrodden

Once a thug, always a thug.

Last night on BBC 2 Newsnight's Kirsty Wark took Peter Hain to task over Flint's resignation. It's been made to look like that one minute Flint supported the government but then throw her toys out the pram after not getting the cabinet post she wanted.

But it's quite probable that she's been done over do the No.10 hot squad. Kirsty Wark said it was clear from her extensive conversation with Flint that “she was smeared then forced to do an interview supporting Mr.Brown”.

Robert Williams

But just when will Brown change the habit of a (political) lifetime?
I was pleased that on "Today" John Humphrys, in an interview with Tony Wright, highlighted Brown's henchmen's bullying tactics employed in the past 24/48 hours against Barry Sheerman.

Matthew Blott

Q. What do you call a mammale invertebrate?

A. David Miliband.

Austin Barry

The Cabinet really is collection of Churchill's 'boneless wonders....too demoralizing and revolting' for our eyes.

Disgusted of Harpenden

Brought off? I think you mean "bought off", or maybe you don't. What an unpleasant thought.

Crybaby

There must be process whereby a PM can be removed by force when he becomes mentally ill. There must be!

Mike, Brighton

They have stopped rearranging the deckchairs and are now agreeing the process by which the deckchairs will be rearranged in the future and deckchair users will be consulted....Meanwhile the Titanic steams on and an iceberg marked "June 2010" awaits

MK

The fact Milliband, Kelly, Blears, Purnell, Hutton, Burnham, Darling and Flint haven't managed to coordinate their dissatisfaction to enforce a lasting change says much about their ability to run our country.

Russell

Brown is nearly 60 and his personality, such as it is, is set in stone. He knows no other way of operating and is unable to acknowledge any personal deficiencies. So there is no prospect of him ever changing, except to become more firmly entrenched. Meanwhile he will give whatever assurances suit his purpose, as easily and fluently as he lies to the public and with as little concern for the consequences.

On another tack - what on earth will the working relationship between Darling and Brown be like after this?

Oscar

Why do they believe this lying, double dealer? Caroline Flint should be held up as an awful warning - she could have gone out with much more style and authority if she hadn't been bought off the night before. Trouble is Brown's cabal has created this monster myth about his amazing capacities - a myth of such indescribable nonsense a child of five should see through it. But somehow or other Labour keep expecting this fictional character to show up. Brown is a phoney as Cameron rightly said (no wonder the Speaker slapped him down). He's a weak, weak little man drowning in vain delusions of his importance. A talentless, vile thug who's created a gangland culture at the top instead of leading the country. Yet still Brown's cult members still cling to their delusions about him.

Rhoda Klapp

One of the things that makes us human is the ability to justify any action we take, no matter how wrong. What we have here is a small group, the no10 clique, using all its powers of persuasion, threat, bribery and deception in order to achieve just one more day of survival. They may be able to go on, but only by using those weapons against another bunch of victims tomorrow. And scarcely any among the victims (the cabinet) or observers (the media) will say anything about the sheer evil of prolonging this government against the will of the people. I hope there remain enough honest labour MPs to put an end to this tyranny by the end of the week.

Max Kaye

With...

Lord Mandelson
Lord Sugar
Lady Kinnock
Lord Myners
Baroness Vadera
Lord Davies
Lord Carter
Lord Adonis
Baroness Andrews
Lord Bach
Lord Darzi
Lord Davidson
Lord Hunt
Lord McKenzie
Lord Malloch-Brown
Baroness Morgan
Baroness Royall
Baroness Scotland
Baroness Taylor
Lord West
Lord Young
(Is this list complete?)

unelected ministers in the government, it is obvious that the PLP has neither the talents to offer, or the backbone to object.

No wonder Brown treats them with contempt.

Suki

Ruth Kelly. I can't even remember which one she is because they're all such non-entities.

Kalvis Jansons

Surely it is time for all the UK to tell Mr Brown to go:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/

RavingMad

Yes
Agree entirely.
Brown's behaviour is also effectively creating havoc amongst the population. The people are powerless as he continues with the delusion and thus become more embroiled in it too. Someone, somewhere has to breake the chain or we are all DOOMED

Bruce, UK

There they are; the some of the people that can be fooled all of the time.

As before:

Self before Party, Party before Country.

TrevorsDen

Still it gives them an excuse to pull the plug later

Heironymous Bosch

No,not delusional,simply greedy: apparatchik ministers want the salary, allowances, ministerial cars and general kudos for as long as possible. Hence hanging on to Brown and personal status even now.

Country before self and party - not as long as the abyss of anonymous has-beenism is the alternative.

Gordon Brown's Moral compass Swinger

They are not delusional at all. They know exactly what they are doing...acting in self interest and NOT the interest of the country.
They know they need to keep their snouts in the trough for as long as possible because outside government, they are unemployable.

Geo

The worst thing is we are at the mercy of a man with endless ego and a total inability to empathise with anyone.

Justin

The Labour ministers are not delusional - that are pragmatic.

Stay in the well paid job until an election is called, fill their boots with state funded perks and then take us much as possible from the "relocation allowance" and then join the ranks of the unemployed.

Greedy swines with no idea about democracy.

Victor, NW Kent

As Tony Blair said in 2001 "the most important task facing the Labour Party is to remain in power". Not to govern well and wisely but to hold the fount of patronage. That, in turn, allows the right to create instant peers so as to subvert the democratic process still further.

Instead of converting the second chamber to a wholly elected house, a senate, Brown and Blair have packed it with superannuated apparatchiks by creating a new peer every 20 days on average.

And what quality and dedication they have displayed!

Nobody in the patched up Cabinet is under any illusions - they know they are in the last days of Labour and the object is to feather their nests as far as possible.

yarnefromhorsham

The PLP appears to lack the political moral courage to load the pistol and put it to their head - instead they appear to prefer being blindfolded, put against a wall and shot by the electorate. So be it.

Tiberius

I agree with GBMcS.

If naivete was the prerequisite to sign up to Old Labour, then mendacity is the New Labour equivalent.

RobTheBassman

HB/GBMCS - sums it up for me.

Max Kaye - you forgot the fragrant Baroness Uddin

The Preston Park Panther

Suki: Ruth Kelly was the seriously weird one. Even in that coven.

Middle England Frank

Whether they're delusional or not, despite nearly all the survivors being male, there isn't a man among them.

More than that, here, before our very eyes is (if we really needed it) conclusive proof that the people we supposedly elect don't give a fig about us or the country. If they did there would be an election now. Poll after poll shows that well over 60 per cent of people want an election now - what are we supposed to do to get one? Take to the streets?

The expenses fiasco is just the tip of the iceberg. These people are institutionally traitorous. We should have no truck with them; like we have shown our disdain for their avaricious tendencies, we should also let them know in no uncertain terms that they should move out of the way and let us decide. Once a new parliament is in place, we can begin a wide ranging national debate as to the future of the country, from whether we remain in the EU at all, to the nature of our constitution and the establishment of a parliament for England within it.

Brown and his cohorts, Cameron and Clegg - there isn't a patriot among them, let alone a statesman.

RobTheBassman

Apologies Max Kaye, Baroness Uddin's not a minister (yet) - by all that's holy I hope not!

Jeremy

Alistair Darling comes across as being a fairly submissive type of man. But it also happens that Darling is now the man who could trigger Brown's downfall. By briefing against him, but then not having the authority to sack him, Brown has left Darling in place with both a reason for enmity and a grenade he can detonate pretty much at the time of his own choosing. In a sense, Brown is now a hostage to those he sees around him at the Cabinet table. His authority as Prime Minister has been severely - perhaps even critically - weakened. From this point onwards, it can only really be a matter of time...

I would also reiterate a point that I have made in earlier posts: that the current Prime Minister, government and Parliament have neither the political mandate nor the moral authority to change the voting system before the next General Election has been held.

Peachie

How many people on the streets of London would it take for them to get the message? A million? Would the MSM who are calling for the end of this government have the cojones to back such a move or would the spectre of the poll tax riots prevent any of them backing mass direct protest?
I, for one, would be on the train up to London in a flash.
Could it be organised before the summer recess?

Ken

@ Oscar
+Applause+

Disgust, regrettably, has become an overworked adjective in discussing the delusional one and his 5th rate court of appalling, selfserving mediocrities.

Publius

It was chilling watching Brown's press conference yesterday. It is a while since I have tuned in to Brown. I was actually taken aback by how incoherent and, yes, lunatic, he seemed.

Does he really crave power that much? He's become like Gollum.

strapworld

Oscar. Why dont you say what you think!

I AGREE WITH EVERY WORD.

johnny come lately

I have just heard the Prime Minsiter of the United Kingdom in France where with our brilliant D DAY Veterans has made a political interview about the reshuffle.

HAS this idiot got any idea what the D DAY event is all about?

This is an absolute disgrace to every one of our servicemen who gave their lives for us all.

That this liar, this fool can talk politics at that event is just about the lowest one can get!

He is one prize specimen.

mitch

Could these "ministers" have been bribed with a lifetime in the lords? if they stay in the commons they will be unemployed or in opposition for the rest of their career.
The lords would give them a seat at the trough for life.

George Laird

Dear All

'Bought and sold for English Gold'.

In this case instead of Gold we have promises not worth the paper they are written on.

It seems the Dear Leader has become like a character out of a Bond movie.

Brownfinger!

I would like Dame Shirley Bassey to sing this on national tv.

Brownfinger

He's the man, the man with the Leper’s touch
A spider's touch
Such a cold finger
Beckons you to enter his web of sin
But don't go in

Lying words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a gullible girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Browninger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of Stone
This heart is cold

lying words he will pour in your ear
But his lies can't disguise what you fear
For a gullible girl knows when he's kissed her
It's the kiss of death ...

From Mister Brownfinger
Pretty girl, beware of his heart of Stone
This heart is cold
He loves only power
Only power
He loves power
He loves only power
Only power
He loves power

Finally; Brownfinger's Cabinet is The Most Undemocratic Government For Over A Century.

This fool thinks he is the Labour Party.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Nicholas

@ Max Kaye - ironic that a government of socialism, of supposed "equality" and "fairness" depends on so much "nobility" and elitism to prop up its power. The new feudalism, the new wicked robber barons oppressing and squeezing the peasantry. The evil Prince John, supersized, in power, scheming and conniving to hold onto it at any cost.

It is a microcosm of what happens in the corporate world, rich for satire, and one of the reasons for the current socio-economic debacle. Power and privilege before professionalism and purity of motive. Selfish ambition before service. Treachery before duty. The disgraced and banished creeping back to exercise their dubious power over our lives again.

In any other other country these reptilian miscreants might end up against a wall. They surely deserve it. Peasants' Revolt anyone?

Susan Hill

@Suki. Ruth Kelly is the one who looks like a Lesbian but as she has 4 children probably isnt.

donald fraser

Amongst my local tennis committee there is single member whose speech reveals a ghastly arrogance and cynicism. Over the years the person secured control over a wide range of powers that would normally be the responsibility of other post-holders. Their objective has been to augment their control, secure the perpetuity of their tenure and to mercilessly squash any new initiatives. They are continually poised to conduct a war of attrition against any new ideas by the using of these powers to make everyone else appear to lack good judgement. Meantime the tennis club suffers a general decline and no renewal is foreseeable provided this member continues to participate. However their accumulated powers make it appear only they can save it!

Like Gordon Brown their personality, so abrasive and ugly, is so obviously the problem. Yet they know how to capitalise on the genuine love of others for the game by inviting new members into our committee or “cabinet”. So the committee works around the tyrant, united in both fear and respect. However this respect is for the organisation itself and not for the individual who has managed to entwine their identity so fastidiously with the future of the club. The tennis club will continue its slow decline until this tyrant is ousted.

Unlike British democracy, the courts and clubhouse will remain and be used with renewed vigour once the tyrant is gone. However the UK is not a tennis club but a constituted organisation run on behalf of the monarchy and the people it grants freedom to. As the economic climate worsens before the next election, the faith in the parliamentary system threatens a constitutional crisis much bigger than the Labour party itself. The Conservative Party must not play both sides of the dispute and seek the obvious political advantage if Gordon Brown leads the Labour Party into the General Election. It will be increasingly tempting to do so, since it permits the Conservatives to maintain a set of “Emperor’s New Clothes” policies without ridicule. The problem is that such an election victory will not see the Conservatives inherit a set of tennis courts and clubhouse they can easily set about to renew with vigour. Instead they may become governors of a system where faith in parliamentary democracy and capitalism itself, lies in tatters.

Brown’s flagrant exposure of the parliamentary system to public mockery by his inaction over expenses is proof of the anger and vitriol only a tyrant has. Gordon Brown’s conceit that his type of personality could be elected by the common acclaim is however not the “denial” Cameron claims. By use of the psychologist’s phrase “denial” we are awarding a victim like status to the perpetrator. It is misguided to offer empathy to a personality who has no empathetic power because it is their very immunity which is their greatest power over people. They inherently know how to mercilessly exploit such immunity. Like the abrasive and ugly member of our tennis committee, he entwines his own self-esteem in the powers he has usurped and with Machiavellian aplomb like the bastard son of Gloucester, Edmund, in “King Lear” he is prepared to bring down the English Parliament with him.

Verity

Max Kay - The Nomenklatura ... the unelected with no democratic mandate who are not "governing" but "ruling".

HM surely understands this her Government is in complete, thuggish chaos. She might as well have Al Capone running it. I've been saying for the past two years that I would dearly love to see the troops out on the streets of Britain. Gordon Brown confined to house arrest, without access to phones, fax or email would add to the gaiety of the nation.

Bill Grant

Donald Fraser: why don't you just say 'her'?

David Belchamber

Can the people not petition the Queen for a dissolution of parliament (possibly better 'Dissolution', as parliament has recently shown itself to be dissolute without any help from others)?

A.N.Other

Just read the rubbish within this column.....
We need to re-educate these people not to believe what they see on the news, read in the newspapers, and from what I heard recently, heard on the radio.

They should look at it all, and research from other sources to see BIAS. They simply repeat the rubbish that is fed to them via the media.