Why there's so much talk about the Labour succession
James Forsyth 12:44pm
Both Rachel Sylvester and Steve Richards cast their expert eyes over the Labour succession in their columns today. The current emphasis on who will succeed him must be absolutely infuriating for Gordon Brown, nothing makes a leader look like a lame duck more than everyone speculating about who will be next.
The explanation for this emphasis on the coming leadership battle in the Westminster village is, as both Richards and Sylvester note, the belief that Gordon will only fight one election as PM. As Fraser first revealed back in August, the PM is sceptical about the chance of the public giving someone over 60 a mandate that would carry them beyond retirement age. (Fraser also made the point that, “Rule number one of being PM is: never talk about retirement. Or it might happen sooner than you think.” The Bronwites would have done well to heed this warning.)
Personally, I still can’t see Ed Balls as PM. As Stephen points out, he might be a very clever man but he lacks the presence that you need for the top job. If I had to pick an outside bet to follow Gordon, I’d put a fiver on Jon Cruddas. Remember that he came first in terms of first preferences for the deputy leadership job. He’s well out of this current government and the ongoing Brownite and Blairite feuds and it is hard to imagine anyone in Westminster less likely to be tainted by sleaze. If the Labour party feel like a blast of the old religion, then Cruddas might well be their choice.
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Comments
Richard Havers
December 11th, 2007 4:16pmEd Balls and PM in the same sentence? Even if the Tories and Lib Dems, oh and the SNP, packed it all in and we were a virtual one party state then Ed 'Go' Balls would still have no chance. His TV performances, if one can call them that, are more akin to an over enthusiastic member of the school debating society than those befitting a minister of the Crown. Having said that his communication skills are far less than most 6th form debaters. His detachment from real life smacks of everything that is wrong with politics.
Roger Thornhill
December 11th, 2007 4:49pmFor some reason I think Milburn is keeping his powder dry for leadership.
Oscar Miller
December 11th, 2007 7:21pmPrime Minister Balls? I don't think so. Agree with Roger Thornhill - Alan Milburn is a man to keep an eye on.
Richard Havers
December 11th, 2007 7:38pm'Go' Balls has just been on Channel 4 news. It was utterly bizarre. He talked in political riddles. He even announced how much education standards had gone up in the last ten years. So why all the changes if it's doing so well?
Nicholas Millman
December 11th, 2007 11:19pmYes, Balls performance on Channel 4 was illuminating. If there is anything remotely intelligent lurking behind that "caught in the headlights" face the incoherent jabber is hiding it well. The two token Lefties, one teacher and one parent, hastily press-ganged by Channel 4 into articulating positive comments made the whole feature laughable. The spin of team Brown is now worse than the spin of team Blair. Now I know what transparency in government means.
Frank Leader
December 14th, 2007 8:07amLame Duck, more like Donald Duck.