Hain on the outs
Matthew d'Ancona 10:22am
Peter Hain is toast. Gordon Brown’s defence of him in The Sun today is not so much luke warm as broken-boiler Arctic. On Friday, the PM’s spokesman said that Gordon had “full confidence” in the Work and Pensions Secretary – always a bad sign. This has now been down-graded even further to a statement of support which is entirely conditional, and implies that GB himself is not yet sure precisely how bad what Hain did actually was. “He took his eye off the ball,” says Brown, “and he has apologised. The matter must rest with the authorities, who will look at these matters.” If I was Hain, I would get my coat.
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Patrick Reehal
January 14th, 2008 10:48am Report this commentThe contrast between the sacrificial spokeswoman representing the Labour Party and the Shadow Chancellor just reinforced my view that there is much more to come out in the Peter Hain debacle. How cowardly of him not to come forward and defend his position. Is Andrew Marr on standby to announce his resignation to the Nation after the ringing endorsement by Gordon Brown.
James Burdett
January 14th, 2008 10:54am Report this commentSo now the Moral Compass is broken as Gordon is waiting to be told where the high ground is! I'm surely not alone in thinking that this Pilate-style 'let the commissions decide' attitude is indicative of craven weakness and indecision and shows why Gordon Brown is simply not up to the job?
ExPat
January 14th, 2008 10:58am Report this commentHain resign? I'll believe it when I see it. Brown should have the guts to sack him now.
Austin Barry
January 14th, 2008 1:30pm Report this commentBrown has missed an opportunity to (a) show us the steel in his moral compass;(b) negate the dithering tag; and (c) show some courage by making, from his perspective, a tough decision. He has copped-out on all three. This man shouldn't be running a corner store, never mind a country. He seems to be sliding from hapless to hopeless.
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