Don't worry Darling
James Forsyth 11:09am
David Cameron is calling for his head, the City has lost confidence and the bookies are offering 5/2 that he will be gone from the Treasury by the end of the year. Yet, I suspect that Alistair Darling has more job security than most.
Darling was a temporary appointment; no one believes that Brown will keep him in post after the next election which explains why some young Brownites were so keen on an early election. But to move Darling before polling day would be a huge risk. First of all, it would call into question Brown’s judgement in appointing him in the first place. Second, it would add considerably to the feeling that this is a government on its last legs. Finally, there is no guarantee that Darling would go quietly.
For the Prime Minister sacking Darling would—in the Yes Minister sense of the word—be the courageous thing to do. It is hard to see Brown being this reckless.
Previous
Comments
Oscar Miller
February 19th, 2008 11:39amI tend to think this is a win-win for the conservatives. If Darling is sacked the embarrassment for Brown will be huge. But keeping him on as a lame duck Chancellor is probably worse. Even if the plan is to get rid of him after the election - Brown can hardly run a campaign on that platform! I suspect Darling is a decent man but he really is in the wrong job and it's Brown's fragile ego that put him there.
mike
February 19th, 2008 11:43am"Darling was a temporary appointment; no one believes that Brown will keep him in post after the next election" Really ? I do however agree, Gordon will want a reshuffle for his next five years in charge.
richard j
February 19th, 2008 12:06pmIt does not matter - deck chairs on the Titanic
sturgess
February 19th, 2008 12:26pmOscar Miller "I tend to think this is a win-win for the conservatives" Don't be daft Oscar, this chinless wonder of an opposition are not going to win anything. A few soundbites here, a daily new policy there, we're sick of them already. Whenever we turn on our telly that bloody Cameron is smiling at me, he gets more like Blair than Blair. The last thing we want is another Blair, for gods sake will no one rid me .....
John Sheppard
February 19th, 2008 12:31pmMike , you really are deluded if you believe Mc Bean is going to win the next election, he will be lucky to survive the next two ,Northern Rock is going to bury him. The word in the house is that there are moves to ditch him before it's too late
Oscar Miller
February 19th, 2008 1:00pmSturgess - I've got bad news for your blood pressure - Cameron will soon be in power. Better start the anger management classes now.
Caroline
February 19th, 2008 1:28pmsturgess is right when he says 'we're sick of them already'. Sick and bored of them more like. It seems that each time Cameron appears on the television news he's demanding someone or other be sacked, or being opportunist. The latest puff is about badgers (being ripped to shreds on Ian Dale) and spouting unchecked allegations pinched from a now apologetic Nick Robinson. What a yawn. Are you the only one not changing channels when that face appears Oscar?
Fergus Pickering
February 19th, 2008 1:42pmAre mike, sturgess and caroline all the same person or are there actually THREE people who think like that. Extraordinary.
Max Kaye
February 19th, 2008 1:48pmmike and Caroline: your continuous ardent and energetic efforts on behalf of your cause- and in spite of reality - may be applauded. Your judgement, however, cannot.
Caroline
February 19th, 2008 2:56pmFergus and Max - Who am I to disagree with those excellent down to earth and astute ConservativeHome commentators. Those who actually do the work, knock on doors, pound those pavements, scrutinise Hansard, have the Parliament Channel on as background, and don't feel obliged to be travelling all over the internet making excuses for Cameron (and Osbornes) gaffes, and love bombing every political forum - eh Oscar? John Sheppard...'the word in the house'...that would be - your house?
David Lindsay
February 19th, 2008 3:23pm"Cameron will soon be in power"? Where? Yesterday saw the demand for a fire sale of one of this country's largest mortgage lenders from a man with no mortgage on any of his three houses, and from his sidekick who presumably divides his time among the several properties that he will inherit with a baronetcy.
Oscar Miller
February 19th, 2008 5:19pmCaroline and David Lindsay: Resorting to ad hominem abuse again? You represent exactly what I hate about what has happened to the Labour party. Bullies devoid of ideas, principles or tolerance.
Nicholas
February 19th, 2008 5:21pmFergus, "mike" and "sturgess" are New Labour trolls trying to exhume and re-animate the stinking corpse of Trot class war against the Conservative front bench. Tiresome. Caroline, however, is a regular lefty lass (?) who provides some counterpoint here - even if it is unbalanced sometimes and in denial most times.
Fergus Pickering
February 19th, 2008 6:48pmCaroline, I wouldn't dream of knocking on doors. Forty years ago I agreed to canvass for my friend Iain McLean in Oxford (Labour). I did one door then I thought bugger this and went home.
Max Kaye
February 19th, 2008 9:34pmCaroline, I trust very few politicians. Those politicians who presume to act in my best interests, I trust least. Hence my antipathy to any form of socialism or collectivism - even of the corrupted Nu-Labour (socialist-lite) variety. Unlike keen Labour supporters I don't let bias affect my critical faculties. When the Tories need criticising (as over the absolutely ridiculous notion of punishing non-doms), I'm more than happy to pile in. How any rational person could say that the Brown premiership has been anything less than calamitous in every respect beats me.