Is Brown starting to accept defeat?
Peter Hoskin 10:56am
The FT report on how Labour MPs aren't putting themselves forward to be parliamentary private secretaries - or "ministerial bag-carriers", as they're known around Westminster - says a lot about the party's confidence in Gordon Brown. After all, as one source tells the newspaper: "Why would you bother if you know that there is no chance of becoming a minister in the next government?"
But it's this snippet from the FT's analysis which could be more noteworthy:
"One Downing Street insider said the prime minister was more relaxed because he now realised that he was certain to lose the next election and was powerless to defy political gravity."
Sure, another insider goes on to deny the same in the following sentence. But this remains one of the few occasions - if not the only occasion, in a national publication - where it's been claimed Brown has come round to accepting defeat in the next election. If it's true, I imagine a fair few Tories will be worried about an upswing in "scorched earth" policy over the next few months.
Previous
Sebber
August 10th, 2009 11:12am Report this commentI can't imagine that, after the Brown terror, there's much earth left that remains unscorched.
Steve.W
August 10th, 2009 11:13am Report this commentBrown is - “powerless to defy political gravity."
But I thought that's what Nulabour was all about!
Jonathan Cook
August 10th, 2009 11:15am Report this commentThis sounds like it has been spun as part of Mandelson's "we are the underdog" narrative.
Brown won't give up. He hasn't back stabbed and bullied and smeared and spent trillions and hidden McCavity-like for this long, just to let Cameron win the vote of confidence from the public that he craves.
This is just the latest manipulation in Brown's life long attempt to be elected Prime Minister.
Malcolm
August 10th, 2009 11:34am Report this commentThis is just another spin exercise in the hope that we might somehow feel sorry for the terrible damage he has done to our country and give him another chance.
Give un McBust, it just isn't going to happen. Every man and his dog has rumbled the sham that is NuLiebour.
Hawkeye
August 10th, 2009 11:50am Report this commentI agree with Jonathan Cook - this is the "underdog" effect at work as they attempt to jolt their core vote into realising that unless they get out and vote then then gravy train will be shut off.
Of course the problem is that a large portion of the Labour core vote are a bunch of greedy, lazy, feckless individuals who find it to get off their backside in time to sign for their giro, never mind actually vote, so the policy is doomed to fail.
Michael
August 10th, 2009 12:15pm Report this commentWas that 'scorched' or 'scotched'?
Means the same really I suppose. Total destruction.
Peter
August 10th, 2009 12:22pm Report this commentSo it's political gravity', not the fact that he's been a catastrophic chancellor and worse Prime Minister.
Liz Brown
August 10th, 2009 12:38pm Report this commentIf gormless has accepted defat (which I doubt -neither being wrong nor failure not featuring in his DNA ) he should put us out of our misery and call a General Election now. However, I doubt that meddlesome will allow him that option until the Irish have voted on the Lisbon Con/treaty............
Slim Jim
August 10th, 2009 1:03pm Report this commentA 'fair few Tories' worried about an upswing in scorched earth policy? How about several million British citizens - we're worried too!
TrevorsDen
August 10th, 2009 1:10pm Report this commentIts just somebody's opinion.
Brown cannot possibly be relaxed about another party holding the levers to power and unearthing the secrets of 12 years mismanagement.
Kalvis Jansons
August 10th, 2009 3:07pm Report this commentI would hope so given this:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/
Chuck Unsworth
August 10th, 2009 4:36pm Report this commentDunno about 'starting to accept' but he's certainly staring in the face. Please God let it be soon.
logdon
August 10th, 2009 5:07pm Report this commentPeter
August 10th, 2009 12:22pm
So it's political gravity'
For one moment I read this as 'political gravy'. Freudian slip I guess.
Both brown, lumpy, thin skinned and slippery.
And best taken with a pinch of salt
Charles
August 10th, 2009 6:14pm Report this commentThe problem with the underdog strategy is that Mandelson misses the point.
The underdog is not the person who is coming second. It's the David, the giant-killer, taking on the Establishment with the odds against them. The government is not, and by definition cannot be, the underdog
Charles
August 10th, 2009 6:39pm Report this commentThe problem with the underdog strategy is that Mandelson misses the point.
The underdog is not the person who is coming second. It's the David, the giant-killer, taking on the Establishment with the odds against them. The government is not, and by definition cannot be, the underdog
logdon
August 11th, 2009 12:40pm Report this commentSnatching defeat from the strange and habitually obsessive jaw motions of victory?
Andy
August 11th, 2009 12:45pm Report this commentI don't see it in Brown's nature to admit defeat (or to permit himself to believe he might possibly be wrong about anything). Anybody who can spend 10 years glowering while scheming and manipulating to get the top job is not going to give up in a hurry. The earth, already sere, is about to get another dose of flame thrower - just in case the polls are right.
PauL
August 11th, 2009 11:54pm Report this commentNonsense! He would throw it in now if he thought he was going to lose his office
Back to top