Last man standing

seb

That Gordon Brown is still the prime minister is to a large degree due to the jerry-mandered constituency boundaries of the UK. Despite having no money and a hapless leader, Labour knows that, even with Kirkcaldy's Leading Autist at the helm, they can pull off a reasonable "second best" result should Cameron's lead be "only" eight or ten percent ahead come the day after the election. It's just possible that if the Tories' lead drops a bit below ten percent, Brown might be able to call the result a draw. And he's so devoid of moral sense and honesty that, in his mind, this is how he would perceive such an outcome - a "clarion call" from the public for him to remain in some way in government.

AnnaK

Most people now pity Brown and they wont vote for a person they pity to to be PM.
A point made by Andrew Rawnsley today in The Observer. He is right.

Nicholas

" . . . Brown, who is now more pitied than loathed . . . "

And the scientific basis for that conclusion is . . . ?

In2minds

The Tory toffs line failed at Crewe and Nantwich. Unless Nulabour are slow learners they won't use it again, will they?

Dennis Churchill

No, Labour has lost England, it will be decimated.
It is not only the economy but the general state of the nation which the political class seem only vaguely aware of.
Anyone see the story about the murderess who escaped while on a shopping trip? Two years into her sentence. Described as black and BETWEEN 5’3” and 5’8” tall! Was it against her human rights to measure her height? What exactly was a woman imprisoned for murder doing on a shopping trip?
Tomorrow there will be another story of maladministration and irrationality by some government agency.

Nick

"After the Norwich North by-election, a Tory landslide seemed a foregone conclusion. Now the electoral picture is opaque."

I'm really not sure what you are basing this view on. After a difficult couple of weeks for the Tories because of the Lisbon Treaty they are still 14% ahead of Labour in both opinion polls published this weekend. Jackie Ashley reported in the Guardian last week that private polls done by the Labour Party showed a collapse to a rump of 120 seats.

Bear in mind as well that a lot of high profile Labour MPs are resigning, the party is bankrupt and has lost most of its activist base in local councils.

Gordon Brown and the Labour Party seem to be well aware of all this which is why we have seen them trying to pose as a beleagured opposition and consolidating their tribal core vote to ensure that they aren't irreparably destroyed at the General Election.

It's all very well not being triumphalist or considering the election is in the bag for the Tories but the evidence certainly currently doesn't suggest that the outcome of that election is "opaque".

Boudicca

I take issue with this statement "Why then does Brown, who is now more pitied than loathed, bother?"

I suggest you read the comments on Andrew Rawnsley's article in today's Observer and I think you will see that Brown is loathed far, far more than he is pitied. Earlier articles on The Guardian/Observer about various members of the Labour cabinet (esp. Lord Putrid and Ed Balls) result in similar loathing. It is that loathing which will lose him and Labour the election.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/15/gordon-brown-sun-andrew-rawnsley

Frank P

Dennis Churchill

I think that they mentioned that she weighs 25 stone, so it would depend on what stage of the wobble she was at when they took her height no doubt.

logdon

It'll be a landslide. And maybe the BNP will push the Libs to fourth place.

As for Brown? Pathetic. Too little and too late. He's not fooling anyone. And no one feels sorry for him.

Incompetent. Curmudgeonly. Arrogant. Dishonest. He thought he was born to the role. It was his birthright only delayed by Blair's glossy popularity. Now it’s going tits up and this is his contrition?

This Scottish marxist has wrought havoc upon Britain, ruining us culturally, racially and financially. He stuffed the public services with placemen purely for electoral gain. He stuffed the country with immigrants, ditto. And now he’s stuffed us for years to come with his financial ineptitude.

He has become a global laughing stock, derided by Sarkozy and Merkel and snubbed by Obama.

Only now is it dawning on him what his true legacy will be. What the history books will record. That’s what’s hurting him the most.

No one can now undo the damage to this country the disfigurement Neather has revealled. What we can do is ensure that the tide of incomers stops now and that it never happens again.

Hopefully, Cameron with feet under table, with free rein and with Griffin breathing down his neck will eventually get it.

If not could the once totally unthinkable occur? A BNP/Tory hung parliament?

Remember, not too long ago there was a time when the Liberals were the joint alternatives of rule. Now they’ve blanded themselves into oblivion and are completely at odds with the electorate. Meanwhile following the infamous QT debacle the BNP get a 22% approval rating.

We live in strange times. As they say, count nothing in. And count nothing out.

logdon

This is what will finish him. From a link in Bright's latest posting. Do you guys talk to each other?

Whitehall in turmoil over Muslim advisers
By Martin Bright, November 12, 2009

An ideological battle has broken out in Whitehall over the advice given to ministers on Islamic radicalism.

A series of recent changes of personnel and promotions at key departments has led to concerns that the government is moving away from a policy of dialogue with moderates towards a policy of engagement with more radical groups.

The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) confirmed that Azhar Ali, one of Hazel Blears’s advisers and an influential voice for dialogue with moderate “Sufi” Muslims, was leaving the department at the end of November. The department has advertised for two new advisers. A second DCLG adviser, Mohammed Abdul Aziz, has close links to the Muslim Council of Britain and is hotly tipped to be re-appointed.

At the same time, the DCLG, which has responsibility for community cohesion, confirmed that Communities Secretary John Denham was talking to the former secretary-general of the MCB, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, about bringing the organisation in from the cold.

The MCB fell out of favour under Mr Denham’s predecessors at the Department of Communities and Local Government, Ruth Kelly and Hazel Blears, who promoted organisations from the moderate “Sufi” tradition of Islam. As he explained in an interview with the JC in October, he believes the MCB should have a voice in government. The organisation has been barred from Whitehall since March, when its deputy secretary-general, Daud Abdullah, signed the Istanbul declaration, pledging support for Hamas and supporting attacks on British shipping.

A DCLG spokeswoman said: “John Denham has met Iqbal Sacranie and many other members of Muslim communities. Regarding the Muslim Council of Britain, John Denham has made it clear that the MCB represents a number of Muslim voices with which any government would wish to engage; however, as issues raised earlier this year have not yet been resolved, relations with the MCB remain suspended.”

The department denied that funding has been withdrawn from the Sufi Muslim Council, which represents moderate mosques across the country. However, its present grant runs out in March 2010 and the organisation has been told that it is unlikely to be renewed.

In recent years, Muslim advisers have been employed at the Home Office, the Foreign Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government to ensure that ministers are kept informed of grassroots responses to government foreign and domestic policy. This has been seen as a priority since the events of July 2005.

The JC last week reported the appointment of Islamist Asim Hafeez to the post of head of intervention at the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism in the Home Office.

The MCB’s spokesman Inayat Bunglawala responded to the JC by asking this newspaper to disclose its source: “I don’t suppose you want to share with me the name of the ‘Muslim adviser’ who sh**ed on Asim Hafeez?” he wrote in a colourfully-worded message on the social networking site Facebook. “I thought it was a disgraceful piece and quite McCarthyite. Does it not trouble your conscience? ”

Meanwhile, a controversial Foreign and Commonwelath Office adviser who recommended a visa for the radical Palestinian cleric Yusuf al–Qaradawi, has been promoted and given a key role across government working on the anti-extremist Prevent strategy.

Mockbul Ali has become “Head of Prevent, Counter Ideology” at the FCO but also retains his job as Islamic adviser to the Foreign Secretary.

Mr Ali was exposed after a series of leaks, which showed that he believed Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood to be a moderate organisation. He also recommended a visa for the Bangladeshi politician Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, who described Hindus as excrement. He described Sheikh al-Qaradawi, who has spoken in favour of suicide bombing and the execution of homosexuals, as “a highly respected Islamic scholar”. Mr Ali is an increasingly influential figure across government, although some believe he has moderated his views in recent years.

strapworld

Interesting news that Nick Griffin is going to stand in Barking for the BNP at the General Election!

Margaret Hodge, that despicable tyrant will, hopefully be well and truly beaten now! Especially when the BNP can tell the people what the Labour Party have been doing with mass immigration (AND the evidence is certainly evident on the Streets of Barking!) plus the information supplied by Martin Bright, explained above by Logdon!!

I do hope Cameron has to face questions from the people via the BNP within Parliament. Interesting times indeed.

Nicholas

logdon - do you happen to know if the Saudi government pursue a policy of dialogue with the Christian Council of Saudi Arabia or the Pakistan government with the Christian Council of Pakistan?

What's that? They don't exist?

Ben

"..Brown, who is now more pitied than loathed.." I think this needs a bit of proof. I certainly loathe him more than I pity him, perhaps you should have a Speccie opinion poll on this one David, to clear the air?

Bunnykins

Seb: "That Gordon Brown is still the prime minister is to a large degree due to the jerry-mandered constituency boundaries of the UK." I'd say he's still PM due to the British people themselves. All huff and puff and full of moral indignation - but when push comes to shove, wet like the weather. The fact that Brown can be 'more pitied than despised' says it all really. And after Brown......? Show us the backbone!

Watt Tyler

I don't pity Brown at all.

I don't think he is up to the job of PM. I think that he connived his way to that position - in two ways, 1. by his part in the collective confidence trick performed by Labour on the people of the UK, 2. by black political arts (with direct effects for the electorate) when in government.

I think that everything that he is seen to do in public is for the purpose of extending his hold on power. His decision making is not about what is good of the country, but about what is good for Gordon Brown. I loathe this arrogance. I also loathe the way he claims ownership of the characteristics that in truth he does not posses - honour, morality, and courage.

Everone in the last week who wrote on a blog "I don't like Gordon Brown, but..." in regards to the Highly Inappropriate Handscrawled Letter were still being duped, and demonstrating just how well Labour have trained us to expect very little.

If you are feeling pity, then you are still being conned.

Andy

"the DCLG, which has responsibility for community cohesion" Am I the only one who thinks we wouldn't need a quango with responsibility for community cohesion if Labour hadn't stuffed the country with so many people who have a culture incompatible with the one that was already here?

Lola

Brown isn't pitied. He's pitiful.

logdon

Nicholas
November 15th, 2009 4:44pm

Exactly. Why we (or rather our Gov.) listen to these people is a lesson itself into the machinations of Labour.

Is there a deal? Toe the line and we hold our dogs of war on a leash?

John Ware's Panorama exposed the extent of Islamist supremacy thinking within the MCB and it's affiliates yet here they are still.

Malignant plotters all, with one ultimate goal. One facet out of a multitude who would just love to make grovelling dhimmis out of us all.

That's the upshot.

Michael Booth

Brown will end up as a Peer of the Realm, a knight of the Garter, will be paid millions for his memoirs and will head some Quango or International Organisation. He will acquire the patina of the elder stateman as years go by and will be much sought after by the media when they want to do documentaries on the Great Recession. Does it stink? Does the Pope wear red socks?

PAUL GILBOY

I visited the Guardian website as recommended by a commentator and realised you could discern a greater morality by visiting a porn website.

Firstly Mr Rawnsley confuses the actions of decent people being motivated by pity when defending Mr Brown from the disgraceful attacks from the Sun. It was not pity, but common decency that that prompted a defence. Clearly Mr Rawnsley is far too superior to have any acquaintance with this concept as he calls for Mr Brown’s head.

Whilst M/s Toynbee suggests that the next leader of the labour party should withdraw from Afghanistan, even if this is Wrong, so they can take advantage of any disillusion that the public maybe feeling as a result of Labour not explaining the mission properly! For the sake of the Country, no less, she argues. I’ll not point out the contradictions in this statement, as they are self-evident.

Finally Ed Miliband calls David Cameron’s policy announcements concerning tackling poverty as a restatement of Thatcherism. His language and arguments are grounded in 20C ideology, blithely unaware that this is the 21Century.
Mr Cameron’s proposals can find a genus in Christian socialism a strain of thought this metropolitan Marxist knows nothing about. As he and his ilk despise Christianity, despise history and, will shortly despise government

strapworld

Michael Booth is right. I remember when Denis Healey was despised (when Chancellor) but he is cheerful charlie chester nowadays! Even Kinnnokio is revered (by the media!) as a sage. Sage and onion to me.

Holly ......

So Brown is STILL the Prime Minister.
You say in your piece that he is a'fighter'not a'quiter'. He is in fact neither. He is a coward.
You would have us believe he is a good PM.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, he is complete rubbish!
This man has single handedly wrecked this country. First as an ignorant,inept,useless chancellor, who thought he was 'getting one up' on the Tories. Now as PM he is still childishly 'point scoring' against the Tories.Distroying Britain in the process, but what the heck, we hate the Tories so it's okay.
Always has to act like the 'wise Guy'.
ANY stooge Labour wheel out,portray Gordon as something he is NOT, NEVER has been and NEVER will be....a good PM.
You keep putting out this silly stuff
Why not support your supporters?
Why not hold Brown's and Labour's feet to the fire for the mess they have made to the country....not for you journo's or the politicians...but the families, their children, the young unemployed, the young murderers, the dumbed down schools and cardboard police.
Labour go on and on about being the party for the poor, about being the party of the many not just the few.What a bloody joke, a sick one at that...they didn't mention people would be poor because of their stupidity,lack of morals,financial ability or honesty.
Not one thing Brown has done to get Britain(best placed Britain at that)through this mess,of his making? Put all the 'measures' he has taken together and by golly,they should have called him Jane.
You have so much praise for Brown please could you tell me why the MSM is so against public opinion?
I would like to know why?
There MUST be a reason.
The truth for a change would be nice.
What 'strings' do Labour luvies pull behind the scenes?
Whatever Labour propose it is a FANTASTIC idea...even when the public know imediately it is crap, yet when the Conservatives come out with a sensible, workable idea the MSM jump on it and rip it to shreds?
The public KNOW it is a good idea and is workable? You can not undo our thoughts.
If we think Labour are rubbish and the Conservatives are better, no amount of Brownism will change our minds.
We had to endure the cabbage head Myers on Sky today telling us..WITH A STRAIGHT FACE..that if the Tories were in charge they would have done serious damage to the economy...FFS....where has the idiot been for the past year? Geesh!!you just have to laugh at the stark staring madness of their collective delusions.
These jerks are running the country!
They have the media stitched up and think they are getting away with it because
a small percentage of thirty odd percent in Glasgow voted for their financial security.
We do not like being manipulated by the media and when Brown is at last BOOTED OUT taking the wimpering Labour party with him..you Journalists have got some bridges to build WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.
Please do not laud Brown, he is an out and out shite. If he had any morals,integrity,
scruples,shame,regrets,love for the party,
the country or the British people he would resign or call the election NOW.And you lot would be baying for his blood.
Not insulting us with your stupid stories!

Dirty Euro

The trolls here are going mad they talk of a love of Nick Griffin and the BNP It is sick, they have been driven mad. I fear what would happen if such oafs get power over any major party. I do not want to be stuck in concentration camp held by some skinhead scum with rape fetishes.

Peter From Maidstone

Dirty Euri, I can only imagine that you are the troll here, as elsewhere on the site. I can find none of the commentators here speaking of loving NG or the BNP, but the issues they raise are clearly important, even the government now admits as much.

You seem content to imagine a future in which you will be placed in dhimmitude. I am not at all sure it will be any more pleasant than being in a concentration camp. Just as the Christian communities of Islamic countries how much freedom they experience!

But burying our heads in the sand is obviously one response to our present situation, and you are still free to choose it.

General Zod

""After the Norwich North by-election, a Tory landslide seemed a foregone conclusion. Now the electoral picture is opaque."

I'm really not sure what you are basing this view on. After a difficult couple of weeks for the Tories because of the Lisbon Treaty they are still 14% ahead of Labour in both opinion polls published this weekend. Jackie Ashley reported in the Guardian last week that private polls done by the Labour Party showed a collapse to a rump of 120 seats."

I agree with you, Nick. David appears to have fallen for Labour propaganda. The last three months' polls show a consistent double figure Tory lead, with only one showing a dip to 9%.

Naomi Muse

I don't know whether Brown is more pitied than loathed. I just know that his track record is that he cannot be trusted and does not tell the truth in his public life.

I am told, anecdotally, that he is a charming, honorable and witty chap when in private but he certainly does not carry this over into his paid job.

His lack of respect for all of the electorate is appalling.

Dirty Euro

Muslims make up less than 4 % of out population. This is an utterly hysterical reaction.
I do not bury my head in the sand. You have a straw man argument as always.

Pramston

The 'calamity' that befell John Major was due to the inbuilt bias of the electoral system in this country. Small Labour majorities in terms of percentages translate into landslides whereas small percentages for the Tories are wafer thin majorities. It was intersting that the Tories were dismissed as 'irrelvant' after the 2005 election despite taking considerably more votes in England than the Labour party. Anyone considering UKIP at a General election should consider this, vote UKIP - get another 5 years of Brown, and if it's not already too late that really will be the end game for what's left of this country.

Draft Crunt

Brown is not a fighter, he's a bully. If he can't get what he wants by bullying, he runs.