The Cabinet's lack of love for Brown is a gift to the Tories

Austin Barry

The Tories may be better advised to follow Mao's dictum:

"The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue”

Better, perhaps, than the current poised inertia. The dangerous buffoon Brown and his disaffected chums are there for the taking.

Sir Graphus

The trouble for Labour is that their selling point is "you know what you're getting with us; we have the experience; you don't know what you're getting with them".

This trouble will run and run; even if Brown were to win the election (and it really isn't inconceivable that Labour could be the largest party, the Tories are not off to the finest of starts this year); there will be more plotting and coup attempts. Can a man in the polling booth considering putting his X in the Labour box be sure of what he's going to get? Can he imagine Brown will serve 5 years? A couple of years and then what?

If Dave can't capitalise on this, then he really doesn't deserve to be PM.

Silent Hunter

One could almost feel sorry for the Labour Party; having to 'promote' Gordon Brown as their Leader going into the General Election.

I say "almost" . . . but not enough to really care less.

They deserve all that they are going to get . . . and the sense of anger against Labour is palpable amongst the electorate, as the dwindling band of Labour foot-soldiers having to 'sell' Labour door to door, will shortly find out.

Fergus Pickering

I think you can take these military metaphors too far. Much as I would like it to be true, Cameron can't actually kill Brown.

Boudicca

I'd put money on Brown being taken suddenly ill and therefore unable to participate in the BBC Leaders' Debate. The de facto Deputy PM, Lord Putrid, will "bravely step into the breach" at the last moment.

KT everytime

A good quote from my hero made as Wellington formed up the allied armies at Waterloo. BUT, much as it pains me, it turned out that the Duke wasn't making mistakes after all - revealed as the battle panned out. Mind you he did have the Prussians to thank for their swift & decisive intervention at the death. Who would do the same for Brown?

On another topic don't you think Brown looks daily more and more like one of those old Soviet Bloc types that used to line the Kremlin every May Day?

TGF UKIP

Superb, Austin Barry, but the Tory problem would be - who does the attacking.

Dave's nice guy, favourite son in law image is apparently to be preserved at all costs, nobody takes a blind bit of notice of Osborne, Hague hovers between semi and completely detached and the rest of them are pretty shit media performers.

Labour are quite safe from this lot.

Beer Moth

University scholarships for the children of fallen soldiers?

Would all Universities be made to comply with this? Even UCL?

Lee Jakeman

Saw this comment by a "Pat Harris" over on COSG website:

"Under Tory plans, should they be elected, the children of British servicemen or women, killed in action, will get free university education.

So, in Scotland you only have to be born in that place.

In England you have to be killed in a foreign country."

oldtimer

We should enjoy the ferrets in a sack spectacle of the cabinet getting on with the job while we may. Events could get really nasty in a few weeks. No 10 should be on brown trouser alert if the imminent end of quantitative easing coincides with a gilts buyers strike.

Cogito Ergosum

There are other children who deserve university scholarships: e.g. bright children from non-wealthy families who have been denied a grammar school education, even under Comrade Gove.

Austin Barry

KT Everytime at 8:17 pm

"On another topic don't you think Brown looks daily more and more like one of those old Soviet Bloc types that used to line the Kremlin every May Day?"

He looks more like the dead, embalmed ones.

Noa Zrk

The Conservative promise of university scholarships to the children of fallen soldiers, on first sight, generous and considerate, appears upon further consideration to be as much about spin and headlines as it is a tribute to and surety for those who have given their lives in their country's service.
The intent may be laudable, its execution is not.
A government sponsored trust to assist the children of killed or incapacitated servicemen and women to obtain a university place or other career fulfillment would have conveyed a more dignified message,founded on the merit of the individual and the justice of the help received.
As it is the promise and the proposed manner of its implementation, without the most careful consideration, appears more like the politics of the stump; having the bizarre and unfortunate effect of demeaning the offeror and belittling the talents and abilities of the recipient, because it appears to be made, New Labour like, for the self interest and not a genuine pubic benefit.

Nicholas

Once again the creepy Gordon Brown Cult (aka BBC) began the news this morning with the two words I hate: "Gordon Brown".

Apparently, following the coup that never was, The Monster is going to address the Labour Party about the election (the date of which he has not yet announced) and tell them that he can and will win it.

Somehow I just cannot imagine this foul creature ever leaving office. I think Britain now has its Mugabe.

Rob P

Interestingly I saw elsewhere that the lovely Sarah has cleared her diary to support her loving husband in the 4-week run-up to the election. This supposes that the election date is now set, just the small matter of telling us, the voters. Has anyone got access to this lady's diary?

Chuck Unsworth

Of course 'love' can be expresed in so many ways. I note the repulsive Liam Byrne rushing to attack the content of Watt's book on the basis that he 'has a book to sell'. Thus all those writing books are liars and the contents entirely discredited. What does he say of Brown's book on 'Courage'?

Dorothy Wilson

Sir Graphus: It wouldn't be a couple of years. I'd give it a couple of months.

Dorothy Wilson

Another point: How on earth would Brown form a Cabinet if Labour, by some fluke, won or was the largest party after the election? All, except perhaps Balls, of the potential appointees hate his guts.

Chuck Unsworth

@ Dorothy Wilson

They may hate Brown's guts - but not to the point of refusing power, largesse, and the trappings of Ministry. Have we not already seen the vast self-interest of these animals? No, if it were to happen then we can certainly expect to see a certain level of negotiation, but no refusals. Equally if it were to happen I have already made arrangements to move to another country. The prospect of five years more of this astounding corruption and incompetence is too much to bear.

John Richardson

'Dorothy Wilson'

Cabinet power ?
Do keep up Dorothy !
'Lisbon' hands over our ECONOMIC policy, never mind 'immigration', to the EU.
Already 70-90% of our Laws originate in Brussels (I read different figures, according to UKIP the Government refuses to give an exact figure).
After Lisbon, the UK does not rule itself.
Hence the treacherous TV charade of 'politics'.
Hence the curious (to Anglo-Saxons) business of an election campaign that avoids any issue truly important to the people of 'Great Britain'.
Hence the promotion of 'the great big Green lie' as a cloak for supranational policies (such as moving industry out of the country).
You can have fun thinking of your own examples of what it means to be ruled from abroad...
'Cabinet power' can only exist in a self- governing country or State.
'Cabinet Office' is a stepping stone to Europe. How many of the current gang do you think will soon re-appear in Brussels ?
After all they did hand over the country.
See how the 'President' was rewarded for her treachery ?
Regards....comrade.

Any Colour but Brown

The sad fact is that the cabinet have shown what a load of invertebrate eunuchs they are by, firstly, having let Brown take over as PM and, secondly, not kicking him out after that.

No-one raised any objection when the unelected Lord Mandible was brought in.

In fact, the only Balls that Labour have is Mister Ed.

Peter From Maidstone

Noa Zrk, I am not sure what your gripe is with the idea that the children of those who have lost a parent in the Armed Forces in conflict should receive additional funding? It seemed and seems a positive, and popular suggestion and one I entirely approve of. What am I missing that makes it such an awful idea in your eyes?

JONNY

The answer Dorothy Wilson would be:
Balls with Everything.

Noa Zrk

Peter from Maidstone.
I've had a closer look at the detail since my previous post and am more comfortable with the proposal.
Two buts though, (aside from a personal distaste at the obvious political point scoring):
It only covers children of forces personnel KIA, arguments will soon arise as to why the children of the severely injured or permanently traumatised are excluded.
Should a grant or financial help be limited to University costs and fees?

Frank Leader

Helpful advice to one Gordon Brown. The Best Prime Minister since Winston Churchill. To help his Sunny Nature and his Razor Sharp wit to be at their best. Would it help if the Opposition Questions were made available to him one or two days before. Then when asked them again at Prime Minister’s Question Time. Apart from a near spontaneous answer, the answer could perhaps bear some relevance to the actual question. At times it appears that he thinks ‘Prime Minister’s Question Time’ means that he is required to question the Opposition. Another helpful suggestion is that the Question’s could be asked on one day. He could then answer them the following day. Another slightly irritating habit he has, he keeps telling the House of Commons what the Oppositions Policy and Programme is. This is quite rich coming from a man tries to ‘think on his feet’; unfortunately this is not one of his many gifts. I suppose he must have some, though I must admit that none come readily to mind. Still no one is perfect, not even G Brown.