Brown dithers over BA

tb

Sure this is not some labour PR trick with Brown coming in to save the day near the end? Then he can appear strong on unions and also pretend that unite aren't buying the election.

Rhoda Klapp

Wasn't the original semi-house-trained polecat a union leader in opposition to BA, or probably BOAC in those days?

AndyinBrum

Hardly a secret weapon

BMC

"Betting men would get short odds on BA collapsing"

Really? Share price doesn't seem to thinkso...

Nicholas

Just what exactly does the ambiguous answer "I'll keep going because I want a majority" in response to the specific question "Will you resign if you don't get a majority" mean? Does it mean he will ignore the results of an election and keep holding elections until he gets the result he wants? Or does it mean he will manipulate the results, Mugabe-style?

I think we should be told.

1997-2001 = 4 years
2001 - 2005 = 4 years
2005 - 2010 = 5 years

Anyone get the feeling Brown is reluctant to have to face the electorate? He's certainly dragging it out for someone with no mandate to govern us.

Vulture

The Tories have been far too mute about poiinting out that Unite, the Union which is bringing misery to air travellers, is the same organisation that is bringing misery to the entire country by funding Liebour's election campaign. And that its nastiest functionary, Charlie Whelan, doubles as Bruin's spin doctor in chief.

Bert

This funding of Labour by Unite (with tax payers money)must inhibit what Brown can do despite his public utterings.
Its virtually blackmail.

Right On

All seems very calculated to me (perhaps I really am overly cynical). Wouldn't be surprised in the least if this is a planned move by both sides designed to show that Labour aren't at the mercy of the unions.

Tim Carpenter LPUK

"Brown dithers over [insert anything here]"

That is like saying a fish swims in water.

Moriarty

Has he unleashed the forces of Hell upon himself?

radgie gadgie

As an interested outsider, I'm puzzled why dave isnt making more of the Unite/labour tie in. If, at every opportunity labour drones are instructed to mention Ashcroft (and how stupid was dave in not lancing that boil earlier) why dont the tory equivalents drive home the mantra 'unite/labour unite/labour unite/labour'? Its simple stuff like this that wins builds an election impetus.

toco

The whole BA thing is a cynical stage managed political event between Unite and Labour.Don't forget Charlie Whelan one of the 'Smeargate'addressees is a long term friend of the hapless Brown and also political director of Unite.What an arrogant and disgraceful stitch-up.

Norman Dee

We now know that brown spoke to Tony Woodley over the weekend, did he also speak to Willy Walsh, as you may think a non partisan PM might. I very much doubt it, more likely discussing the phoney outcome later this week.

wrinkled weasel

How long before the workers in a loss-making company, that is a throwback to the days of cash-engorged publicly owned businesses, starts to understand where this is going? Despite,a media campaign to the contrary, employees with Easy Jet and Ryanair are reasonably happy with their terms and conditions, but vitally, they are secure because these firms make a profit. Time, I think, that they woke up and smelled their disgusting coffee.

Chris lancashire

I don't subscribe to BA being in immediate danger of collapse if, as he says, Willie Walsh is sitting on £2bn cas reserves. However, BA's long term survival is clearly at risk.
Neither do I subscribe to the Labour/Unite plot theory. It is quite clear that Unite is lead by brain-dead union officials who have their own axes to grind and the cabin staff are equally brain dead in voting for their own demise in an unwinnable dispute.

Much as I have used and liked BA in the past the cabin staff deserve everything that coming to them. It is just a great shame that pilots and some ground staff who have already accepted change will also suffer.

stepney

Bang on the money Weasel.

I'm pretty sure that you can't find a law anywhere that says you have to have a national airline. Let UNITE do it's worst. Pour enourager les autres...

I, for one disgruntled regular traveller, wouldn't loose any tears if it went to the wall.

General Zod

I couldn't agree more, Vulture.

What is wrong with the Tories? They've just suffered three weeks of having Brown and the BBC mention Ashcroft at every conceivable (and inconceivable) opportunity. Here is their opportunity. They just need to explain clearly and concisely to the public that:

Labour is funded by the unions;

a large proportion of Labour candidates at the GE will be union-sponsored;

Unite's political head, Charlie Whelan is Brown's adviser;

Unite gets taxpayer money through dubious schemes.

Irene

As a couple of other posters have suggested it could all be a devious plan by Brown/Whelan, and I did think Lord A came on a bit strong, but I can't see BA backing down so it would mean Unite having egg on their face and I can't really see that happening.
The Tories are really pushing this so it could be a devious plan to make them look a bit ?
It has meant that the BBC and SKY are actually mentioning the Unite/Labour connection. which is something I suppose.

Andrew Zalotocky

Whelan probably assumes that Unite can push BA to the brink without any real risk because the government would be forced to bail it out rather than let it collapse. They couldn't afford to let an iconic British company fail just before a general election because it would be such a potent symbol of Britain's decline under Labour. Bailing the company out would buy the gratitude of the BA workers, and if Whelan demanded it as the price of Unite's continued financial support Brown wouldn’t be able to say no.

It's also possible that the union wants this to happen as a way of forcing BA back into public ownership, for both ideological and selfish reasons.

Michael Booth

"Brown dithers over BA"

It's the right thing to do.......... (repeat 1000 times)

Verity

Radgie Gadgie - "As an interested outsider, I'm puzzled why dave isnt making more of the Unite/labour tie in?"

Because Dave is an over-ambitious wet rag of limited intelligence and no ability to lead.

I wish they'd just dump him now and we could win this election and start our recovery. A hung Parliament is the next best solution, but it would also mean a delay in getting a real leader in.

boulay

in other news

bear defecates in woods.
pope comes out as catholic.

Wight Tory

Don't you know its rude to interupt?

Brown is dithering over BA

- nks, still....

Naomi Muse

I'm with Verity.

Dave is a PR and has not developed the coffee to go under the froth. That's why he cannot sustain a detailed argument which has many layers.

Leadership is something that has passed him by.

Boudicca

Oh come on ... this is a stitch up.

Unite are Labour's No. 1 paymasters; they OWN Labour. Whelan is Gordon's bully boy and head honcho at Unite. Whelan calls a strike at Easter, shortly before a Gen Election.

After a few desperate days, where talks between management and union breakdown, Gordon Brown intervenes to 'deplore' the strike. Unite is persuaded by the PM's intervention and returns to the negotiating table, backs down and 1000s of holidays are saved. A grateful travelling public (publicised endlessly by the BBC) shower praise on our PM.

Gordon gets the credit for (a) showing he cannot be bought by Unite's massive donations (b) Gordon puts the needs of the electorate over the historic links between Labour and the Unions (c) We need Gordon to prevent the Unions from striking when the cuts come.

Do they REALLY think we are that stupid?

Paddy

It's a stitch-up!

salieri

Yes, Boudicca, they do.

Holly ......

Radgie Gadgie,
Cameron does not have to say anything.We are
quite smart enough to work things out for ourselves.
Look at the players to see the game.
Why should the Conservatives be endlessly arguing with Labour about unions,Ashcroft
etc and all the other petty Labour rubbish trawled out to avoid dealing with the real problems the country faces.
Labour are like primary school children and their silly playground behaviour should be ignored.

HFC

Boudicca: They've published your theory. It MUST be true!

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/politics/politics-headlines/call-us-'deplorable'%2c-union-orders-brown-201003152559/

Major Plonquer

Boudicca - you are absolutely correct. Please stop being so sensible. This is, after all, 21st century Britain. Nobody likes a smart arse. You must behave stupid like the rest of us, keep your head below the parapet, don't mention Europe and dutifully vote for Labour, either Red Labour or Blue Labour that is.