The Brown ultimatum
Peter Hoskin 1:55pm
Yet more talk of Brown's potential demise. This time in today's Standard - a story (not online) about how backbenchers are giving the Prime Minster until May 2009 to "improve or stand down" (quite how they'd force this through is another question...). Here's what a "former minister" had to tell the paper:
"I do not believe Gordon would want to lead the party to a severe defeat if it could be avoided by the positive momentum that a change of leader could provide .... If the party's position has not improved by May next year; it will probably mean it is irreparable without a fresh face in charge."
It's difficult to know how much to make of it all. On the one hand - as Matthew said yesterday - Brown will almost certainly lead Labour into the next election. But, on the other, such open dissension could undermine his premiership no end. The Tories will be rubbing their hands together with glee.
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Comments
C Powell
April 15th, 2008 2:28pmIf Labour MPs think that foisting another leader onto us, without our say-so, is the answer to their problems, they're even more barking than I thought. Just go - the lot of you, please.
Tiberius
April 15th, 2008 3:24pmAs hard as one may try to remain analytical about Britain's political future, it is difficult not to dream about the verbiage Brown would deliver as he responds to the media over the election defeat.
Mike
April 15th, 2008 3:37pmI'm just looking forward to 2010's version of the "Portillo" moment that Brown is on course to deliver for our entertainment on that forthcoming balmy May evening.
Will it be Jacqui Smith, John Hutton, Ruth Kelly or the big Kahuna Jack Straw who provides the entertainment through their electoral demise?
Augustus
April 15th, 2008 4:33pmNever mind Labour balloting and ballyhoo to unseat him. GB's downfall will undoubtedly come through the ballot box, mainly accomplished by his own distorted self-image.
Familiar Clown
April 15th, 2008 5:58pm"I've started, so I'll finish."
I like it, I like it!
Mike H
April 15th, 2008 5:58pm"I'm just looking forward to 2010's version of the "Portillo" moment that Brown is on course to deliver for our entertainment on that forthcoming balmy May evening."
Me too. If I can have the luxury of not having to nominate a marginal constituency, I'd quite like to watch Brown lose his seat. But I think Balls is an even more deserving candidate.
David Parker
April 15th, 2008 7:52pmLike Mugabe, Brown will never go voluntarily. It just remains to be seen how far he will go to hang onto power at all costs. Whilst I would be delighted to see a massive defeat for labour and their left wing Lib-Dem understudies;
an overwhelming majority,(for any party), is not good for democracy, or even good government, as has been amply demonstrated by Labour's election victories since 1997.
However, if Brown and Clegg resort to the same level of fundamental dishonesty which they displayed over their treatment of the Lisbon "treaty", we will no longer be certain that their tactics at the next general election will even be strictly legal, let alone honest.
Hans vd Rechts
April 15th, 2008 8:31pmThat the labour party's finances won't be paid back for 9 years is not a good advert for FUERHRER BROWN'S financial ability. This is usually called bankruptcy, how much longer before it is obvious to everyone that he is bankrupting this country. It is politics on the never never by the Never Never Party. For God's sake never again. Pleeeeeeeease.
Teesbridge
April 15th, 2008 9:00pmI'd be utterly unsurprised to learn that the results of a May 6th 2010 General Election were still not declared on 28th May 2010...