Friday, 2nd May 2008

All down to Brown

Fraser Nelson 10:30am

I’ve just done BBC World Service with Martin Bright, my counterpart at the New Statesman. We’re pitched against each other quite a lot - the theory being that I’m a right-winger, he’s a left-winger and we’ll go at each other. Problem is, we agree on most things – and I certainly won’t demur from his verdict on last night. “I don’t think anyone thought the results could be quite as devastating for Labour,” he said. “These are national issues. It’s very difficult to see this as anything else. A year ago, possibly even six months ago, people didn’t think there was a realistic prospect of a Conservative government. That has changed.”

He made two criticisms of the Tories. That the “party has overreached itself - I don’t think they are ready for government.” And next, Boris is the wrong sort of ambassador, that he will across as a toff. We have two years to see if this is right or not (I think not) but for now, the focus is on the worst result for Labour since the war. As Guido commentator ‘mitch’ said: “No anti blair/iraq vote this time, Brown, it’s you and your lack of ideas”. Okay, that was a cleaned-up version – but this sentiment is being felt right through the political spectrum.

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Fergus Pickering

May 2nd, 2008 10:43am Report this comment

He doesn't think they are ready for Government? Bloody hell, I'm ready for Government if the alternative is Geoff Hoon.

Sean,

May 2nd, 2008 10:56am Report this comment

The point is they couldn't be any worse than this lot.

Alan Evans

May 2nd, 2008 11:11am Report this comment

Gordon, Gordon, Gordon..
If you where really listening you'd hear voters don't want you to lead

Rather than "listen and lead" voters have made it clear they want you to "listen and leave".

John

May 2nd, 2008 12:14pm Report this comment

"I don’t think anyone thought the results could be quite as devastating for Labour" - well, he's wrong. I didn't even bother to watch. I knew the results would be worse than the 'pundits' predicted.
The idea that it's 'all down to McBean' is laughable. When you have useless, semi-literate jokes like Hoon, Jowell, MacGlovePuppet, Blears, Smith, Balls et al 'running the country', what else would you expect? Did any of them take action against the 10% abolition, for example? This amateur lot couldn't run a corner shop. How many of them have had a real job EVER?

Adrian

May 2nd, 2008 1:27pm Report this comment

What's a real job? Desk officer at CCO? Special adviser to the worst chancellor ever? PR flak to a media company?

Are these real jobs?

Ed

May 2nd, 2008 1:33pm Report this comment

I'm having difficulty in understanding how the country elected Gordon as leader with what he predictably caused yesterday.

It's been a long cheerful night, maybe someone could remind me when that election occurred .....

GeoffH

May 2nd, 2008 2:01pm Report this comment

So who does Martin Bright think he is to judge the Conservatives "not ready for government"?

Labour were ceatainly not ready in '97 as theu 11 years in office so clearly demonstrates. Was he urging, back then, to hold off from Labour? Was he b*ggery.