Milburn for Chancellor?
James Forsyth 3:32pm
On Tuesday, Coffee Housers mused about the possibility of Alan Milburn replacing Alistair Darling. Today, Andrew Porter reports on the Westminster Village chatter about this:
“So could he make an improbable comeback as part of a major reshuffle? The answer, I'm told, is yes, he could. And in a seemingly far-fetched scenario that would shake Westminster he could return as Chancellor if the PM decides to jettison Alistair Darling.Surely not? One Cabinet source said: "It is a possibility. Alan is bright and has the sort of ideas that may be able to make a difference. He still has enthusiasm."
Given Brown’s track record, it seems highly unlikely that Brown would be so bold as to make an Milburn an offer he couldn’t refuse. But then again desperate times call for desperate measures.
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Someone who knows better
July 17th, 2008 4:04pm Report this commentThere is more chance of Brown resigning!
Liz Brown
July 17th, 2008 4:32pm Report this commenthas someone been at the magic mushrooms - all this idiotic speculation and what is Milburn's pedigree for running the economy - some niche bookshop oop North?
Tanuki
July 17th, 2008 4:46pm Report this commentQuestion is, at the moment who apart from a complete and utter moron could possibly want to be Chancellor under the current spectacularly-dysfunctional Labour premiership?
With a recession in full swing it's a 100% guaranteed poison-chalice job.
Apart from that, think of who you'd have as a neighbour if you moved into Number 11 Downing Street.
The Happy Carbon Footprint
July 17th, 2008 4:48pm Report this commentWho cares which identikit socialist is slotted into this post? One will be as inept, disconnected and destructive as another.
The Laughing Cavalier
July 17th, 2008 4:52pm Report this commentIt was a left wing bookshop called "Days of Hope", dubbed "Haze of Dope" by local wags for obvious reasons.
mitch
July 17th, 2008 5:05pm Report this commentDidn't he resign to spend more time with his family? And isn't the chancellorship one of the busiest jobs?
Has he either got rid of his family, or added extra hours to the day?
Bruce, UK
July 17th, 2008 5:06pm Report this comment"what is Milburn's pedigree for running the economy"
10 years of watching how not to do it, perhaps?
John
July 17th, 2008 5:07pm Report this commentQuite, Liz. These people are all floating several miles above planet earth, totally disconnected from reality (I include here both the politicians and the hacks).
This is all about as rational as rearranging the deckchairs while the Titanic is listing heavily to port, with the screws about 25 feet above the indifferent Atlantic.
Trumpeter Lanfried
July 17th, 2008 5:07pm Report this commentMilburn's got more sense than to accept any such offer.
Gregg
July 17th, 2008 5:26pm Report this commentOne Cabinet source said: "It is a possibility. Alan is bright and has the sort of ideas that may be able to make a difference. He still has enthusiasm."
That'll be John Hutton, then.
David
July 17th, 2008 5:29pm Report this commentNo way. Brown needs a Chancellor he can control. Milburn isn't that man.
Liz Brown
July 17th, 2008 5:31pm Report this commentTLC - thanks - makes Milburn the obvious choice then!
JONNY
July 17th, 2008 5:42pm Report this commentI think it's got to be Balls.
Verity
July 17th, 2008 5:47pm Report this commentMitch - Perhaps his family asked him to spend more time away from them.
William Norton
July 17th, 2008 5:47pm Report this commentIt's too clever an idea for Brown; Milburn must be floating this one. He's the only Labour figure in the past few years who'se given the remotest indication he was anywhere near ahead of the curve. I'd certainly pay to watch a Milburn vs Osborne contest.
Mind you, casting an eye over my tax returns, I see I've paid already....
Martin
July 17th, 2008 6:01pm Report this commentthe extent of Milburns experience in the real world is that of a part time manager of a bookshop in Newcastle...Now that will go down well in the city
Mike, Brighton
July 17th, 2008 6:15pm Report this commentHas Brown ever taken a single risk in is career?
Would Brown risk a pushed out and embarrassed Darling doing a "Howe" and saying what a disaster of an economy he inherited from guess who?
Would Milburn we so amazingly stupid as to accept a role as fall guy er sorry chancellor just as the economy is tanking into recession with an unstable prime minister who plumbs new depths in unpopularity? A chancellorship of a party that is going to get virtually wiped out at the next election?
Does Milburn have any ideas or economic credentials that will get us out of this economic mess? If he has, he has kept them well hidden. As far as I know the only business related thing he has done is run a Marxist bookshop
Will Milburn's appointment cool hot heads and worried businessmen in the City and broader business community?
The answer to all these questions is NO. Other than than the idea as Milburn is a winner.
TrevorH
July 17th, 2008 8:11pm Report this commentMilburn left government after his policies were blocked by Brown. Blair brought him back as some sort of election guru and he was elbowed aside by Brown.
Are you serious ... ?? Are you saying he is going to come back AGAIN with Brown now prime minister. Does he need the money?
At his age he can afford to wait and then stand for the leadership when it inevitably becomes vacant. Of course he may figure he has a better chance for that if he is already in the cabinet - though I have news for him, he will never get the union vote.
Drew
July 17th, 2008 8:19pm Report this commentHave the London elite any idea how despised Milburn is in his own constituency?
He lives miles away, making occasional State Visits.
Elevation to No. 11 would reduce his work-rate even further, and render Darlington a marginal once more.
Quadratus
July 17th, 2008 9:09pm Report this commentI am not certain about the book shop: I understood it was a badge shop.
Could be Defence Secretary?
JohnA
July 17th, 2008 9:52pm Report this commentAlan Milnurn??? Strewth.
Jackie Milburn would be a much more likely bet.
J H Holloway
July 17th, 2008 10:09pm Report this commentCome on Spectator!
You know why Milburn resigned in a hurry and headed back North. I bought a car from the top man at the NHS who had to deal with the fall-out - and he was quite happy to tell me the full story....
Won't the story get out is he returns to front-line politics?
John
July 17th, 2008 10:56pm Report this commentAhead of the curve? The man is simply a lying thug, as he was when he was in opposition ("The Tories have not spent a penny piece on cancer research", he lied - as big a lie as any of McPinnochio's). He has no other skills.
Frank Pulley
July 17th, 2008 11:05pm Report this commentWell as they've just dumped Brown's economic paramenters on borrowing, perhaps they are about to dump Brown too. In which case, never mind who's going to be the new Chancellor; who's taking the big Brown one's job (or should that be the big Brown job's one)?
Ian C
July 18th, 2008 10:16am Report this commentCome on JH Holloway, spill the beans now; don't keep us hanging...
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