Oh joy. Alan Simpson’s ultimatum to Brown today gives me an opportunity to update this list:
20 April, 2008
“The Prime Minister, who is battling a growing rebellion over his abolition of the 10p tax rate, has been given until the end of the summer to turn things round by backbenchers angry at a string of image and policy failures.” (here)
24 May, 2008
“It is that Mr Brown be given until the end of July to prove himself and restore morale. If by then things have not improved, ministers, MPs and influential figures in the unions believe the only solution may be to send a delegation of his closest political friends – perhaps including Ed Balls, the Education Secretary, and Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary – to urge him to go.” (here)
20 August, 2000
“Even some of his cabinet critics appear ready to accept that Mr Brown should be allowed a final opportunity to revive his fortunes by unveiling an economic plan next month to help people struggling to cope with rising fuel, food and housing costs in the downturn. But they intend to force him out if his fightback flops and he fails to rally Labour at its Manchester conference.” (here)
21 September, 2008
“Gordon Brown has been given until next June by senior Cabinet ministers to prove himself capable of saving Labour from a general election meltdown or face being unseated.” (here)
28 August, 2008
“Gordon Brown is to be given until November to save his premiership as Cabinet ministers offer him ‘one last chance’ to improve Labour’s fortunes, it has emerged” (here)
9 June, 2009
“…even though Brown has defied his tormentors yet again he is much more vulnerable than he was even a week ago. He will get the space to continue until the autumn. If he makes no headway in the polls between now and then, he will not lead Labour in to the next election and, I suspect, would not try to do so.” (here)
28 September, 2009
“Labour rebel Alan Simpson says that another challenge to Gordon Brown’s leadership is ‘almost a given …. Unless things change by Christmas it’s almost a given that there will be some sort of challenge.'” (here)
And there have been many more “last chances” besides. In which case, here’s a question for CoffeeHousers: have there been any months in the past year-and-a-half when Brown hasn’t faced an “Improve or you’re out” ultimatum? Answers on a postcard to Labour HQ, please.
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