The Daily Record reports that Gordon Brown is to take personal charge of the Labour campaign in the forthcoming Glenrothes by-election, presumably on the basis that he’s well acquainted with the area. It’s a high risk strategy. Of course, should Labour triumph he’ll be able to claim greater credit than would otherwise be the case, and his hand will be strengthened in any Labour leadership struggle. But there’s an obvious flip side to that. If Labour are defeated – and that’s currently the most likely outcome – then many in the party will hold Brown even more responsible. That he’s prepared to take such risks is proabably a measure of how precarious he sees his position as being.
Peter Hoskin
Brown takes charge in Glenrothes

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