James Forsyth James Forsyth

Charles Clarke: Labour could be down to less than 100 seats after the next election

Charles Clarke’s interview with Andrew Neil for Straight Talk is going to make news. In it, Clarke makes clear that the moves to oust Brown are suspended not ended. As he tells Andrew:

“It will depend how events go but more importantly than any other single thing it will depend how the people of the country form their judgement of our party and the Government.  And if, for example, the poll ratings go up or we win these by-elections which are going to come through or whatever, I think the issue will go away and he can be confident he leads us into the next election.  If, on the other hand, he somehow doesn’t fulfil those things or electorally we do badly or whatever it might be, then the issue will still be there.”

But what’s most interesting is what driving Charles Clarke, the fear that the Labour party could be destroyed if things carry on as they are:

“Some of the polling, some of the people I trust most who watch opinion believe that if we keep going without improving, we could come third, we could even be down to less than a 100 seats or whatever….

Britain’s best politics newsletters

You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate, free for a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.

Already a subscriber? Log in