Gordon Brown must today have that uncomfortable feeling of being a General without a command. With his Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, standing down over the expenses scandal and the possibility still of high profile Alistair Darling, Geoff Hoon and Hazel Blears following suit, Brown has had more bad news today when it was announced that, along with David Chayter, another expenses victim, former Minister Patricia Hewitt and Childrens Minister Beverley Hughes both announced they would not be standing at the next election, wanting 'more time with their families'
This time honoured excuse is probably a greater kiss of death for Brown than the expenses resignations. Because everyone knows its polite political speak for 'We are stuffed. I have had it. I have lost confidence in the Party under your leadership and I want out."
There are a growing number of these people and a growing danger for Brown. It is pretty clear that New Labour has fallen apart at the seams and that Brown is hanging on to salvage something from the wreckage.
He may not get the chance. As Labour's fortunes worsen , so the contempt for Brown's leadership seems to be growing within whats left of the Labour Party and he could easily be dumped before the next election. It won't save the Labour Party from electoral humiliation but maybe the Party will get the opportunity in the wilderness to renew itself and rediscover its core values.
This time honoured excuse is probably a greater kiss of death for Brown than the expenses resignations. Because everyone knows its polite political speak for 'We are stuffed. I have had it. I have lost confidence in the Party under your leadership and I want out."
There are a growing number of these people and a growing danger for Brown. It is pretty clear that New Labour has fallen apart at the seams and that Brown is hanging on to salvage something from the wreckage.
He may not get the chance. As Labour's fortunes worsen , so the contempt for Brown's leadership seems to be growing within whats left of the Labour Party and he could easily be dumped before the next election. It won't save the Labour Party from electoral humiliation but maybe the Party will get the opportunity in the wilderness to renew itself and rediscover its core values.
2 comments:
Brian, like most of the media pundits, you are caught up in the hysteria.
The opinion polls today show Cameron's Tories on 40%. Two weeks before the general election in 2005 the opinion polls showed the Tories on.... 40%.
Despite all of the Cameron shmooze, they haven't gained a single vote.
Yes, Labour need to re-engage. Cruddas said it 18 months ago, and I've been saying it even longer. Our lost voters haven't gone Tory and they can still be won back. we need to keep the faith and ensure we get across our message, and if we do, Cameron's lead will melt away.
Believe.
Hi Liz..and a warm welcome to the blog. I don't think I've been caught up in anything of the sort and I don't think I suggested that Cameron's Tories were gaining a lot of ground...but I think support for New Labour has drained away to such a degree that Cameron hasn't a lot to beat.
You say keep the faith but faith in what? Its not just a question of re-engaging - certainly not on some of the Blairite values the party now embraces. I believe Labour's voters have not gone Tory ( I can no longer call Labour 'ours') but it is goimg to take a seismic shift in policies and a reengagement with our traditional base to restore some credibility. And that ain't gonna happen overnight....in my humble opinion, of course.
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