As mentioned below, all the genuine intrigue about when Tony will go and hand over the big job to Gordon seems to have changed into delicious glee that the waiting game could land the Labour party into opposition. Despite their great efforts to polish a turd (cue the Oaten jokes…), Gordon is not as enigmatic as Tony, and they may not have enough time to tidy him up ready for the next general election. And with stalking donkeys such as Alan Milburn and son-of-spin David Milliband starting to appear, Gordon could be left slack-jawed and robbed of his ‘destiny’.
And all because that nasty Blair kid from down the street won’t share his toys…
*Now back to eating my leaflet-reward toffees…*
yellowbaboon@googlemail.com
editor[at]recessmonkey.com
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My advice to Brown would be to leak a photo of him walking past the Lib Dem front bench and then to spin a ‘look at the youthful Gordon’ story off the back of it.
Feeding candy to children isn’t that bad, if the Lib Dems start start insisting on taking photos of them kissing babies then I’ll be getting worried….
Mr R said this on April 11th, 2006 at 3:42 am
If Milburn is the best that the Labour backbenches can throw into the ring as a challenge, then Gordon is home and dry.
But no, Milburn is only thinking of going for it because his big-shot political career is almost over. When Blair has gone, Milburn’s access to the heart of government will be cut off, and his influence will decline sharply. He might even get the whips telling him he has to turn up to vote. Running for leadership is a nothing-to-lose strategy for him - a last hurrah. He’ll never get the backing to win, because nobody really likes him. Polly Toynbee wrote a scathing piece in the Guardian today about him for those who are interested.
Miliband is better off - he may have spinning roots, but he’s quite widely liked all the same. Perhaps fellow MPs are just grateful to have a Cabinet Minister in ODPM they can get a coherent answer out of. But he’s not likely to go up against Brown - he wouldn’t win, and he can safely bide his time if he has ambitions to be leader.
Expect a candidate from the Left Campaign Group who will operate simply to ensure Brown makes favourable noises in their direction. Most of the Blairites will rally around Brown - they know which way the wind is blowing, and that a Blairite candidate (such as Milburn) will get massacred.
Red Tamarin said this on April 11th, 2006 at 4:32 am
You have it wrong Red. A Milburn candidacy would be calculated on Brown winning the leadership and losing the subsequent General Election. Handled well, this strategy could bounce him ahead of Reid, Miliband and Clarke among the Blairites for a post Brown leadership in opposition. Brownites aren’t even considering a post election leadership scramble.
Word on the street is - the candidate the Tories fear most is Straw
The wildcard that could make a splash would be Benn
Recess Monkey said this on April 11th, 2006 at 4:38 am
I still think it will be Hain.
Eskimo Nell said this on April 11th, 2006 at 5:19 am
The Demon Headmaster would indeed be a good candidate, and his holidays with Condi could put him in good stead…
Yellow Baboon said this on April 11th, 2006 at 5:28 am
Good point about straw. Why do people always forget about him? He’s been around for ever.
Barry Allen said this on April 11th, 2006 at 5:30 am
Fight! Fight! Fight!
As we used to say in the playground.
Get on with it, my popcorn is going stale.
Guido Fawkes said this on April 11th, 2006 at 7:03 am
If Brown loses a leadership contest the aftermath would make Blair/Brown look like bestest pals.
The Brownites would try to destroy the winner or anyone that stands, which will be fantastic to watch, but would put off MPs from actually standing. Why risk it when you might lose and make an enemy in Brown!? Mind you, I think Benn would put in a decent showing. Doubt it would want it though. My money is on Hain or Milburn to stand, and maybe Straw, though Ive heard hes been kissing Gordons arse for the last year.
J said this on April 11th, 2006 at 7:09 am
If Jack Straw becomes Prime Minister I’m moving to Italy.
Simeon McCack said this on April 11th, 2006 at 7:45 am
Isn’t the Campaign Group’s candidate said to be Dr Lynne Jones?
BarryBeef said this on April 11th, 2006 at 12:08 pm
Any candidate in an open election needs 12.5% of the PLP to nominate them - that sets a hurdle of 44 MPs. There is no alternative candidate from Left or Right who could get that many unless Gordon decrees that he wants a contest rather than a coronation. He may decide that he wants to beat a straw-man (not a Straw-man).
M said this on April 12th, 2006 at 3:32 am
Brown should review recent history in Canada - where minions of the impressive Finance Minister spent four years undermining the popular Prime Minister, forced his premature retirement, then led the majority government into a weak minority.
After an eighteen month government by Paul Martin, we’re now led by the Conservatives.
anonymouse said this on April 16th, 2006 at 9:20 pm