Just spoken to two leading rebels and they are sounding less than confident they will get their prey tonight.
The Parliamentary Labour Party meeting at 6pm is chaired by Tony Lloyd, the Manchester MP who is chair of the PLP and is standing by Gordon Brown.
One rebel said he expected Mr Lloyd to call mainly loyalists, and then “call a sprinkling of our people” – he will “call the most inarticulate” rebels who will “put the case appallingly.” Another leading rebel said:
“We’re not the bravest people in the world are we?” – that, after a weekend of talking to colleagues and trying to get them to join in the rebellion. There is no plan to publish the letter that calls on Gordon Brown to go, and that’s because it doesn’t have 50 signatures yet.
Commentsoldest first
Can’t expect to be savaged by sheep, can you? It’s best if Gordon stays, and takes Labour into the wilderness. Fourteen years or more in the desert may make lions of them, though I doubt it.
These cowards shouldn’t even be having to consider their own self interests or ‘loyalty’ to a failed party. The system, like the ‘Gentlemens Club’ has been deliberately set up to prevent a PM being ousted. British establishment at it’s corrupt best looking after the worst.
Never mind, it won’t be long before they’re all confined to the history book of disgrace. It’s just a pity there’s no real alternative to choose, only the 2 evils.
When a party governs, it should govern for all the people not just themselves, the corrupt fat-cats, wealthy influencial individuals and media spin doctors.
What is depressing is that so little of this is about the next general election (which it seems has already been decided will see the Tories win power) but about jockeying for position for the election after that.
Actual policy seems to be running a poor third at the present.
I get rather nostalgic for the times when political parties had policies. I suppose I am a sentimental old-fashioned fool.
Over the weekend I spoke to a Labour member who told me that polit was no longer about ideas but management.
The longer Brown clings to power in such an undignified manner the greater will be Labour’s downfall when they can no longer run from an election. Brown’s desperate attempt to hang on is now beginning to irritate people who previously had little interest in politics.. Effectively he is saying-I know you want me to go but I am not going to!
Maybe the rebels would be a little more brave if they took a look at what the public think:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/please-go/
Add your vote to Mr Brown’s resignation petition as well! Email everyone you know. Let us send a really strong message to all of them.
With all of this, New Labour is just setting the scene for further progress by the BNP and other smaller parties. Labour can kid itself that it this is mainly about MP’s expenses. But it isn’t. The roots go right back to 1997 and people see that now.
I doubt that Labour can do anything that will turn things around enough for it to win the next election. But it would nice if it at least tried so we don’t end up with the Conservatives having a massive majority.
I don’t think the crude media coverage of Nick Griffin, including the ‘demonic’ looking photos lit from below, are damaging the BNP at all. Quite the opposite I fear, because it gives him victim status.
This is all about seld interest.
Labour MPs know the game is up and that a large number of them will not get re-elected. So they want to keep their salary and perks coming in for as long as possible.
Also, the reason Mandleson and Kinnock have been brought in to keep Gordon going has nothing to do the interests of the country, it has everything to do with keep this lame duck government in “power” until after the referendum in Ireland.
The one thing that could scupper the EU project is a Conservative victory and a referendum on the European Constitution aka the Lisbon Treat.
I suspect that once that risk has passed, Mandy and Glynnis will take up some sinecure in Brussells and Gordon will probably get some cushy number on the EU Gravytrain.
Thanks. You have just answered the question that was worrying me. What is in it for Mandy?
If there was a GE before the Lisbon Treaty were to be ratified the new Tory government would have a referendum and that would clearly result in a No vote, The EU must therefore prevent a GE at all costs. Mandelson acting in his primary role as the slimy agent of the faceless and nameless ones who run the EU Empire stepped in and stopped Brown being overthrown on Thursday and Friday – for a new leader might feel he/she should call a GE. Well done Mandy, you traitor. You have saved the day for your masters – what have you been promised? Governorship of the North East Province of the EU ?
And they said being told off by Geoffrey Howe was like being savaged by a sheep – at least he turned out to be a ram with horns in the end!
Courage mes braves!
The Manchester Evening News reports that Richard Leese, Leader of (Labour controlled) Manchester City Council said:
“I think it shows the flaws in a system that allows them to get a seat with such a small share of the vote.”
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1119433_bnp_wins_north_west_euro_seat
It’s the system that is to blame for this!
This is the council that said it would let tenants have a vote on whether council housing should be handed over to private companies or stay in council hands. When the vote in the first area didn’t go the way they wanted, they cancelled the vote in other areas and allowed lovely local Labour councillors to decide what was best. Guess what? It was the private option. Needless to say many of those areas are always in Labour hands.
Democracy New Labour style!
We have taken the Labour medicine, can we see if it works before we try the Tory one.
The unions dont want part privatation of the post office, watch them swollow full privatisation when the Tories get in.
I suppose the Labour MPs are too busy back stabbing the PM to see that the Tories were invoved in the expenses business too, only they dont want to get rid of Cameron. I wonder who these lemmings want to follow.
In the wake of expenses scandals…the fact that labour MP’s are scared to get rid of an inept leader because they are frightened of losing their seats while they make claims that what the are doing is for the good of the country rather than just being self-serving is sickening.
Kep Gordon, we need him, then we lock him away so he cant get onto the IMF board.
Leave a comment
* Required field.