Shakespeare wisely observed that "when troubles come, they come not in single spies, but in batttalions." And the just-announced news of Ming Campbell's resignation will send shock waves through the Labour front benches. The last thing Gordon brown needs is a Lib dem leadership election, a new rejuvenated Party, and the harsh fact that it will make Brown odd man out in being the only one of the three leaders NOT to have faced a democratic contest of his members. Who will they go for? Either Simon Hughes or even Charlie Kennedy could be a threat. The modernisers like Clegg and Huhne maybe less appealing to a wider electorate. Ming, presumably, fell on his sword because he knew he had to with an election two years away. Brown is, increasingly, looking like yesterday's man. Update: Apparently, there will be at least three contenders for the leadership, from the centre, right and even ye gods... the left.Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. And, hey, wouldn't it be great to actually be able to choose the Party leader and have a vote. Time to go to the pub for a rant.......
Monday, 15 October 2007
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3 comments:
Really Susan! This is brilliant news for Brown and for US - you know, the Labour Party. All likely electable candidates are on the low tax right of the Libs. They will take votes from Cam.
Hughes has ruled himself out and even though he is a dyed in the wool fibber he will stand by this.
Kennedy will probably not get back though actually the Tories fear him most and Dale has started a campaign to get him back!!
This is GOOD NEWS for Labour. Cam's surge in the polls has been mostly at Libs expense.
I tend to agree with Chris Paul on this one. The usual level of support for Labour has been in the 36 - 38% range for ages, excluding the sudden and very short lived 'Brown bounce' after party conference. Tory rises in the polls have come at the expense of the Liberals. Although it's a risk, a renewed Liberal Party may be good for us and I think we should hope for a Huhne or Webb victory just in case the next election produces a hung parliament. Much easier to do a deal (PR for coalition) with these fairly leftish Libs than with chaps like Clegg who are much closer to the Conservatives.
A Webb victory would put Libs way to the left of Brown - but that's unlikely . Don't rule out Kennedy either. If the Libs go right that will be pretty disastrous.I stil think Ming going is bad news for brown -
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