Charles Clarke is now a political "heavyweight" in one sense only. He weighs too much. In typically bruising and bullying style, he's just had another go at Gordon Brown and says he should consider standing down "with honour". Of course, Clarke is still pissed off that he never got the chance to stand against Brown in a leadership contest. Ever since he has doggedly pursued an agenda of personal, not political , criticism of the man.
The irony of all this is of course that if Brown were to be replaced by one of Clarke's mates ( or heaven forfend Clarke himself) it would make not one iota of difference to Labour's poll ratings. In fact things would probably get worse as the Government would lurch even further to the right. It was Clarke, remember, who suggested people should start paying for NHS treatment, Clarke who with Alan Milburn launched the 20/20 Vision thing......( what happened to that by the way) . So Clarke is no friend of those of us who want to see a return to Labour values. Quite the opposite.However in two weeks' time we the ordinary members have the chance to ensure that next time there's a leadership contest - and it could be sooner than we think - we really do have a choice. The Calder Valley resolution changing the PLP quota for nominations from 12.5 to 7.5 per cent of the PLP will be debated on the Tuesday of Conference .My take on it is here.
The irony of all this is of course that if Brown were to be replaced by one of Clarke's mates ( or heaven forfend Clarke himself) it would make not one iota of difference to Labour's poll ratings. In fact things would probably get worse as the Government would lurch even further to the right. It was Clarke, remember, who suggested people should start paying for NHS treatment, Clarke who with Alan Milburn launched the 20/20 Vision thing......( what happened to that by the way) . So Clarke is no friend of those of us who want to see a return to Labour values. Quite the opposite.However in two weeks' time we the ordinary members have the chance to ensure that next time there's a leadership contest - and it could be sooner than we think - we really do have a choice. The Calder Valley resolution changing the PLP quota for nominations from 12.5 to 7.5 per cent of the PLP will be debated on the Tuesday of Conference .My take on it is here.
Posts
11 comments:
In times of war you need your friends around you
expel him
thank god the Greens will finish him off....First Green MP Norwich...just watch
even as a Labour supporter I couldnt bring myself to vote for him never
Clarke and Milburn formed a Think Tank
so what was their big idea ????
can any one remeber does anyone know ???
They have nothing to offer
why do the media take this stuff seriously he has no support in any section of the labour Party outside a handful of ultra Blairite MP's
That maybe so, but he is right about Labour going out of power, Browns new idea his new plans his bounce if you like, has failed, his help for the poor with vouchers which I thought insulting has gone, so has the windfall tax and energy companies lock horns with the government and wins.
New Labour old Tories which do you now want and sadly it's old Tories.
Palin dont agree with a word she said but we could learn from her attack on the establsihment and media
We need to square up to the Tories
it is sad and pathetic watching different factions of new labourites squabbling over the leadership of our party
How can you square up to something you agree with, I think it's obvious to a blind man now Labour and the Tories are now so close you cannot see the join, and it's not the Tories who have moved but Labour.
old tories
poll tax, no school milk, cuts in the nhs, anti gay clause 28, anti union, large school classes, no minimum wage
no thank you
I see Brown has at last answered the question "what is Labour for?"
Labour isn't for protecting pensioners and low income families from rocketing fuel prices, obviously.
Clarke has no discipline because he doesn't care if the Tories win the election.
He's alright Jack.
What would the difference be if the Tories did win would you notice the difference, please do not say remember Thatcher, thats always the excuse Labour uses, now it should be remember Blair.
Post a Comment