Five days after the NEC made encouraging noises, we are back in an untenable situation where there is seemingly one rule for backbenchers who have milked the system, and another for Cabinet Ministers.
While Ian Gibson, Ben Chapman, Shahid Malik et al fall on their swords, the likes of Hazel Blears strut around and say they have done nothing wrong and are doing a "great job." This despite the fact Brown said her behaviour was "totally unacceptable." Even more bizarrely, he has also exonerated James Purnell and Geoff Hoon despite the huge question marks still hanging over their conduct. It could well be he does not to get rid of such high-profile figures but frankly the longer they stay in office the worse it will be for the Labour Party and the Prime Minister should be seen to be absolutely even-handed.
At the moment, that just isn't happening. The Prime Minister has to realise that a root-and-branch clear-out of the transgressors is the only way of re-gaining trust and credibility. Yes it will be embarrassing and unpleasant but Hoon, Purnell and Blears need to be at the very least out of the Cabinet and then disciplined in the same way any other MP is facing in the light of the revelations. With the June elections only a few weeks away, the dithering has to stop. It's time to re-build the PLP .It is simply unacceptable that Cabinet members continue in office while owning up to tax avoidance and other abuses of an expenses system which has been greeted with disbelief and disgust by an increasingly angry electorate.
Friday, 22 May 2009
TIME TO RE-BUILD THE PLP
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3 comments:
Most back bencher's are Labour old guard, or believe in the Labour tradition, most minister have the power of being Blairites and Brown is a lone voice, god knows what the hell he is. But the power in New labour belongs to the Blears the Purnell the milibands while Brown has p*ssed off most of his followers.
If Brown was to say Sack Purnell for instance how long do you think he last.
Most back bencher's are Labour old guard, or believe in the Labour tradition, most minister have the power of being Blairites and Brown is a lone voice, god knows what the hell he is. But the power in New labour belongs to the Blears the Purnell the milibands while Brown has p*ssed off most of his followers.
If Brown was to say Sack Purnell for instance how long do you think he last.
Part of the problem with this is actually down to the Government itself, though, which is why he will find it hard to come down hard on cabinet ministers.
This is because it was the Government which insisted that Labour ministers must declare their London home as their primary residence, which the tax authorities did not.
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