political commentator * author * publisher * bookseller * radio presenter * blogger * Conservative candidate * former lobbyist * Jack Russell owner * West Ham United fanatic * Email iain AT iaindale DOT com
It's up to all right thinking people to expose what a ruthless lot of liars and spinners this Labour lot (including their silent backers and press/media placemen) really are.With a little push and a fair wind the next generation on the left can be made to see that political engineering is too unpredictable to be an option and so shouldn't be attempted.
Things are disintegrating nicely. The SI stuff is starting to look good, too.
Unlike some, I don’t want Blair (police be upon him) to go just yet. While the amount of further damage he can do to the country is now relatively small, he can – by lingering - push Labour’s demoralisation beyond any reasonable chance of recovery.
It’ll be a joyous day when the duplicitous creep finally implodes, but let us not be hasty in wishing that day sooner than is best for us.
Yes - the PM is right. If we ignore the loony left, the disgruntled sacked ministers, those who have been overlooked for promotion - his party are behind him. As too are many in the country - me included. I am old fashioned enough to believe that people are innocent until proved guilty. Journalists (and some bloggers) are not held with too much esteem in the country for their innuendo, speculation and impartial partiality. They make up stories and as far as I am concerned they should get rid of the PCC and introduce laws to govern press activity. Maybe then journalism may become a profession which may earn public trust.
Schoolboy Error is obviously a man of his age - a schoolboy. He seems unable to distinguish between fact and media spin. Perhaps he reads the Daily Mail - his comment sounds very much as if it is gleaned from that Rag.
Liz, haven't you got work at Labour HQ to be getting on with?? If bloggers are so unimportant, why are you and so many others making such an effort to discredit them.
As the old story goes when his then Chairman expressed the sentiment that he was right behind him, Tommy Docherty remarked, frankly Mr Chairman i would prefer you right in front of me where i can see you.
In this case the REAL question is as in the DT this morning, if Brown is such a statesman in waiting, why isnt he doing what needs to be done for the sake of our nation and telling this appalling PM to go now.
The 'Schoolboy-Error' name comes from the Conservative Party's allowing itself to be de-branded by the media with regards to the non reinforcing use of Conservative/Tory de-branding technique in a concurrent ploy with the introduction of the Labour/New 'Improved' Labour brand reinforcement exercise.Can't think of an error any political party could make that would be more basic or 'schoolboy' in not being aware of obvious attacks on one's brand.
Liz, didn't I last read you on the John McDonnell website banging on about how great it was of Mr Tony to miss the debate on Iraq so he could talk to the fat cats at the CBI. "Loony left"? That will be most of the PLP then. Not to mention the millions of trade unionists and a dwindling number still in the Party who wake up daily praying for a resignation. Austin Mitchell wrote yesterday he was ashamed to be a Labour Mp. That's pretty much how many of us feel. Tony has NOT got the Party behind him.We want himto go. NOW
I see Blair was making his usual worrying claim that he always sleeps well because he KNOWS he's done the right thing. He's obviously taken Shakespeare's "conscience doth make cowards of us all" maxim to heart and decided it's best to dispense with a conscience altogether.
It is curious.Blair is not president and relies on commanding a majority of MPs.It appears that he has lost the confidence of a considerable number of them,but they just bleat that they are ashamed.If the PLP tell him that he has to go,I think he will.
Good question.Wish I knew the answer.They should have finished the job last autumn when they had the chance. I can't believe things will drag on like this for much longer. It beggars belief, really.Why Blair wants to stay is also amystery but I think that's basically because he's got Macbeth "in blood steeped so far" syndrome. Someone really will have to wield theknife. And soon.As NeilKinnock said, it will take years for Labour to recover from this. Thanks, Tony.
susan calder valley clp said...As NeilKinnock said, it will take years for Labour to recover from this.....
Indeed it will Susan, and many of us are hoping that Labour will NEVER recover from this which you probably won't unless you start clearing away the corrupt scum at the top, and quickly.
It was recorded from Sedgefield - interesting he's gone home for the weekend - maybe to tell his constituency chairman that he's going to be arrested next week.
JH: Ten years ago, we spoke after the first scandal - if that's what it was - of the Formula 1 affair.
We did a television interview and you said to me - and the quote has been used many, many times since then, you'll know where I'm going - 'people think I'm a pretty straight kind of guy'. They don't think that now, do they?
TB: Well, you know, I thought you might ask me that and I thought about how I should answer it and actually, I had the same thing put to me during the course of the last election, when people were calling me a liar and a war criminal and so on.
Maybe this is how I have changed over the years as well. I said then, during the election campaign, and I would say now, I am not going to beg for my character in front of anyone.
People can make up their mind about me, according to what they think about me, but I know what type of person I am.
And I am not going to get into a situation where I am pleading for my integrity, not even actually in front of the public, even though I obviously have a deep respect for the British people and it has been an honour and a privilege to lead them.
I try to do my best. I have tried to do my best over the last 10 years.
I don't say I have always got everything right - of course I haven't. There have been mistakes and things that have gone wrong along the way, but actually when I look back on my 10 years, I do believe that there is a lot that has been good for the country as well.
So I am not really going to comment on my character like that. Other people can comment on it as much as they like.
1) Notice the past tense - "I have tried to do my best over the last 10 years."
2) Notice the remorse - "I don't say I have always got everything right - of course I haven't. There have been mistakes and things that have gone wrong along the way,"
3) Notice the pleading to the British people - "And I am not going to get into a situation where I am pleading for my integrity, not even actually in front of the public," - even though he says he is not doing it - that is exactly what he is doing.
Hum ... with my psychologist hat on it does seem like the end is near and he knows it is not looking good for him.
That is wouldn't repeat when asked that he is a "pretty straight kind of guy" suggests he knows that there is something unambiguously damaging to come out soon.
Liz- one thing that always gives me a good-natured chuckle about the left is the lack of literacy with which their irrational arguments are presented. Comprehensive school, was it, where you were indoctrinated?
Re Blair, I am torn. On the one hand, I want my Schadenfreude NOW. The Champagne has been on ice for long enough. On the other hand, there is the unalloyed fun of watching the Labour Party being destroyed bit by bit by his presence at the head of it. Every day he clings on, he makes Labour more unelectable, which is a worthy thing in itself. Oh, gosh. I just don't know what to wish for.
Bliar and his sociopath colleagues are the worst plague to hit England since the black death -Kilroy Silk MEP has just made a formal request to the European Commission to investigate discrimination against the English by this British (Scots) government.
His request is worded thus ; Title - English discriminated against in their own country. If the Commission will set up a commission to investigate the way in which a member state is discriminating against its citizens on the basis of their nationality; namely the UK Government denying, for example, equal rights with the Scots and the Welsh in that the English suffering from bone cancer are denied the drug velcade wheras the Scots receive it free, etc etc etc tuition fees, etc, etc, prescriptions, care for the elderly etc etc
verity - think the reference to a 'drought' was alluding to the fact it is clearly a while since you have had any sexual activity, and that even if you had a full weekend of 'jolly rogering' it is unlikely to cheer you up, or make you less of a bitch..
Liz 11.40 "Perhaps he reads the Daily Mail - his comment sounds very much as if it is gleaned from that Rag."
are you saying that today is a good day to read the daily mail?, or a bad one?
I would say that labour press officers: "this is a good day to bury bad news" are held in very low esteem by the country, very low indeed. The Daily Mail is bought by 2m people/day.
It is never a good day to read the 'Daily Hate Mail' ! Okay, 2m people read it - so what ? There are 7m people thick enough to read the Sun - what is your point ?
It appeals to lowest common denominator thickos who are sexist, xenophobic old farts who share Paul Dacre's sadly narrow-minded world view. Of course, if you have the ability to lap up whatever crap he peddles, regardless of little details, such as whether the story is actually true..then go ahead.
What is truly alarming is that a decent paper like the Torygraph is importing failed hacks from 'Mail Towers' into their empire - decline can only follow.
I believe Blair was given a week to fall on his sword and Yates will arrest him once he has resigned.
The arrest on "conspiracy to pervert" of Levy (but not Turner) means that there was another person involved.
Blair's interview was kept secret until Levy was arrested - but it was also kept secret for several days afterwards.
What was gained was a few days respite for Tony Blair until he resigned.
John Prescott was demob happy at the start of the week after he was told.
The BBC is compiling a piece on Tony Blair for when he resigns - at Tony's request?
Tony has been looking very distracted and has not committed to be an honest guy and has resorted to pleading to the public for his character.
He can't even say judge me on my record. His record is so shit he can't even say that. Even education is going backwards. The best thing he can say is "I meant well".
Tony has gone back to his constituency office to tell his constituency rep - and to resign amongst his friends over the weekend.
Tony Blair will be arrested next week by Yates.
John Prescott will now take over as acting PM until Brown gets elected.
I am told that John Denham is to make a "major speech" regarding England (not allowing us our own Parliament, it will be dangerous if the English run their own country without Scottish MPs, etc, etc), on March 9th in Parliament.
At the same time, Gordon Brown has used some £90,000 to investigate Anglo-Scottish relations, via the Institute of Public Policy Research (all but one of the contributors are Scottish and all are left-wing). gordon brown himself if a major contributor and Kate Schmueker is also involved. She was a major co-ordinator for the YES campaign for RAs in the NE. No pretence of independence here, then.
So what is happening on March 9th and is this linked to Brown's takeover; him being a Scottish MP, seeking to legitimise his rule over England? Is Blair's departure being held back until then? You betcha!
I believe that Dave Cameron's speech in the Commons yesterday, may well come back to haunt him. He is much the same now as Blair was 10 years ago, but with the deficit of having nothing worthwhile to say! Neither is he the type that many of us would want as a leader of the country. He may, in fact, prove a bigger disaster overall than Blair has ever been.
So sometime soon why don't the Conservatives call for a vote of confidence in the House, possibly just before the May Council elections.
It would provide a delicious spectacle of Labour MP's struggling with the dilemma, either to vote for the best for the country and voting the Bliar out, or toeing the whips line and rallying behind their discredited leader, leaving it for the country to tell them the truth!
Given their lack of balls so far I guess the odds are on them affirming their support - and getting thoroughly tarred with the same brush - sell that to the voters in May - SUCKERS!!
Is the rather ample lady behind Blair holding a broom handle or a microphone? The expression is: "It's not all over until the fat lady sings." I think she may be about to sing.
The British Constitution and the Labour Party Rule Book seem to be on a collision course.
The British Constitution requires that on the Prime Minister leaving office the Head of State will seek her outgoing Prime Minister’s advice on whom to ask to form an administration. That advice, together with advice from other members of the Privy Council, will strongly influence, if not determine, the Head of State’s action.
The Labour Party Rule Book requires that the Leader of the Labour Party becomes Prime Minister when the Party has a majority in the lower House.
Whenever and however Blair goes as Prime Minister he will certainly no longer be Leader either; then the Deputy Leader steps in. Prescott; just as Margaret Beckett was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition after Smith’s death. If Prescott resigns Party office at the same time as Blair (and he says he will), then it’s Hazel Blears.
Prescott? Blears?
The British Constitution might prefer the Head of State to cut to the chase and accept advice from her outgoing Prime Minister and other Privy Councillors as to whom to call who may reasonably be thought to be able to command a majority in the Lower House.
Johnson, Milliband, Benn of the current generation (according to the evidence of the betting odds); Brown, Straw, Beckett, Reid (though it’s not clear Reid will have a chair when the mad music to exclude any threat to Brown stops) of those with 10 years of joint Cabinet and Labour Party responsibility.
Or the Parliament could be dissolved and a general election called.
No, I'm wrong on the rules for when the Labour Party is in power (though the collision course is still in place).
"4B.2eProcedure in a vacancy (i) When the party is in government and the party leader is prime minister and the party leader, for whatever reason, becomes permanently unavailable, the Cabinet shall, in consultation with the NEC, appoint one of its members to serve as party leader until a ballot under these rules can be carried out. (ii) When the party is in government and the deputy leader becomes party leader under (i) of this rule, the Cabinet may, in consultation with the NEC, appoint one of its members to serve as deputy leader until the next party conference. The Cabinet may alternatively, in consultation with the NEC, leave the post vacant until the next party conference. "
I am interested in some deconstruction of Liz's posting @1140am. I think she's clearly angry, probably spitting with anger, at what she feels is the unfair, constant criticism of the prime minister.
Something to consider Liz: which politician and which party decided to start this sort of Total War politics, with these (in your view) unwarranted character attacks? Was it Margaret Thatcher? Was it John Major? Umm. no, it was your revolting, moral-free leader and the association of failed lecturers and trades-union funded nonentities on your backbenches who were his footsoldiers. Congratulations. As ye shall sow, etc. What makes the current fun so delicious for a Tory is that it isn't even we who are most malicious about your party's identity collapse: it's your erstwhile friends on the left, in the Guardian and the BBC. The monster which is devouring your political credibility is one which you brought to life yourselves.
By the way, sneering at people for reading the Daily Mail ought to be beneath someone of your self-professed high moral standards, no? The gap between the high standard with which you view yourself, and the way you come across to others, is both staggering, Liz, and a ubiquitous feature of the Labour party which most people in this country have come to detest.
50 comments:
It's up to all right thinking people to expose what a ruthless lot of liars and spinners this Labour lot (including their silent backers and press/media placemen) really are.With a little push and a fair wind the next generation on the left can be made to see that political engineering is too unpredictable to be an option and so shouldn't be attempted.
Things are disintegrating nicely. The SI stuff is starting to look good, too.
Unlike some, I don’t want Blair (police be upon him) to go just yet. While the amount of further damage he can do to the country is now relatively small, he can – by lingering - push Labour’s demoralisation beyond any reasonable chance of recovery.
It’ll be a joyous day when the duplicitous creep finally implodes, but let us not be hasty in wishing that day sooner than is best for us.
Ian that picture is wrong ,Mr Bliar cant be in it as he's never there,
PS I did type Blair but that how it came out ,strange
They are behind him... Sharpening the knives...
They have to be behind him to get the knife in...
Best if Tony goes just before the May elections - so Gordon gets a vote of no confidence.
I did type Blair but that how it came out, strange
My brain always makes me type "Bliar" instead of Blair then I have to go and correct it.
Hang on in there Tony, your country needs you to protect us from Brown.
Yes - the PM is right. If we ignore the loony left, the disgruntled sacked ministers, those who have been overlooked for promotion - his party are behind him. As too are many in the country - me included. I am old fashioned enough to believe that people are innocent until proved guilty. Journalists (and some bloggers) are not held with too much esteem in the country for their innuendo, speculation and impartial partiality. They make up stories and as far as I am concerned they should get rid of the PCC and introduce laws to govern press activity. Maybe then journalism may become a profession which may earn public trust.
Schoolboy Error is obviously a man of his age - a schoolboy. He seems unable to distinguish between fact and media spin. Perhaps he reads the Daily Mail - his comment sounds very much as if it is gleaned from that Rag.
liz -
You may be old-fashioned enough to believe someone is innocent until proved guilty, but this government doesn't.
Confiscation of property and ASBOs on mere suspicion is something they're quite happy to inflict on the public.
What's sauce for the goose...
Friday, and News Quiz time..
Q/ Who is being talked about here..
" an “empty opportunist who will do anything to win”.'
A/ Tony Blair ?
No, not quite - have another go !
Liz, haven't you got work at Labour HQ to be getting on with?? If bloggers are so unimportant, why are you and so many others making such an effort to discredit them.
As the old story goes when his then Chairman expressed the sentiment that he was right behind him, Tommy Docherty remarked, frankly Mr Chairman i would prefer you right in front of me where i can see you.
In this case the REAL question is as in the DT this morning, if Brown is such a statesman in waiting, why isnt he doing what needs to be done for the sake of our nation and telling this appalling PM to go now.
I guess the knife man is hiding just behind him. That's what Mrs Mopp is laughing about!
The 'Schoolboy-Error' name comes from the Conservative Party's allowing itself to be de-branded by the media with regards to the non reinforcing use of Conservative/Tory de-branding technique in a concurrent ploy with the introduction of the Labour/New 'Improved' Labour brand reinforcement exercise.Can't think of an error any political party could make that would be more basic or 'schoolboy' in not being aware of obvious attacks on one's brand.
Liz, didn't I last read you on the John McDonnell website banging on about how great it was of Mr Tony to miss the debate on Iraq so he could talk to the fat cats at the CBI. "Loony left"? That will be most of the PLP then. Not to mention the millions of trade unionists and a dwindling number still in the Party who wake up daily praying for a resignation. Austin Mitchell wrote yesterday he was ashamed to be a Labour Mp. That's pretty much how many of us feel. Tony has NOT got the Party behind him.We want himto go. NOW
I see Blair was making his usual worrying claim that he always sleeps well because he KNOWS he's done the right thing. He's obviously taken Shakespeare's "conscience doth make cowards of us all" maxim to heart and decided it's best to dispense with a conscience altogether.
We want himto go. NOW
Why don't Labour MPs grow some balls and sack him, then?
It is curious.Blair is not president and relies on commanding a majority of MPs.It appears that he has lost the confidence of a considerable number of them,but they just bleat that they are ashamed.If the PLP tell him that he has to go,I think he will.
Good question.Wish I knew the answer.They should have finished the job last autumn when they had the chance. I can't believe things will drag on like this for much longer. It beggars belief, really.Why Blair wants to stay is also amystery but I think that's basically because he's got Macbeth "in blood steeped so far" syndrome. Someone really will have to wield theknife. And soon.As NeilKinnock said, it will take years for Labour to recover from this. Thanks, Tony.
Liz, you are deluded. Next
The only thing that IMO would move a dangerous narcissist like the nation's shame would be riddicule.His ego couldn't stand it.
Casual Observer: "I guess the knife man is hiding just behind him. That's what Mrs Mopp is laughing about!"
Looks more like Robin Page with a sheep crook to me. Thing is, if he ever got that close I doubt Bliar would remain standing for long
susan calder valley clp said...As NeilKinnock said, it will take years for Labour to recover from this.....
Indeed it will Susan, and many of us are hoping that Labour will NEVER recover from this which you probably won't unless you start clearing away the corrupt scum at the top, and quickly.
The transcript is on The Daily Mail.
It was recorded from Sedgefield - interesting he's gone home for the weekend - maybe to tell his constituency chairman that he's going to be arrested next week.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433284&in_page_id=1770
Very interesting - bit here.
JH: Ten years ago, we spoke after the first scandal - if that's what it was - of the Formula 1 affair.
We did a television interview and you said to me - and the quote has been used many, many times since then, you'll know where I'm going - 'people think I'm a pretty straight kind of guy'. They don't think that now, do they?
TB: Well, you know, I thought you might ask me that and I thought about how I should answer it and actually, I had the same thing put to me during the course of the last election, when people were calling me a liar and a war criminal and so on.
Maybe this is how I have changed over the years as well. I said then, during the election campaign, and I would say now, I am not going to beg for my character in front of anyone.
People can make up their mind about me, according to what they think about me, but I know what type of person I am.
And I am not going to get into a situation where I am pleading for my integrity, not even actually in front of the public, even though I obviously have a deep respect for the British people and it has been an honour and a privilege to lead them.
I try to do my best. I have tried to do my best over the last 10 years.
I don't say I have always got everything right - of course I haven't. There have been mistakes and things that have gone wrong along the way, but actually when I look back on my 10 years, I do believe that there is a lot that has been good for the country as well.
So I am not really going to comment on my character like that. Other people can comment on it as much as they like.
Notice in the transcript
1) Notice the past tense - "I have tried to do my best over the last 10 years."
2) Notice the remorse - "I don't say I have always got everything right - of course I haven't. There have been mistakes and things that have gone wrong along the way,"
3) Notice the pleading to the British people - "And I am not going to get into a situation where I am pleading for my integrity, not even actually in front of the public," - even though he says he is not doing it - that is exactly what he is doing.
Hum ... with my psychologist hat on it does seem like the end is near and he knows it is not looking good for him.
That is wouldn't repeat when asked that he is a "pretty straight kind of guy" suggests he knows that there is something unambiguously damaging to come out soon.
Liz- one thing that always gives me a good-natured chuckle about the left is the lack of literacy with which their irrational arguments are presented. Comprehensive school, was it, where you were indoctrinated?
Re Blair, I am torn. On the one hand, I want my Schadenfreude NOW. The Champagne has been on ice for long enough. On the other hand, there is the unalloyed fun of watching the Labour Party being destroyed bit by bit by his presence at the head of it. Every day he clings on, he makes Labour more unelectable, which is a worthy thing in itself. Oh, gosh. I just don't know what to wish for.
verity - in the middle of a bit of a drought, are we ?
Every day he clings on, he makes Labour more unelectable, which is a worthy thing in itself.
Maybe this is what Blair intends to leave as his legacy? He never was a true believer.
Bliar and his sociopath colleagues are the worst plague to hit England since the black death -Kilroy Silk MEP has just made a formal request to the European Commission to investigate discrimination against the English by this British (Scots) government.
His request is worded thus ; Title - English discriminated against in their own country. If the Commission will set up a commission to investigate the way in which a member state is discriminating against its citizens on the basis of their nationality; namely the UK Government denying, for example, equal rights with the Scots and the Welsh in that the English suffering from bone cancer are denied the drug velcade wheras the Scots receive it free, etc etc etc tuition fees, etc, etc, prescriptions, care for the elderly etc etc
Bliar and Broon - a plague on both their houses
Anonymous 2:15 - Don't understand the allusion. What drought?
TB: "My Party is 100% behind me that I should go before the next election. But, what I meant to say was that my past is behind me...".
May I keep her?
Bliar is beginning to sound just like that other attention-seeking, has-been, charlatan David Beckham.
Perhaps he's getting ready to join him on the elusive glory trail in the US?
verity - think the reference to a 'drought' was alluding to the fact it is clearly a while since you have had any sexual activity, and that even if you had a full weekend of 'jolly rogering' it is unlikely to cheer you up, or make you less of a bitch..
I bet Mr Yates of the Yard, knows the identity of Liz, even if we don't.
Liz 11.40
"Perhaps he reads the Daily Mail - his comment sounds very much as if it is gleaned from that Rag."
are you saying that today is a good day to read the daily mail?, or a bad one?
I would say that labour press officers: "this is a good day to bury bad news" are held in very low esteem by the country, very low indeed.
The Daily Mail is bought by 2m people/day.
It is never a good day to read the 'Daily Hate Mail' ! Okay, 2m people read it - so what ? There are 7m people thick enough to read the Sun - what is your point ?
It appeals to lowest common denominator thickos who are sexist, xenophobic old farts who share Paul Dacre's sadly narrow-minded world view. Of course, if you have the ability to lap up whatever crap he peddles, regardless of little details, such as whether the story is actually true..then go ahead.
What is truly alarming is that a decent paper like the Torygraph is importing failed hacks from 'Mail Towers' into their empire - decline can only follow.
Would you really want to have to confront Madwitch aka Cherie and tell her the party is over ?
I believe Blair was given a week to fall on his sword and Yates will arrest him once he has resigned.
The arrest on "conspiracy to pervert" of Levy (but not Turner) means that there was another person involved.
Blair's interview was kept secret until Levy was arrested - but it was also kept secret for several days afterwards.
What was gained was a few days respite for Tony Blair until he resigned.
John Prescott was demob happy at the start of the week after he was told.
The BBC is compiling a piece on Tony Blair for when he resigns - at Tony's request?
Tony has been looking very distracted and has not committed to be an honest guy and has resorted to pleading to the public for his character.
He can't even say judge me on my record. His record is so shit he can't even say that. Even education is going backwards. The best thing he can say is "I meant well".
Tony has gone back to his constituency office to tell his constituency rep - and to resign amongst his friends over the weekend.
Tony Blair will be arrested next week by Yates.
John Prescott will now take over as acting PM until Brown gets elected.
Pie and mash all round.
I am told that John Denham is to make a "major speech" regarding England (not allowing us our own Parliament, it will be dangerous if the English run their own country without Scottish MPs, etc, etc), on March 9th in Parliament.
At the same time, Gordon Brown has used some £90,000 to investigate Anglo-Scottish relations, via the Institute of Public Policy Research (all but one of the contributors are Scottish and all are left-wing). gordon brown himself if a major contributor and Kate Schmueker is also involved. She was a major co-ordinator for the YES campaign for RAs in the NE. No pretence of independence here, then.
So what is happening on March 9th and is this linked to Brown's takeover; him being a Scottish MP, seeking to legitimise his rule over England? Is Blair's departure being held back until then? You betcha!
Javelin - Was your post just a beautiful dream, or did you have a serious reason for your scenario?
Another racist post.
I believe that Dave Cameron's speech in the Commons yesterday, may well come back to haunt him. He is much the same now as Blair was 10 years ago, but with the deficit of having nothing worthwhile to say! Neither is he the type that many of us would want as a leader of the country. He may, in fact, prove a bigger disaster overall than Blair has ever been.
So sometime soon why don't the Conservatives call for a vote of confidence in the House, possibly just before the May Council elections.
It would provide a delicious spectacle of Labour MP's struggling with the dilemma, either to vote for the best for the country and voting the Bliar out, or toeing the whips line and rallying behind their discredited leader, leaving it for the country to tell them the truth!
Given their lack of balls so far I guess the odds are on them affirming their support - and getting thoroughly tarred with the same brush - sell that to the voters in May - SUCKERS!!
Is the rather ample lady behind Blair holding a broom handle or a microphone? The expression is: "It's not all over until the fat lady sings." I think she may be about to sing.
The British Constitution and the Labour Party Rule Book seem to be on a collision course.
The British Constitution requires that on the Prime Minister leaving office the Head of State will seek her outgoing Prime Minister’s advice on whom to ask to form an administration. That advice, together with advice from other members of the Privy Council, will strongly influence, if not determine, the Head of State’s action.
The Labour Party Rule Book requires that the Leader of the Labour Party becomes Prime Minister when the Party has a majority in the lower House.
Whenever and however Blair goes as Prime Minister he will certainly no longer be Leader either; then the Deputy Leader steps in. Prescott; just as Margaret Beckett was Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition after Smith’s death. If Prescott resigns Party office at the same time as Blair (and he says he will), then it’s Hazel Blears.
Prescott? Blears?
The British Constitution might prefer the Head of State to cut to the chase and accept advice from her outgoing Prime Minister and other Privy Councillors as to whom to call who may reasonably be thought to be able to command a majority in the Lower House.
Johnson, Milliband, Benn of the current generation (according to the evidence of the betting odds); Brown, Straw, Beckett, Reid (though it’s not clear Reid will have a chair when the mad music to exclude any threat to Brown stops) of those with 10 years of joint Cabinet and Labour Party responsibility.
Or the Parliament could be dissolved and a general election called.
No, I'm wrong on the rules for when the Labour Party is in power (though the collision course is still in place).
"4B.2eProcedure in a vacancy (i) When the party is in government and the party leader is prime minister and the party leader, for whatever reason, becomes permanently unavailable, the Cabinet shall, in consultation with the NEC, appoint one of its members to serve as party leader until a ballot under these rules can be carried out. (ii) When the party is in government and the deputy leader becomes party leader under (i) of this rule, the Cabinet may, in consultation with the NEC, appoint one of its members to serve as deputy leader until the next party conference. The Cabinet may alternatively, in consultation with the NEC, leave the post vacant until the next party conference. "
I am interested in some deconstruction of Liz's posting @1140am. I think she's clearly angry, probably spitting with anger, at what she feels is the unfair, constant criticism of the prime minister.
Something to consider Liz: which politician and which party decided to start this sort of Total War politics, with these (in your view) unwarranted character attacks? Was it Margaret Thatcher? Was it John Major? Umm. no, it was your revolting, moral-free leader and the association of failed lecturers and trades-union funded nonentities on your backbenches who were his footsoldiers. Congratulations. As ye shall sow, etc. What makes the current fun so delicious for a Tory is that it isn't even we who are most malicious about your party's identity collapse: it's your erstwhile friends on the left, in the Guardian and the BBC. The monster which is devouring your political credibility is one which you brought to life yourselves.
By the way, sneering at people for reading the Daily Mail ought to be beneath someone of your self-professed high moral standards, no? The gap between the high standard with which you view yourself, and the way you come across to others, is both staggering, Liz, and a ubiquitous feature of the Labour party which most people in this country have come to detest.
I can't wait for the monent he delivers that immortal line from the film Carry On Cleo:
"Infamy, infamy - they've all got it in for me."
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