tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post114630970383408081..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Gordon Brown's Moment of Truth Is ApproachingIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146403853323893532006-04-30T14:30:00.000+01:002006-04-30T14:30:00.000+01:00gotta say that I disagree that Blair is better at ...gotta say that I disagree that Blair is better at winning elections? who remembers the failure that Milburn was in 2005? If he and Blair had carried on without Brown, we'd be the oppositition by now.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07801341846218646357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146345101482600682006-04-29T22:11:00.000+01:002006-04-29T22:11:00.000+01:00Where is Gordo anyway???!!!He's keeping a *very* l...Where is Gordo anyway???!!!<BR/><BR/>He's keeping a *very* low profileInamicushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12568351031853796862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146318211148539812006-04-29T14:43:00.000+01:002006-04-29T14:43:00.000+01:00Iain, the difference between now and the fall of t...Iain, the difference between now and the fall of the House of Thatcher is one of timing. In 1990 Tory backbenchers had good cause to fear. They were no more than 2 years away from the next election and were miles behind in the opinion polls. Labour backbenchers have got anything up to four more years, and they know Blair is going anyway, and the opinion polls do not spell disaster... so there is not the same sense of fear or urgency. So, their advice to you would be, relax, learn to live with it.<BR/><BR/>Councillors, particularly those up next week, may well think somewhat differently, however.Bob Piperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13792439016502695274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146316708231394952006-04-29T14:18:00.000+01:002006-04-29T14:18:00.000+01:00Cherie is the sort who, scoops up the tips left by...Cherie is the sort who, scoops up the tips left by other guests and then takes them for herself,people like that really do exist.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146314700868572252006-04-29T13:45:00.000+01:002006-04-29T13:45:00.000+01:00In your brilliant pic, why is TB turning his back ...In your brilliant pic, why is TB turning his back on the waiter? Perhaps he's squirming with embarrassment as Cherie prepares to leave one of her Cliff Richard-style tips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146313187769530952006-04-29T13:19:00.000+01:002006-04-29T13:19:00.000+01:00The result would be simple: Gordon would, like Nye...The result would be simple: Gordon would, like Nye Bevan before him, go to the backbenches and the government would fall apart. The beneficaries of all this would not be team GB, but the Tories and the effect would be crush the Labour Party for 20 years - all of these are the reasons why this won't happen.<BR/><BR/>The problem for you Tories is that you are mistaking Westland - ie a serious but momentary crisis - for Black Wednesday - ie a moment that destroys the credibility of the government for ever.<BR/><BR/>This is Blair's Westland moment but already the worst is over - everyone knows the results on Thursday will be bad, everyone knows JP cannot keep it in his trousers. Does that mean people have been shocked by the threat of a £200 a month rise in their mortgages - it doesn't even come near.<BR/><BR/>Close, but no cigar.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146312109003346522006-04-29T13:01:00.001+01:002006-04-29T13:01:00.001+01:00Despite all his present and past problems, TB stil...Despite all his present and past problems, TB still seems to be admired, liked even by most people even amongst Tories. Just in case Labour MPs haven't yet realised the fact, the Dour One simply doesn't cut it, apart from with stalwarts in his own party.<BR/><BR/>Stating the obvious, I know, but the key to winning elections, and TB's great strengh, is to persuade enough people to vote for you who would otherwise not be inclined to do so - on this count Brown will be a disaster for Labour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146312105295335302006-04-29T13:01:00.000+01:002006-04-29T13:01:00.000+01:00All this Blair /Brown nonsense makes me laugh, Bro...All this Blair /Brown nonsense makes me laugh, Brown already runs the country nad has done since 1997, Blair like prescott is just given some toys to play with and given some ego massage, Bbrown is a spinless gimp who, knowing he has plenty of enemies, would rather keep the status quoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1146310813976800772006-04-29T12:40:00.000+01:002006-04-29T12:40:00.000+01:00The problem for Labour, however, is that polls con...The problem for Labour, however, is that polls consistently show they would do even worse under Brown than Blair!<BR/><BR/>So there isn’t much incentive for wanting dear Gordon in anytime soon either, what’s more its doubtful weather he’d be different, in any substantive way, to Blair. <BR/><BR/>Labour best bet is to plum for someone who’s clean when it comes to incompetence and sleaze while at the same time also not closely identified with the Blair-Brown feud… my suggestion would either be Alan Johnson or Hillary Benn – but that wont stop it being a Brown leadership in all likelihood.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com