Tomorrow’s Guardian reveals Gordon Brown is pressing Tony Blair for a public endorsement of his candidacy in an attempt to stem Labour’s damaging public leadership split, and head off Mr Brown’s fear that Blairites will field a rival contender when Mr Blair finally steps down early next year.
You know what Gordon? It's like David Cameron being asked if would mind awfully stepping aside for DD to assume his rightful mantle. Gordon mate, it just ain't gonna happen. Get used to it.
An ICM poll for the Guardian shows that more than two thirds of the electorate wants a contest, with only a quarter wanting a coronation. Just over half of voters think that the party would have a better chance of winning the next general election under another leader with only with only a third believing the chancellor is the best bet. The poll also shows that half of all voters want Mr Blair out by the end of the year and almost two in five think he should quit now.
Now what will all those Labour MPs in marginal seats make of all this. I suspect the Sunday newspapers will enable us to find out...
Endorsement? You mean like on a driving licence?
ReplyDeleteActually, isn't it now illegal not to provide a job reference when one is requested?
So what form of weasel words will Toni (with input from the missus) dare commit to paper?
"He has performed his duties as Chancellor entirely to his own satisfaction," seems a good bet.
You could get a competition going with this one, Iain.
Iain, All I can say is, I hope it does not end.
ReplyDeleteThis internecine warfare is exposing New Labour and Old Labour for what it is.
DC must be rubbing his hands with glee.
Mmmm. When I reached FatBoy's point about ID cards the words "Pot, kettle, black" occurred. Agree with BT. Tony's endorsement could be along the lines of "Should do well in a managerial role in Hades. When hell freezes over, Gordon's your man."
ReplyDeletesorry - that last post should gone on the CC story!
ReplyDeleteClarke's right; Brown isn't leadership material and he's not very bright. That he's tedious, emotionally and socially dysfunctional, paranoid and has been awarded a PhD for some unreadable thesis should confirm this.
ReplyDeleteBut what marvellous sport all this viciousness is and how their impending nemesis is so richly deserved. It's just a shame that we can't see real blood spilt and that all the players keep their pensions and perks, paid for by us, for the rest of their lives.
To Whom It May Concern:
ReplyDeleteRe: Mr Gordon Brown, 11 Downing Street, SW1.
I have known Gordon for a little over 20 years, firstly as an acquaintance, and since 1997, as an employee.
I have found working with Gordon an interesting and challenging experience, and one which has been very rewarding for him. Gordon is always willing to contribute his opinion and viewpoint on a wide range of issues, some of which even relate to his job.
Gordon is liked by a large number of his fellow colleagues, and many feel that he would be an ideal candidate for Chief Executive. Others however feel strongly that his skills are best used in a lower profile and less public position.
I have found Gordon’s skill set useful, despite some reservations about certain aspects of his personality which have at times caused me to wonder if he wouldn’t be more suited to a role elsewhere within the organisation. However, his ability to work with figures has been very useful in the difficult job of presenting the annual accounts to the shareholders.
Gordon likes to ensure that his presence is felt across all departments within the company, even occasionally when it is right for him to do so. Indeed, despite being quite quiet and reserved, everybody knows Gordon.
His style of working is interesting. He works closely with a small dedicated team of like minded individuals, and his team certainly share similar views about where the company should go in the future. However, one of the things I think Gordon should work on in his future position is his interpersonal skills, particularly in the area of communication, as well as taking time to listen more carefully to those outside his team – and in particular, to the views of the shareholders.
Gordon is very keen to advance his career, and this evident from a number of occasions where it has been necessary to curb his natural enthusiasm – particularly at the last Annual General Meeting, where he felt that he should have much more input into its organisation, as well as chairing the actual meeting itself. This lead to some confusion as to his role, and for two weeks, Gordon was absent from work.
Despite his many abilities, Gordon does have the occasional lapse of memory, a tendency to have a selective recall of past events, and at times he it prone to long periods of silence.
Sincerely yours,
Tony Blair,
The Bahamas
The only link that might work for Gordon is as follows...
ReplyDeleteMurdoch is backing Brown. Blair has been offered a Seat on the Board of News International. If it pleases Rupert Murdoch for Blair to endorse Brown, and Rupert requests it, that is the only way it might happen.
But more likely after the events of this week, Brown's hold on the Crown, which has always been illusory will start to slip (surely it will), and Murdoch will no doubt, wake up next week or soon and be supporting A.N.Other.
Blair and Brown will go down together, locked in the same embrace of mistrust they've been in for the last 12 years. By pushing Blair out, Brown's ending his own reign at the same time. He'll go down as a tragic figure, who was the ideal foil to Blair but had little else to offer.
Tony could always be soft and cuddly because he was surrounded by strong chracters like Campbell, Mandelson and Brown who ran the realm for him, so he never once had to get his hands dirty.
Lennon & McCartney, Morecambe & Wise. Brown & Blair.
Philip Walling - I agree that Brown is not very bright, and he is just feral enough to be vaguely aware of this, which is why he never speaks up. He is beyond repulsive to look at - that wobbly lip - I can't watch it.
ReplyDeleteEmotionally and socially dysfunctional: check.
Paranoid: check.
I would add maladroit - as in thinking he is making a statement by wearing a business suit to a white tie engagement.
He most assuredly is not leadership material. He has no interest in other people, so doesn't understand what people look for in a leader. (I don't think Blair does either, as he is rather psychopathic, but he knows how to mask it.)
Yes, the ejected players will keep their pensions - but their perks? I don't think so ... surely ...
Struth doesn't Sky hate Gordo?
ReplyDeleteWe conspiracy theorists, measure how much conspiracy theorising is going on by the level of bias registered on the "shan't invite you to my wedding, if you don't behave" channel. (Where is the charming Bolton?)
Meanwhile, I shall mainly be spending the w/e, Homer Simpson style, in the garden in the paddling pool, demanding more beer and news from the Sack Full of Ferrets.
Given this morning's papers, Brown's toast. It took only 24 hours for the "Iron Chancellor" carapace to melt off under the blow torch,once it began. How amusing. All that tooth-whitening, all those hair-dos, all that marrying wossname, all those wobble-lipped quotes ... and he now knows he was never anywhere near first base - the priggish, nit.
ReplyDeleteTwenty-four hours, after nine years, and it's all gone. Most entertaining. Where do you think you'll be going now, Gordy? You know you don't have the nerve to fight your corner.
The BBC is a firm believer in democracy so it beleives in a multi party system. That involves the 4 main parties which are The New Labour Party the Old Labour Party The Lib/Dems and The BBC.
ReplyDeleteActually, given Blair's general popularity with the Labour Party, the general population and most people with an IQ above room temperature, his endorsement of Gordo will be the single greatest guarantee that The Scowl will not step into the master's dancing shoes.
ReplyDeleteCome back Prezza. All is forgiven...
ReplyDeleteDon't do it Tony and you can stay until you nsack the bastard...
ReplyDeleteFairly or not Brown is seen as the sneaky bastard in the background.
ReplyDeleteI really have a feeling that a years worth of polls showing he's less popular than Davy and a few showing Brown less popular than even Tony himself that the MPs will want their seats more than Brown.
If he become PM three years of being called a backstabber isn't going to do his chances any good.
Better Labour MPs opt for just a bastard rather than a sneaky one.
"It's like David Cameron being asked if would mind awfully stepping aside for DD to assume his rightful mantle.....it just ain't gonna happen."
ReplyDeleteDamn. And I was still hoping so much...
Come the next general election, Brown will demand that Dave and Ming don't put up any candidates so he can continue in his rightful role.
ReplyDeleteI though t bliar recently said he was the obvious choice or something like that.
ReplyDeleteImagine what labour would be like if the "anyone but Gordo" candidate made it & Brown presumably retired to the back benches to offer adice from there.
Suit the Tories eh Iain?
neil craig - There's no way someone with Brown's ego would, after nine years as Chancellor, step down to the back benches. He'll leave Parliament. He's history.
ReplyDeleteVerity
ReplyDeleteThat would require him to call a by-election & there is no precedent for such.
When I say advice from the backbenches I meant of the sort Rangers fans give Celtic players, Asquith gave LLoyd George or Heath would have liked to give Thatcher if he had had any supporters. That would see him through to the next election.
neil craig - Ah yes. OK. Agreed.
ReplyDelete