Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Brown Under Threat: This is Not 1983

Hilarious stuff on the Daily Politics.

11.45am Andrew Neil: Nick Robinson, I keep hearing rumours of a leadership challenge. I know nothing about all this stuff. Should I believe any of it?
Nick Robinson: No you shouldn't. It's rubbish and isn't going to happen.

Meanwhile, 50 minutes later, Andrew Neil reports that Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt have launched a coup attempt. Cue egg on face for Nick Robinson. Actually, it was more like a dozen eggs.

So, Hoon and Hewitt have sent out a letter to Labour MPs saying "We can't go on like this". An astonishing admission in itself as that is the Tories' new election slogan. It's reminiscent of Hazel Blears wearing the "Rocking the Boat" broch.

Older Labour MPs are comparing this situation to that of 1983 when there was a move to ditch Michael Foot in favour of Denis Healey. They didn't carry it through and went on to a crushing election defeat. However, it's a false comparison. There is no Denis Healey equivalent.
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13 comments:

  1. Andy JSJanuary 06, 2010 12:53 pm

    As Iain says, the problem is that although Brown is not an effective leader there isn't really anyone better to replace him.

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 06, 2010 12:56 pm

    Nick Robinson must be fuming, thinking that he was 'on-message' and all.

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  3. Not a sheepJanuary 06, 2010 1:22 pm

    Alistair Darling seems to have the potential to grow into a Denis Healey figure. He's certainly inept enough and has the eyebrows.

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  4. David LindsayJanuary 06, 2010 1:27 pm

    Badly timed. No alternative candidate. On the day of a PMQs triumph. Both frontpersons retiring, anyway. Tell them to put up or shut up, Gordon. Or, better still, just ignore them.

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  5. NJWJanuary 06, 2010 1:31 pm

    Egg on face. Nokia's to the wall. Champagne at CCHQ its a wonderful day only ruined by the snow.

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  6. barryJanuary 06, 2010 1:36 pm

    What did Nick Robinson mean when he said "when you go up to any labour MP or even government ministers and say wouldn't we have more chance of victory without Gordon Brown". Who Nick is the WE.

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  7. UnsworthJanuary 06, 2010 1:58 pm

    Robinson shown in his true colours, then.

    A bit like Naughtie, etc etc etc....

    I'm not convinced there's enough weight behind Hewitt and Hoon, but no doubt the real bruisers will be making their minds up over the next 24 hours. It'll be interesting to hear their publicly expressed views in due course.

    Where's Mandelson in all of this?

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  8. ConandJanuary 06, 2010 2:05 pm

    A wonderful late xmas present to see Nick Robinson finally get his comeuppance.

    A plan to cripple the Taliban:

    Get them to employ Nick Robinson, Liam Donaldson, Sir James Crosby, John Hirst, Robert Peston and Gordon Brown> They would be in total disarray in about four days.

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  9. UnknownJanuary 06, 2010 3:04 pm

    Poor Nick 'Toenails' Robinson. He probably spent ages on the phone this morning with McLoser working out how best to spin the Liebour message. Then this happens. Couldn't happen to a nicer twat.

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  10. AnonymousJanuary 06, 2010 3:43 pm

    I would take this story seriously, except that it involves Hoon, Hewitt & Robinson. All so out of touch.

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  11. javelinJanuary 06, 2010 3:58 pm

    Nick must feel let down my his employers in the Labour Party.

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  12. Man in a ShedJanuary 06, 2010 4:22 pm

    If Gordon Doesn't even enjoy the confidence of Labour MPs then its time for a No Confidence motion.

    Cue Dave.

    That'll force Labour MPs to chain themselves to the millstone.

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  13. AnonymousJanuary 07, 2010 12:58 pm

    But there wasn't a leadership challenge. So Nick Robinson was right.

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