tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post4975227862631607316..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Is Alan Milburn Thinking the Unthinkable?Iain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7921617446901659452008-05-21T11:54:00.000+01:002008-05-21T11:54:00.000+01:00He would be a fool to sek Labour leadership in cur...He would be a fool to sek Labour leadership in curent circumstances. It would be the first instance of people fighting to drink from a poisoned chalice. Much better to aim to be PM in 7 years.neil craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09157898238945726349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17141024983246594322008-05-21T08:01:00.000+01:002008-05-21T08:01:00.000+01:00Milburn is too associated with New Labour and Blai...Milburn is too associated with New Labour and Blair. Labour needs a fresh face and a new approach if it is to stand a chance of escaping oblivion. Step forward, Kate Hoey.Tapestryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267094484651413428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39729153411078072492008-05-21T02:52:00.000+01:002008-05-21T02:52:00.000+01:00and if Milburn decides to answer the West Lothian ...and if Milburn decides to answer the West Lothian Question and hoist England's flag aloft, New Labour would win an election.<BR/>Cameron does not like us sour little Englanders any way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64532306531180732802008-05-20T23:21:00.000+01:002008-05-20T23:21:00.000+01:00Milburn should admitt if the more serious rumours ...Milburn should admitt if the more serious rumours are true or fake. I would not vote if the more serious rumours were true. I hpe they are lies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45213993976460699562008-05-20T23:04:00.000+01:002008-05-20T23:04:00.000+01:00If a politican had an affair I can eventually take...If a politican had an affair I can eventually take that, and Milburn should be honest about it if it is worse than that people should know and tell him where to go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52054675679325218332008-05-20T22:55:00.000+01:002008-05-20T22:55:00.000+01:00Why did Milburn resign? I demand to know why. Now!...Why did Milburn resign? I demand to know why. Now!<BR/>Someone said it is what you think. What was he caught having it off with farm yard animals while wearing a satanic head dress, and declaring he supported the UKIP. So what he can do what he wants in his private life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84313632708233183992008-05-20T20:43:00.000+01:002008-05-20T20:43:00.000+01:00Anonymous 6.56 pm:Iain (probably quite wisely) dec...Anonymous 6.56 pm:<BR/><BR/>Iain (probably quite wisely) decided not to run my comment about Alan Milburn's sudden desire to spend more time with his family a few years ago.<BR/><BR/>You have managed to express your thoughts in a far more subtle way than I did and so got under the Dale lawsuit radar.<BR/><BR/>I guess that if you want the real stories, without fear of censorship, you have to go over to Guido's.<BR/><BR/>Now - let's see if you publish this, Iain...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14617465242464697702008-05-20T19:57:00.000+01:002008-05-20T19:57:00.000+01:00Milburn was not a good SOS for Health.If his medic...Milburn was not a good SOS for Health.<BR/><BR/>If his medicine for the Labour party is as good as his prescription for the NHS then Labour will soon be even more poorly than it is already.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45458206831812250592008-05-20T18:56:00.000+01:002008-05-20T18:56:00.000+01:00I bought a Saab off a very senior NHS official a f...I bought a Saab off a very senior NHS official a few years ago. He happily told the intermediate ebay trader (who told me) the full story of why Milburn suddenly left office and legged it back to the NE.<BR/><BR/>It is what you'd think....and I can't imagine why it was never run in the papers, though a couple of female broadsheet columnists got pretty close to spilling the beans.<BR/><BR/>I think Milburn - if he does run - will do it knowing that he won't get the main prize, but that isn't the point. A leadership race could be a win-win...<BR/><BR/>1. Gordo could win and strengthen his position - now he has been voted for.<BR/>2. Gordo is tipped out and Labour gets a new start, which should reduce the size of their defeat at the next election.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17462503102511086152008-05-20T17:44:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:44:00.000+01:00Interestingly, according to Nick Wallis http://dar...Interestingly, according to Nick Wallis http://darlingtoncouncillor.blogspot.com/ AM has just relaunched his website. Nick also has a recent interview with AM on his blog: http://darlingtoncouncillor.blogspot.com/2008/03/exclusive-alan-milburn-interview.htmlAdrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18133737535022180304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22099413914904450242008-05-20T17:05:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:05:00.000+01:00Unless Labour are too afraid to see the truth, Bro...Unless Labour are too afraid to see the truth, Brown will destroy the party if he lasts for another two years and must (absolutely must) be replaced as soon as possible.<BR/><BR/>This, as Alex says, would force a general election.<BR/><BR/>That the Tories appear unready for this offers Labour their best hope of winning, or not losing too badly.<BR/><BR/>Personally I think the Tories would cream them now, but in 2010 they would be wiped out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66208700848573710462008-05-20T17:02:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:02:00.000+01:00I'm still sceptical about this. The problem for La...I'm still sceptical about this. <BR/><BR/>The problem for Labour MPs is that, if they push him out, they've no real idea who they'll get in his place. Unless the bulk of the MPs can somehow manage, in advance, to unite around one single candidate, which is all but impossible, there will have to be a genuine leadership contest. Who knows who would stand? If I remember correctly, the electoral college is one third Unions and one third Party Members, so they could end up choosing someone even less electable than Brown (I know, it sounds like an oxymoron...). <BR/><BR/>It would be a VERY high-risk strategy, made worse by the inevitable period of in-fighting and back-stabbing.<BR/><BR/>I might be wrong, and all bets are off if Brown himself throws in the towel. Somehow, I don't think he will. I'm not betting on it, though!Richard Nabavihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11528980060497008785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53828611447549789202008-05-20T16:41:00.000+01:002008-05-20T16:41:00.000+01:00Don't forget they are broke. If they are to surviv...Don't forget they are broke. If they are to survive financially, it will need to be someone who can bring money. Given that anyone who is sensible enough to have a few million isn't daft enough to give it to NuLiebour now with the level of scrutiny it will have, there is just the unions left. That means a return to old labour and becoming the third party.BrianSJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03613916574661223679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45287453103225479602008-05-20T15:41:00.000+01:002008-05-20T15:41:00.000+01:00Paul Linford,Do you really think it's just Brown t...Paul Linford,<BR/><BR/>Do you really think it's just Brown the electorate are sick of, or is it the Labour party in general?<BR/><BR/>Personally I think it's the latter and Brown merely provides cover for the rest of them.<BR/><BR/>If you look at recent polling in Scotland and Wales,traditional Labour strongholds, you see much the same effect as that observed in England.<BR/><BR/>Labour is finished for the forseable future regardless of who the leader is imho.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-90471514766103240122008-05-20T15:07:00.000+01:002008-05-20T15:07:00.000+01:00Mmmm I'm not sure about this...Firstly I do think ...Mmmm I'm not sure about this...<BR/><BR/>Firstly I do think Brown is done for and always was from the moment he failed to call a General Election. Blair promised a full term, fine, change your mind but you also lost the mandate to rule. Nothing less than a GE would have done and without one he's always going to be a lame duck.<BR/><BR/>I just can't see Brown wanting to go now though - no matter how much he's persuaded.<BR/><BR/>There's also no one powerful enough within that could force his hand, short of a unanimous Cabinet walk-out (won't happen).<BR/><BR/>The heavies outside; Milburn, Clarke and Straw? Nah, I just can't see them getting enough traction to make Brown jump (or give him a push).<BR/><BR/>Its not that Brown is too strong (far from it actually) but if he decides to dig in, the Labour Party is going to have to draw knives... and I just don't believe there are enough of them prepared to act in unison or have the stomach for a blood bath.<BR/><BR/>Oh and here's a thing... I'm sure Brown is smart enough to realise that he could greatly strengthen his position if he could gain a scalp or two; the question is, who's going to risk becoming his prey?<BR/><BR/>Beyond that, I still say Brown will never recover but will try to limp on at all costs. But I still believe he won't make it to the next GE, by that point the PLP will have discovered their stomachs for a revolution... it'll doubtlessly be messy.John Pickworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02166443099429490782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17334818699087560542008-05-20T15:02:00.000+01:002008-05-20T15:02:00.000+01:00The nightmare for Labour (yes it can get worse) is...The nightmare for Labour (<I>yes it can get worse</I>) is to have a leadership challenge that fails.<BR/><BR/>The Lib Dems can then look forward to being the main opposition after the next general election if that happens.Man in a Shedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00990902055642035293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33151042845302891312008-05-20T14:54:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:54:00.000+01:00Milburn himself would crash and burn. His chum Cla...Milburn himself would crash and burn. His chum Clarke has also been throwing his weight around and chuntering about take Brown down. <BR/><BR/>I agree with Graham our Fabian - Brown could see either of these two off and if that were the limit of the challenge he could well contest and win it.<BR/><BR/>But the youth might want to pile in now though as in many cases NL MPs are the most vulnerable. And Paul Linford has a point. Milburn is an opportunist and this could be his only chance.<BR/><BR/>But Brown vs Milburn full stop, Brown wins.<BR/><BR/>Whether Crewe is very good or very bad I'm not feeling a sense of a significant group of either ministers or back benchers giving up on Brown at this stage.<BR/><BR/>Conference 2008 is going to be very interesting.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-64870793134921513862008-05-20T14:53:00.001+01:002008-05-20T14:53:00.001+01:00Milburn is an old CND hand. Was active in the NE ...Milburn is an old CND hand. Was active in the NE trying to make it a 'nuclear free zone'in those cold war Ruskie neutron bomb days. He nicely hitched on to Blair New Labour band wagon for the road to power. As health secretary against his shadow Liam Fox sounded like an used car salesman. Liam Fox once in an exchange said somewhat like this: "when I was a junior doctor working 72 hours a week in a hospital ward, you were busy distributing CND pamphlets. I do not take pep talk from you". Milburn is a light weight, like Hodge and Benn junior a left-winger, invented himself as New Labour to join Blair. Bring him on!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-35244545748912362232008-05-20T14:53:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:53:00.000+01:00They should merge with the Lib Dems and make Vince...They should merge with the Lib Dems and make Vince Cable their leader.<BR/><BR/>Oh alright that is never going to happen but failing that Alan Milburn is their best bet of avoiding annihilation at the next General Election.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02263275229285861236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53237311757751173862008-05-20T14:50:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:50:00.000+01:00I have always thought that Milburn stood back in p...I have always thought that Milburn stood back in part due to sleaze rumours and also to keep his powder dry for a moment such as this. As others have said, he has little baggage of the fag-end of Blair and the disaster that was Brown.<BR/><BR/>Clarke to stalk, Milburn to follow through.Roger Thornhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01153744692290896812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78653646125328249292008-05-20T14:34:00.001+01:002008-05-20T14:34:00.001+01:00Rob,Cameron may not have had a power base as such,...Rob,<BR/><BR/>Cameron may not have had a power base as such, be he did have one advantage; he was Michael Howard's much preferred choice. In fact, while a lot of people in the party are still convinced Howard's attempts to take leadership votes away from members were just part of a control-freakery, the explanation is much more subtle. He didn't want another IDS-type election, and was convinced that the membership would go for 'anyone but Cameron'. I don't think his attempt to block members voting was a wise or acceptable call, but I can sort of see why he wanted to do it.<BR/><BR/>Without the current Labour leader (obviously) not wanting to endorse a dark horse, I can't see one coming through.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-35021862782585944812008-05-20T14:34:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:34:00.000+01:00Milburn may not be Scottish but he has the misfort...Milburn may not be Scottish but he has the misfortune of being a walking reminder of the North East.<BR/><BR/>North East and Labour equals 1 think - Northern Rock<BR/><BR/>Blair may have been educated in Scotland and represented a North East constituency - but he did not adopt any particular accent (other than his attempts at Estuary English) - this gave him a broader base in terms of supportability.<BR/><BR/>I don't think Milburn would be an easy sell to the South EastAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74358437148682138952008-05-20T14:17:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:17:00.000+01:00Just a thought, if Alan Milburn became PM.....coul...Just a thought, if Alan Milburn became PM.....could that be an opening for Blair..to enter the Lords. Lord Blair of Knottyash, and for Blair to become Foreign Secretary!<BR/><BR/>Stranger things have happened!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-37812228324322556032008-05-20T14:04:00.000+01:002008-05-20T14:04:00.000+01:00I find Straw decidedly creepy. I'm sure he believe...I find Straw decidedly creepy. I'm sure he believes he's God's gift to women, yet he isn't even an interesting nerd. Johnson's a joke. And Miliband will never recover from the effects of that video of his arrogance when he was pressed about the Lisbon Constitution. Harman has tainted herself over her expenses scandal and too many lies and too much spin.<BR/><BR/>So who exactly do nulab have to put up as a candidate for PM now? No one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-68594232680359677082008-05-20T13:51:00.000+01:002008-05-20T13:51:00.000+01:00Even as a Conservative supporter, I have always th...Even as a Conservative supporter, I have always thought that Milburn is an appealing politician in a similar vein to Blair. Actually I used to wonder if he was deliberately apeing Blair's mannerisms. I think he would be a far stronger leader than Brown in terms of public appeal and a more potent opponent for the Tories. <BR/><BR/>To those that mention stalking horses, don't forget you need 70-odd MPs to be a challenger which effectively rules out "stalking horses". Anyone that can get that support is inherently a serious challenger.<BR/><BR/>It might be true to say that Milburn doesn't have a powerbase, but did Cameron? He made a good speech at conference, got the media on side and the Big Mo carried him along. Put Milburn alongside the Dour One in a few debates, have a few polls showing the public prefer him and I think it's quite feasible that Labour MPs would conclude he has a better chance of keeping them in employment than Brown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com