With the creeping certainty that Gordon Brown will not survive the year, his main rivals for the leadership of the Labour Party have been notable by their absence. Messages from Geoff Hoon, Jacqui Smith and Andy Burnham have been ringing in the ears of any reporter willing to listen. But where is Alan Johnson's, James Purnell's and David Miliband's support for the ailing PM.
Unsurprisingly their voices are not to be heard, they are waiting in the wings, waiting for the opportunity to begin a contentious leadership battle. With the BBC reporting that the Gordon Brown 'must go letter' has received the support of 80 Labour MPs, it is now inevitable that there will be a leadership challenge.
Either that, or Gordon Brown has undertaken a Stalinist Purge to eliminate all his rivals. But I suppose that would be too decisive. His rivals would have a chance to pack, have a leaving do and exchange their money before fleeing the country.
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12 hours ago
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Purnell? Johnson? Milliband? Leaders?
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that someone arrogant enough to view him or herself in the role of potential leader would really want to succeed Gordon? Leading the Party where, exactly? Into the wilderness of defeat, bankruptcy and ignominy? Without a compass or map or simply a sense of political direction?
Maybe it's my age - but surely professional politicians like Purnell et al are the problem, not the solution?
How many of those named above would have been members of the Conservative Party - had the Conservatives been the party of power...? And how many will simply leave Labour now their personal-glory vehicle has sunk?
And increasingly I ask: what's the point of a political party which has no grass-roots activists? Just who or what does this party stand for? And with membership fees so glaringly out-of-touch with natural constituents it is unlikely to ever have that happy band of brothers and sisters out canvassing and fund-raising ever again...
I thought the dark days which followed electoral defeat in '79 were the absolute nadir of what was possible in terms of party dissolution. I was wrong...
It seems that madness rules, ok.