Gordon Brown To Resign

Gordon Brown has announced he will resign as Labour leader, I, as I'm sure many will rejoice the era of Brown and Blair has gone. That is after all the back stabbing, the leader contest will bring. Yet in resigning Brown has lit the fuse to talks between the Lib Dems and Labour. I truly hope the Lib Dems don't cut off their nose to spite their face. As this looks like it's descending into chaos - no one knows who will be the next leader of the Labour party, yet again they will be "unelected" and to save us from the instability of a minority government, they will give us a minority coalition.

Oh well, let's just savour the moment. Gordon Brown is being thrown to the back benches of good bye political career, so long and thanks for all the fish.

Election Week Four - Borish

This week was largely uneventful until a pensioner wielding a set of questions set the media alight, the Lib Dem surge has been capping off over the course of the week, the last Leaders Debate filled in a lot of the time and the Labour party for-filled the promise of substance over style by inviting Peppa Pig to a political launch. Other news bits.

* The Guardian newspaper came out in support of the Lib Dems stating that - "if it had a vote it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats." The significance of this move is adding to the sense that Labour is finished. It's the first time the Guardian have supported anyone other than Labour since 1983.

* Those cutting edge animators for Taiwan news, have created an re-enactment of 'Bigotgate'. Nice touch having the thought bubbles and microphone that looks like a detonator.

* Brown continues to be heckled, the heckler in question protested that: "Mr Brown needs to see real electors, not just hand-picked people." While being promptly removed from the room, how New Labour. Though in fairness if he had been old and unable defend him self they wouldn't have taken it so easy on him.

* Ed Ball's re-election is looking a tough fight. The Ashcroft Tories pounds are making it very difficult for him.

* In light of the Tories talking of withdrawing from Afghanistan there is an interesting article over on the the NY Times. The Pentagon reports on progress there every few months to Congress.

The closing days of the election will be chaotic, with all the parties fighting for attention like demanding children. With Labour polling what must be almost there base vote and Brown visiting Labour safe seats, suggesting that they've pretty much given up and are limiting the damage. The Tories are making inroads in the polls, the question is whether they can capitalise on that.

Brown Calls Voter "Bigoted Woman"

Labours political poster was too temping not to parody.

This story will have some legs, as it's the worse possible thing Brown could have done. It's the contrast between the tough on immigration public face, it's that she disagreed with him and he reacted like that, it's blaming someone else, it's not wanting to engage with her and it's too easily labelling someone bigoted for raising immigration. All these things go together to make this a very damning two minutes for Brown, as it plays to all of those images presented by others.

So much too for meeting "real people", perhaps not such a good idea.


Update: Paul Waugh has a very good post on his blog, he's from Rochdale and gives a context to Ms Duffy's comments.

The Leaders Debate

I was one of the nine million who tuned into this spectacle last night, my overwhelming thought was that it went on far too long, almost slipped into a coma once the repetition of soundbites began. On the performance of the leaders though:

Clegg came over very well, he won that easily. One answer I really liked from him was on elderly care, it's so nice to hear the notion that you should/can put people above politics to reach a cross party consensus. I've said before on this blog, that there should be areas that politicians don't involve themselves in, but come to an agreement then just leave it alone, heath care is the one I feel very strongly about. So I echo the sentiment around the web, I agree with Nick.

Cameron wasn't too bad, though surprisingly not that good either, being on the defensive doesn't suit him, he seemed very ill at ease. His opening and closing statement though were the most refined and sharpest. He just really didn't pose a challenge or make a mark in the debate itself, he ended up eclipsed by Nick Clegg.

Brown clearly had a few well rehearsed lines and jokes to deliver. Which he did seamlessly, I'm sure no one noticed. Just as trying to embrace the unwilling Lib Dem leader went unnoticed. At no point did I think I was watching Brokeback Mountain. Not even when Brown lent forward, gazing at Clegg, while smiling and biting his lower lip, before looking up to say - "I agree with Nick".

General consensus today is that Clegg won the debate. If he can capitalise on this interest, it will make the forthcoming election harder to call, by pushing it into a hung parliament territory. Certainly the other parties are getting concerned. Yet Clegg is in the wonderful position that in the event of a hung parliament, it is he who the others will look to in order to form a government. That makes him very difficult to attack.

The First Heckle

Day 2 of the election and there it is the first heckle. I did like the part about thinking Gordon wanted to talk to the public. Only Sir if you intend to say a planted question, are a Labour activist and have been frisked.

You Are Not Welcome

Brown gave a speech today about immigration, in his speech he warned against scaremongering and urged an "united front" among the main parties to combat xenophobia. Saying that "how we conduct this debate is as important as the debate itself." In that same speech he said:

To those migrants who think they can get away without making a contribution; without respecting our way of life; without honouring the values that make Britain what it is - I have only one message - you are not welcome.

Well, why not just grab a pitch fork? Someone has been reading the BNP's guide to immigration. It's like "British jobs for British workers". Just how is that helpful from a government? You would like to think this "debate" could rise above, you're not welcome or go home. Lest we forget who lit the fuse over out of control immigration with their policy to begin with.

As although there were people who could have filled many of the jobs immigrates have taken, it was easier and cheaper, due to minimal wage, to fill those vacancies with workers from abroad. As a result the unemployed have been left on benefits, people have seen a shift in their communities in a short space of time, along with a shortage of resources.

Not really able to take seriously a government that has ignored peoples fears until this late moment and on the eve of an election. All while patting themselves on the back over their policy. Selectively glossing over that, if current policy was working would we have BNP members elected to local councils or Europe?

Brown In Afghanistan

Am I just a misanthrope or is Brown's "surprise" visit to Afghanistan the most cynical, distasteful, purely self motived stunt I've seen a politician do for quite awhile. Such shamefulness means there must be an election soon. You can always guarantee a politician will rise above their "principles" the nearer you get to one.

I Too Was Bullied and Beaten By Brown

It's always strange to me that it's the smaller things that take hold in the media and get whipped into a frenzy, perhaps it's the relatable that people latch on to. Bullying is something which so many have personal experience of, myself included. Which does make this a damaging story to take hold.

The revelations about the rage, despair and indecision inside Number 10, doesn't surprise me. It is shocking to me that Brown essentially has a big fat ego? No. Does it shock me that he doesn't like to take responsibility? No. Brown on his damage limitation rounds said about his "passionate nature":

I think the country wants someone that will push things forward, and not allow things to be stagnant and stale...

Yes that would be nice, where can we find such a person? His indecision is a far worse trait for a prime minster to have, situations don't stop and wait while he ponders what to do. He is unfit for being prime minster because he doesn't take responsibility, just control. His temper/bullying etc is just a by-product of his inability to do his job.

No doubt Brown will weather this as he always has, the only change this will make is if polls drop, then the mystery election date may move. Which is the key factor to this story, how people interpret Ms Pratt's intervention - a breach of confidence or outrage at Number 10?

Electoral Reform - An Empty Vote

Gordon Brown has written a comment is free piece over on the Guardian subtitled:

I will do everything I can to secure a referendum to let the people decide on electoral reform.

Can't help but think he'd be better off not mentioning the words "referendum" in the same sentence as anything alluding to New Labour and promises. Tony Blair pledged to do exactly the same thing their 1997 manifesto and lest we forget the Europe referendum that repeatedly never was.

Faith and trust in parliament has taken a severe knock in the past year, but I do not believe people have lost their appetite for politics, or for the change it can bring.

Indeed politics at the moment is like a haggis, bon appetit. Yet when Brown speaks of reforming politics via the voting system, it's just pointless without addressing what has done the most damage - expenses, lack of transparency, accountability, over-powerful whips and party machines etc. Otherwise the only thing you're changing is the MPs, it's like painting over mould and hoping no one notices the smell. As though I support a change in the voting system, I don't at the expense of ignoring more important reform that is yet to surface.

The vote for Browns "election reform" is thought to be next week as he says:

I am determined to do everything I can to take on and persuade those who want to deny the people the chance to decide at a referendum, and I will build support across the Commons, the Lords and the country.

Support he created in less than a working week, now that would be a good use of whips "leadership". So perhaps he could use some of that "leadership" to get the basics right first, like what on earth is going on with expenses, everyone is paying something back while 5 Sirs report on the report, that 3 separate Sirs created and rules get changed but parliament doesn't vote, but everyone criticises everyone else including the Sirs? Certainly seems the best way forward for a clear transparent system.

UK Child Migrants - Government To Say Sorry

I hadn't heard of this before today, hundreds of thousands of British children were deported to former colonies.

The child immigration scheme, mainly organised by the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Nazareth, was intended to bring "pure white stock" to former colonies, and ran from about 1850-1967.

The full details of the scheme are only now emerging. It has become clear that about 85% of the children were not orphans at all.

Their parents were told by the church and state authorities that they had been adopted by middle-class parents in Britain. The children were unceremoniously told that their parents were dead.

Essentially the migration was intended to stop the children being a burden on the British state while supplying the receiving countries with potential workers of 'white stock'. Worst still, some of the people they were entrusted to abused, neglected or used them as cheap labour. I lack the words to express just how awful that is. I'm usually very sceptical about government issued apologies, they seem so hollow and inadequate. Yet in this case drawing attention to these shameful events will hopefully aid in reuniting these families. It is shocking however that Brown won't be issuing the apology until the new year, as if it's something he has to work into his schedule.

So often the sentiment of "never again" is echoed yet nothing is ever learnt, I truly hope lessons are leant from this. Devaluing human life, taking advantage of those that don't have the ability to stand up for themselves and brushing aside those we should protect, is just disgusting.

Glasgow North East By Election - Result

I lost my bet again, I would usually be humble in defeat, yet given the coverage of what a great victory it was and two losses in a row for me, it's starting to feel like a Brown stealth tax. I think I'll push decorum aside.

It's not a vote of victory for Labour, if they couldn't win that seat they couldn't win anything. A turn out of 33%, the lowest turnout in Scottish by-election history, is voter apathy. Is it really victorious that Labour voters are sitting on their hands on mass rather than voting, that's a shinning endorsement of Brown's policies? What wouldn't be then?

When you take into account apathy it's not a good sign for South of the boarder and it's English seats that win elections, as they account for the largest proportion of them. If they can't mobilise their voters in Scotland, in effect their heartlands, that doesn't bode well for England.

Afghanistan Letter

Afghanistan is dominating the news right now, casting a long shadow over Downing St. For the second day running Browns "scrawled" letter is across the papers. I'm no fan of Brown, I like him about as much as I would like to get E.coli, yet the behaviour of the press in this instance has been shameful. Using the death of a serviceman and the grief of his family as a stick with which to beat Brown, is journalism at it's worst.

Attacking him and this government over spelling mistakes made by partly blind man feels desperate and so exploitive. It was a stupid mistake, miss managed, I don't believe that even Brown would set out to offend Mrs Janes with intent. With questions over the troops numbers, reasons for being there or equipment, are these not the things the press should be pushing for answers and holding the government to account for? Yet instead we hear for two days how bad the man handwriting is.

I strongly support freedom of the press, it's a big part of living in a democracy. Yet just because you can say anything, doesn't mean you always should. Morality as Oscar Wilde said, like art, means a drawing a line someplace.

Brown's Christmas Present

Isn't Brown that gift that keeps giving. After it was announced that economy shrank by 0.4%, which officially means that this is the longest recession since records began. Brown vowed to restore growth and reform the financial sector by Christmas. Isn't that like getting back the foot spa you gave someone else for Christmas last year.

I can't help but think though - why when writing out that big fat taxpayer funded cheque didn't he issue some terms? Banks sole purpose is to make money, they are by their nature greedy, a little native to be surprised when they get excessive. Which leads to asking why given the taxpayer is the main share holders in these companies giving out billions in bonuses, doesn't our representatives say something? I don't see the problem with a company that is part nationalised that the main share holder has a say over pay, particularly since that share holder was the one that propped their failing company up.

There is also at long last to be announced some consumer protection measures, which for a Tory Labour government is about time. This is really the way to reform the financial sector, empower the consumer. If the banks are foxes in charge of the hen house, arm those hens with tasers.

Brown to Pay Back £12K

Brown is to repay £12,415 in expenses, I wonder what assets will he sell off to meet the bill?

Labour "Fighting Back" Left and Right

Labour are "fighters, not quitters" is the sound bite of the conference. Though it does make you wonder whether it resonates strongly for Labour, rather than just enforcing the fact they're the underdog in this election. Granted the British do like an underdog, yet usually they're charming, quirky and harmless, not words I would use to describe New Labour.

Brown's "inspiring" speech to the conference today clearly illustrated their election tactic, Conservative policy socially to woo the middle and for the grass-roots, after 12 years Labour have chosen this moment, to remind the public of their '"socialist" credentials for dealing with the economy. Effortlessly brushing under the carpet being Chancellor for 10 years while not being remotely socialist, never let the facts get in the way of an attempt to woo back the voter though.

This mixing of left and right wing is partly what has kept them in power, yet with the Tories now doing the same, what reason will people vote for them? Their track record is hardy a shining endorsement. So unless they really pull something out of the bag here, their policy so far is what we've been hearing for the last 12 years, asbos', tough on crime, targets. . . blah, blah, blah. These policies haven't worked and it won't work. As rather than tackling crime you just create more paperwork, throwing paper clips at a wife beater is completely ineffective. Why not do something really radical, come up with policy for once that's not just a gimmick.

Brown Kicks Off The Conference

Bravo Morten Morland!

Brown World Statesman of the Year

You just couldn't make this up, Henry Kissinger - the political adviser to Bush on the invasion of Iraq and the guy who's been accused of war crimes, has awarded Brown Statesman of the Year. He praised Brown's:

compassionate leadership in dealing with the challenging issues facing humanity, his commitment to freedom, human dignity and the environment, and for the major role he has played in helping to stabilise the world's financial system

I hear it was a difficult decision between him and George W Bush. Kissinger will be also awarding Fred Goodwin banker of the year later this week, Katie Price AKA Jordan will be awarded for her dignity in dealing with her divorce and they're hoping Kim Jong Il will attend to accept the award for his commitment to democracy.

Heeere's Gordy!

Great response to "cuts" from Dave Brown on the Independent.

Wise Spending Vs Savage Cuts

It seems the main parties are singing the same song of cuts now, just at slightly different notes and Lord Long Pretentious title is doing what he does best, spinning like a record. It's not cuts it's "wiser spending", the Tories are the cutters, "savage" cutters. Where as Labour will "prioritise and economise" the Tories will make "indiscriminate across-the-board spending cuts".

Yet Mandelson's media rounds were just to clear the way for Brown speech to TUC today, where after months and months of refusal to even mention the dirty word "cuts", Brown uttered it. In doing so he set up Labours new narrative. They will "protect and improve your front line services" and the Conservatives will "reduce public services at the very time they are needed most". Expect to hear that sound bite constantly for the next few months.

Labours narrative is simply put - to play the Thatcher card. It's a fairly good card to play since core Labour voters may be motivated by it and they may gain ground with those who hated her, and there are many, nothing divides a room quite like saying the name Thatcher.

Though by playing this card, it is a dressed up admission that they're trying to limit the damage of the election. As they need to woo back middle England in order to win it, they won't do that by playing the Thatcher card, she called middle England "her people". This could easily end up in Brown's clumsy hands, the finial nail in New Labour's ability to cross that divide that brought them to power.

The policies that Brown spoke of today in his speech to the union were certainly playing to the gallery, they had echoes of Old Labour. Which is the problem with Brown's speech, voters won't believe that New Labour will do it, they've become just, if not more tainted to people as Thatcher was. Which does pose the question - has this admission and narrative come to late for anyone to listen or even care?

Sky News - Leaders Debate

In a very clever move by Sky News they've issued the three main party leaders a former invitation to a live TV debate. As of writing this Cameron and Clegg have agreed, no commitment yet from Brown. Though Sky News have said they will "empty chair" Brown any party leader that doesn't show up.

No doubt rather than just saying yes or no, Brown will have 5 or so press conferences where he edges closer and closer to giving an answer, until releasing memos which give a definitive one. Though he will continue to pretend otherwise, it is of course easier and clearer that way.

I wrote a post previously when this TV debate last came up in the news and maintain that Nick Clegg has the most to gain from this debate. Yet maybe, just maybe we the public do too. Given the Prime Minster has so much control of policy and the finial say, this is a chance to know what they think about issues, I want to hear answers to questions like: what are you going to cut in the budget? What are your plans for the NHS? What do you plan to do in Afghanistan? If it's chaired properly, unlike in the House of Commons, they will have to answer the question.

The icing on the cake for me however will be, it's going to be so much fun to watch, a beer, some tortillas and a live debate that will have Brown grinning from ear to ear and swaying like he's being electrocuted, oh what a night.