James Purnell Resigns From Cabinet

Another day, another resignation, this time James Purnell. He didn't leave quite as stylishly as Blears but it was just as damaging. Since I've looked at this saga from the perspective of how to get Brown to step down. What's Brown got to do to stay?

Clearly the most oblivious way is to tap into the public desire for an election, stating an election date within the next few months will take the wind out of rebels sails. As the public would be happy with knowing there is an end in slight, it also makes the forthcoming motion of confidence have less of an impact.

Bury his head, shoulders and upper torso in the sand. The party rules do work in Browns favour, he could brazen it out. Rebels may back down if voters patience shows signs of snapping. Effectively play chicken with them.

Create a big distraction, which will divert attention while he works behind the scenes. Though I can't see what they could use which will be big enough.

He is left with increasingly little options by the day and I really don't see him wanting to go down in history as the worst Prime Minster, who never faced an election. Nor do I see him taking the hit on his ego. Yet something has to give here, it's ridiculous, a completely ridiculous situation.

Hazel Blears Resigns From Cabinet

Hazel Blears resigned from government this morning, just before PMQ's. Credit where credit's due, Mrs Blears left the cabinet in style and with conviction so often missing from Labours front bench.

Yet it leaves this saga turning into Murder on the Orient Express, but to what end? A leadership challenge is being spoken of the most. I'm still doubtful about this idea, Labour are more of a dictatorship than the Tories, so it isn't easy to draw comparisons. More importantly none of them really know what public reaction will be if they change leaders again. Paul Waugh has a post about it being a problem in terms of the party rules to. Although it didn't stop them with Brown, I don't suppose it will stop them without Brown.

My own feelings on yet another non elected PM, is that I'd rather have an election. Partly because Brown didn't face any vote to become PM, both nationally and within his party. I would feel cheated if I didn't get a vote after 2 years. The other side is with Brown leading there is a strong possibility of Lib Dems in opposition. Which will move parliament into a more central governing position. Reducing the state's grip will be important after Labour tightening it to a ridiculous level.

There is a sense of poetic justice surrounding this, the man who divided Labour into Blairite and Brownies finds his leadership undone by those he's stabbed in the back, with the sleazy headlines Labour pledged to rid parliament of and against the back drop of bust he said would never happen. They certainly made their bed, yet the election results are still to come, that will really set the cat among the pigeons.


Update: Matthew Norman has written an entertaining article in the Independent. I particularly liked:

overpowering the scent of Gordon Brown's terminal gangrene, all one can safely do is unleash a barrage of ifs and then qualify them.

Jacqui Smith Resigns - Dissolution of Parliament

Britain has lost a Home Secretary any Stasi would be proud of. Herr Smith, the first female Home Secretary and thanks to the really high bench mark she's set, probably the last. Yet maybe now we can get a Home Secretary with some understanding of the words innocent until proven guilty, privacy, right to protest, torture is wrong and we don't want ID cards.

She stands down among the ruins that is fast becoming New Labour, 4 Labour MPs today resigned like rats fleeing a sinking ship or as they would prefer "they want to spend time with their family". However this wasn't the biggest twist to this saga today, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have tabled a motion calling for the dissolution of parliament. Cameron and Clegg are backing the motion and it will be debated next Wednesday.

Can it be won though? Labour have a majority of 63, if Brown can whip the vote he'll win it. Yet this will be after the election results and with mutiny already in the air. If the results are as bad as the polls suggest, he'll be fighting against defeatism on top of it all. Even if he wins the vote, an election just got much earlier than May next year.

Speaker Resigns - Taxi for Martin!

Downing Street has brought itself some time with the Speakers head and Martin gets to leave with the knowledge he's the first Speaker in 314 years to be forced out. Who takes his place however, will give the public a good insight into how parliament intends to proceed.

Martin will also stand down as a MP, leaving the by-election in Glasgow North East a very interesting fight. It's considered a Labour safe seat yet, SNP no doubt will be putting up a fight for it. Nothing will say thanks for devolution quite like the SNP wining that seat.

The saddest aspect to this resignation is that he managed to bring the office of Speaker itself into disrepute. He takes with him the notion that the Speaker is impartial and a leader in the house of commons. Whoever does take over will have to be not only a Betty Boothroyd in confidence and leadership, but almost a saint. In what most will consider a den of thieves, it's going to be a hard sell.