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The failed attempt to topple Gordon Brown is the lead story in all today’s papers. The Times says the actions of the “unlikely duo” of former Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt and Brown’s former Chief Whip Geof Hoon had “derailed” Labour’s recovery, with the Independent highlighting the “faulty reasoning” of the plotters, pointing out that “no recent polls have suggested that a different leader would deliver a significant boost to Labour’s ratings”, the only result being that “Labour would be seen as a divided shambles”. Allegra Stratton in the Guardian explains that Hoon’s involvement may stem from being snubbed by the PM for the EU High Commissioner role:
“[He] is understood to have held off a direct criticism of Brown in June, hoping he was still in contention. It is understood he had written a letter calling for Brown to go, but never published it. But Hoon didn’t get a job in Brussels…”
In the Telegraph, Ben Brogan says that, like last summer, Lord Mandelson’s role was crucial in foiling the botched coup attempt.
The tabloids also lead on the coup, with the Mirror calling Hoon and Hewitt “Dumb and Dumber” – just as Left Foot Forward had tweeted yesterday – describing how the “bumbling plot” by the “failed ex-Cabinet ministers” came about:
“The botched plot to oust Gordon Brown was hatched in a first-class railway carriage as Patricia Hewitt and Geoff Hoon travelled together to their neighbouring constituencies. Other MPs from the East Midlands told how the pair could be seen brooding about their failed careers.”
The Mail asks “Has Labour got a death wish” while the Sun has an opinion poll – carried out before the coup – whose results show that “dumping leader won’t win voters”. Online, the Labour blogosphere has been almost united in condemnation of the plot, with LabourList publishing a statement from activists and candidates “calling for Labour to unite and focus on the real challenges ahead”.
The terrible weather is today’s other main story. The Mail says the big freeze “could cost business £14bn”, with temperatures plummeting to -17C (1F), and pictures a bus careering into a surgery in North-West London. The Standard reports a new danger to motorists “as snow turns into ice”, the Arctic temperatures sparking a “new round of disruption”. The Times warns of a “salt emergency”, saying stocks could run out “within four days” if the deep freeze doesn’t abate. And the Express pleads “Don’t let it bring us to a stop”. Yesterday Left Foot Forward highlighted the lack of co-operation between central, local and devolved governments in dealing with the crisis.
The Telegraph reports the publication today of a series of options for cleaning up MPs’ allowances by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) which will be subject to public consultation. There had been fears, adds the Telegraph, that IPSA would not implement the Kelly Report in full. The paper, which broke the story of MPs’ abuse of expenses last year, explains how the consultation will work:
“The five-week consultation process will involve meetings and events around the country, as well as the opportunity for the public and interested parties to respond through a dedicated website.”
And the Guardian reports that the al-Qaeda triple agent who killed seven CIA officers in Afghanistan last week had links to Jordan, said to be a cause of “deep embarrassment” to Amman. Security failings are also to the fore, with former agents expressing “astonishment that he was allowed to enter the Khost base without being searched”. Earlier this week Left Foot Forward reported the role of Yemen in the fight against terrorism.
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24 Responses to “Politics Summary: Thursday, January 7th”
Liz McShane
Anon – As someone who is looking forward (believe it or not) to getting involved in campaigning for Labour between now and May/June I just can’t believe the stupidity and irrelevance of Hoon & Hewitt’s actions – they are not even standing again as MPs and the polls show that a change of leader does not matter. So the key thing is to articulate and campaign on the policies both at local & national level so people on the doorstep can judge.
Yes it will be difficult – it always is after 3 terms in Government but whatever your feelings (or rather contempt for Brown) are, this time last year many commentators were saying that we were heading for a depression…. which hasn’t happened and in fact many countries followed GB’s lead vis a vis the banks.
Anon E Mouse
Liz – Brown said we would lead the way out of recession – wrong on the economy as usual.
Hoon and Hewitt speak for free thinking members of the Labour Party who know that with Brown in office they will be out on their ear within a few months – have you ever considered Liz that these people believe that people can be best helped in this country with a Labour government?
Tell me Liz why you think it is acceptable to lower the chances of re-election with Brown in power? He’s useless – everyone knows it but to put his selfish needs before the party is criminal.
I’ve said elsewhere on this blog – hold the secret ballot. If Brown wins he strengthens his position (not hard). If he loses he has no business leading the party or the country.
If Brown can’t convince all the 350 members of the PLP he’s the right man for the job (which he clearly can’t) how is he going to convince 60 million UK voters?
Everyone in the Labour Party knows with Brown in it’s over – it doesn’t matter what the policies Labour have, with Brown in power it won’t matter jot.
Liz McShane
Anon – I know that you are not a fan of Gordon Brown (understatement of the year possible..) but a change of leader at this stage is just not practicable nor desired for various reasons:
1. It would appear a selfish act of navel gazing by the party and neglect of the bigger matters in hand i.e. running the country!
2. A new face at the helm of Government will not change matters – have you not been reading the polls?
3. Tell me who your dream leader would be at this late stage in the day?
4. People will/should vote on policies not on personalities or if the face its etc. Maybe Blair tried to introduce a presidential style of governing and personality but that’s not what we need now.
Liz McShane
For anyone who is interested….
World at One interview with Labour council leader in Geoff Hoon’s
constituency — not impressed with traitors:
“GB’s the best intellect the party’s produced in decades. Ordinary
members care about that — they’re not interested in having a PM like
some X-Factor contestant who gets voted off if he can’t sing and can’t
juggle.”
And on GB’s unpopularity: ‘There are people who wouldn’t vote for
Jesus Christ if he was leader of the Labour Party.”
Pretty much everyone’s laying into Hoon, Hewitt & Charles Clarke.
Anon E Mouse
Liz –
1. The country goes more and more into debt by the hour – there is absolutely no legislative program whatsoever by this current government – what exactly are the government doing? Lords reform? They’ve even nobbled the Iraq enquiry because they know their behaviour at the time was a disgrace.
2. It’s because I’ve been reading the polls that I know, as does everyone else honest enough to admit it and it’s why I know that anyone else at the helm could only improve matters. He is the least popular Prime Minister since records began – simple as that.
3. Dream leader? Probably Alun Johnson because he’s worked in the real world unlike those hopeless Milibands.
4. Irrespective of what people “should” do, it makes no difference. The electorate will do the rebels job for them. Regardless of Blair and his presidential style he could win elections. I argue that’s because the public voted for him and his “full third term”. Who’s going to vote for Brown?
Those are good questions Liz but please, tell me why you are prepared to put Brown before the Labour Party?
What do you believe he has done that makes him more important than the historic party he leads? Damian McBride ring any bells? This man is a thug and bully and deserves no support.
Why don’t you want a secret ballot to resolve this once and for all because this is not going to go away Liz. What is so frightening about a democratic ballot? (The fact Brown would lose it is what).