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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”
Anon E Mouse
Liz – I’ve just listened to the same interview. He’s wrong. Tony Blair could win elections – to suggest there are people who wouldn’t vote Labour is true but is not relevant to this in any way.
Labour won three elections under Blair so the man’s point is stupid.
Arthur Bough
Mickey Mouse, you say that what I have put forward would make Labour unelectable. I take it you disagree with those things then. So, you tell us by that that you don’t even support basic democratic principles such as Workers having the right to democratically control their own money in their pension funds. There is nothing “Marxist” in that other than the fact that obviously unlike you, Marxists are consistent democrats. Clearly you think that only the very rich should have the right to control their own property!
What is unelectable about proposing co-operatives? Many people do their shopping at the Co-op. In the US 1 in every 4 people are members of a Co-op of some sort. Again there is nothing “Marxist” about proposing Co-ops, other than again Marxists actually beleive thaat workers have as much right as do the rich to own and control property. Once again you seem to belevie that this is a privilege that has to be reserved for the very rich.
What is unelectable about suggesting that doing any of this should not be at the expense of the middle class? After all wasn’t part of Blair’s project aimed at not alienating them? Once again it seems that your main cocnern is not with workers or even the middle class, but with that fraction of 1% of the population that own most of the productive wealth. Even in terms of New Labour it sounds like you are in the wrong Party.
Anon E Mouse
Arthur – The trouble is it sounds nice but doesn’t work in practice.
For some reason universities in this country keep churning out students who spout off Marx and (to use military engineering parlance) know the “square root of f**k all”.
It’s cuckoo land stuff – no one will vote for it whether or not it’s a good idea in not. Since it will never be electable as a concept just accept you wasted your time learning that drivel and move on Arthur.
The sooner colleges and universities in this country start teaching stuff that’s relevant to the real world the sooner we can get on working out how to get this useless bunch of weak MP’s to grow some balls, ditch that hopeless Prime Minister and get the re-election of a Labour Government.
The clock is ticking…
Liz McShane
Anon – I agree with you that Alan (don’t think he’s Welsh..)Johnson would make a good leader … but when his time comes. Having a leadership contest now (with 4-5 months in the run up to a general election) in any party that is governing is madness.
I am not scared of ballots at all – it’s just the timing.
Anon E Mouse
Liz – Stop it! Every time you tow that same government line (you’re right on the spelling – my mistake) you just heighten the chances of losing the election by an even bigger majority.
Like everyone else you cannot justify Gordon Brown over the Labour Party but that is exactly what everyone is doing.
If Brown is in Labour is out and a few months from now I’m going to hate saying “Liz, I told you so” but I will.
John Major called an election when in a similar position and won it. Brown will go down as the worst chancellor in British history and the least popular gutless Prime Minister as well. The fact he wrote a book called Courage is an absolute joke. Some historic legacy that leaves.
Anyone would be better than Brown and like I said (and the Times editorial) if Labour MP’s won’t get rid of him the public will – either way he’s going and everyone reading this post knows it or they’re lying (or Ed Balls).