Comments on: Brown vs Miliband

By: Margot Parker

Margot Parker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:07:08 +0000

The Labour Party will need to be very convincing at the party conference and GB will have his work cut out to convince voters that he is the best option to lead labour come the next election. The economic situation might well trigger a leadership contest for Labour even so David Miliband will need to show that he has more to offer other than the odd press interview loaded in his favour.Miliband in his role as foreign secretary has not stood out as outstanding so perhaps GB is still the best Labour can hope for to lead them into the next election.

By: Philip J W

Philip J W — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:46:21 +0000

It may be that Labour are drawing some comfort from the fact the polls have stopped getting steadily worse. A little optimism will come from the awareness that the ship has stopped sinking further.

But I think this is a relative lull before the storm. The black clouds of a worsening economy will cause their ship to begin sinking deeper again. This will bring about a measure of panic which MIGHT trigger the start of a leadership contest before the end of the year.

By: John B Dick

John B Dick — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:29:43 +0000

Second unelected president is why it is a problem.

By: Anthony Wells

Anthony Wells — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:55:21 +0000

Been asked – a large majority thought there should be. It was the same before Blair went though, so it doesn’t necessarily mean the pressure won’t be resisted. I suspect it is not pressure from the public that will determine that particular decision.

By: jsfl

jsfl — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:01:34 +0000

Interesting article. However, in speculating about what effect Miliband (or any other Labour aspirant to Brown’s leadership role) might have on Labour’s fortunes I think there is a dimension you have overlooked that would likely dictate the theme of Brown’s replacement prior to a General election.

It is simply that Brown’s replacement would be in the pretty unique position of being the second unelected Prime Minister in succession. Given the likely furore any gains made by the change in leadership could be engulfed in a cacophony of outrage and calls for an immediate General Election.

Perhaps, when asking these Labour leadership questions they should also be asking a question about whether people think that if Labour do change leaders whether they think there should be an immediate General Election.

It might just give an inkling as to what the new leader’s chances of some relative success might be.

Of course if we are talking about after a General Election then that’s a completely different ball game.