Comments on: Almost half of Labour members want Brown to quit

By: Andy Stidwill

Andy Stidwill — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:05:46 +0000

Labour’s in a bit of a bind which is that they’re probably better off: (a) without Brown, and (b) waiting until next year for the election. Of course the problem for them is that if they get rid of Brown the public will demand an election by the autumn. They’d like to have Alan Johnson as leader and the election next spring but I don’t think that is an option.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:48:50 +0000

I’ve had a trawl through quite a lot of the detailed results now – but much much more to do.
I’ve been looking at ward results mainly.

It is quite true that the Tories have been hit by the scandals aswell, mainly affecting the Euro election, but also it would appear losing us some points on the projected share of the vote from the locals – although it appears to be easily off-set by the set-back the Government has had.

Nevertheless, I just think these results are so awful they probably will now remove the PM. Although, having chosen him, it may be better to rally round him and play the experience card, rather than bicker.
I don’t often agree with what Polly Toynbee says, but she said on the results program it can’t get any worse, so there’s nothing left to lose.
But Steve Richards also made a good point – that the expenses scandal has been very demoralising for politicians, and ministers may actually lack the energy to stand up to Brown, and they haven’t really united around a credible set of characters or policy stance.

By: Tony

Tony — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:53:04 +0000

I watched the SKY News live broadcast of Brown, Harman and Mandleson addressing the Labour activists.
We heard what was expected when the converted are being preached to and despite my wincing at the stage-managed emotions and the artificial candy-coated delivery one point was made clear. This was that with the many genuine Labour supporters who saw how Labour policies had improved the quality of life within the social circles that they worked and lived in, the Labour party had done this as a whole. Not by Brown personally. And here lies the problem for Brown and the Labour party. He somehow cannot envisage that the Labour party is capable of survival without him. Indeed, it would be far better off without him.
As a Conservative, I hope he stays on as a leader for as long as possible – but despite this, I whole-heartedly respect the honest views of those Labour supporters. Surely they and all non-Labour supporters deserve better from a governing leader, by having that leader know that the governing party’s legacy and the country’s fortunes would do so much better without him. But we all know that Brown is only focussed on one thing – himself.

By: » Top Stories and Blog Review Sunday 7th JuneLiberal Conspiracy

» Top Stories and Blog Review Sunday 7th JuneLiberal Conspiracy — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:44:37 +0000

[...] UK Polling Report studies a poll which says almost half of Labour members want Brown to quit. [...]

By: Tony Dean

Tony Dean — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:31:42 +0000

Thank you Anthony that’s very helpful – and that changes my perceptions quite a bit about EC. From now on I will dock only 4 to 5 rather than 8 to 10 LibDem seats.