So, Brown’s judgement awaits, as he goes into his meeting with the PLP in around 5 minutes’ time. To be honest, all the visible signs are that he won’t get chucked out tonight: the torrent of resignations expected today was but a trickle; reports are that Downing Street is “relaxed”; and there still seem to
It gets worse for Gordon Brown. A YouGov poll for Channel 4 has just come up with the following findings: “The BNP won its first seats in the European parliament not because its supporters are all racist, but because many voters feel insecure and let down by the main parties. Our exclusive poll reveals wider
One voice that’s been strikingly absent, so far, from the recent debate over Brown’s future has been that of Frank Field. He’s been a fierce, and integrous, critic of Brown for the past decade, so the assumption has been that he’s been holding back now so as not to ruin his chance of winning the
So Jane Kennedy has quit her position as a junior environment minister, and Paul Waugh tells us that there’ll be more resignations ahead of Brown’s meeting with the PLP tonight. In the meantime, Baroness Blackstone seems to implicitly call for Brown to go, via an article in the Standard arguing against one of the main
Stay tuned for live coverage of the European election results, and their aftermath, from 2100. 2057, JGF: Harriet Harman is seated in the BBC studio. She really has been a trooper for the Labour party in the last few days. 2058, PH: Just before the results come in, it’s worth noting that turnout was 43
Proverbial tumbleweeds are blowing through Westminster at the moment, as everyone waits for the European election results tonight. We’ll have full coverage on Coffee House later, of course. But, if you’re stuck for something to read in the meantime, I’d recommend Andrew Rawnsley’s piece in the Observer. Rawnsley sets out a host of reasons why
Fascinating stuff. PoliticsHome have published the full leaked email exchange between Peter Mandelson and Derek Draper which the Mail on Sunday reported this morning. To be honest, I think Mandelson’s comments about Brown are far less cruel than the Mail cover would have you believe. Sure, he drops words like “angry” and “insecure”; but within
So, this morning’s Most Significant Intervention comes courtesy of Jon Cruddas, writing in the Sunday Mirror. Although the Dagenham MP makes sure to criticise the Government over Royal Mail, and over its general “drift”, the main message is that the party should stick with Brown: “Everyone knows our Government is in trouble. Serious trouble. But
Peter Hoskin marks the 50th anniversary of the death of George Reeves, TV’s original Superman Uncork the champagne, put on your best frock, and grin like the good times are never going to end. After all, it’s 1959, and Hollywood is the place to be. Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot has just left movie
With things happening so fast over the past few days, it’s worth taking stock of where we – or, more accurately, the Labour Party – are in the struggle to get rid of Gordon. While the resignation of James Purnell didn’t spark the high-level Cabinet rebellion it could have done – and while folk like
65 years on from D-Day, we remember the lives lost and the struggles undertaken. (Photograph taken on Omaha Beach, 6 June, 1944, by Robert Capa).
Just in case Gordon Brown needed reminding that his battle for survival is being fought on numerous fronts, the Telegraph has sifted through the PM’s expenses again and discovered a rather juicy morsel. Apparently, around 06-07, Brown claimed the allowance for his constituency home while also charging the taxpayer for council tax and other bills
Flint slightly undermined her position by holding out for a better position in Cabinet before resigning, but this parting statement is still pretty powerful stuff: Dear Gordon I believe the achievements of the Labour Government to date have been monumental and you have played an immense part in the creation of those achievements. However, I
Brown will be speaking to the press at 1630. Stay tuned for live coverage: 1609, JGF: There is a strong rumour doing the rounds that the Telegraph are doing another piece on Brown’s expenses. This will make life even more difficult for him. 1612, PH: Just to catch up, Ian Gibson has resigned as an
One of the many questions whirling around Westminster is what Brown is doing to placate Ed Balls. So, so close to his dream job of Chancellor – but denied it because of Brown’s precarious position, and an exhilarating intervention by James Purnell – Balls is now stuck as Schools Secretary; a role in which he
Rumour on the Beeb that Caroline Flint will be made Health Secretary – the price for not following the lead of her fellow “Pugin Room plotter” Hazel Blears? UPDATE, 1459: Now Sky are saying that Andy Burnham may have the job.
So just what are Johnson and Miliband – the Men Who Would be King – thinking? They seem to have bottled, just when their big chance has come. Here, for the sake of completeness, are a few more or less possible scenarios: 1) They genuinely think that Gordon Brown has a chance of recovering, and
So where are we now? After James Purnell’s resignation last night, Brown really is on the ropes. In fact, I can’t see him nor his Presbyterian conscience lasting the next couple of weeks, or even the next few days. Sure, folk like ever-spineless David Miliband and Jack Straw have come out in support of Gordon,
Seems like Gordon Brown is going to reshuffle his Cabinet this morning, in response to the resignation of James Purnell. The key thing to look out for is whether he replaces Alistair Darling with Ed Balls – we know he wants to, but the events of last night may have dissuaded the PM from
Watching Eric Pickles on Sky just now, it’s revealing just how the Tories are responding to the news of Purnell’s resignation. Pickles’ message is that Purnell agrees with Gordon Brown on all the big issues – “high debt, ID cards, and all that” – and he’s pushing the line that Purnell isn’t concerned with the
