Friday, December 21, 2007

January coup plot against Brown brews?

Whatever should one make of this on LabourHome?
by 12345678 on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 10:42:03 AM GMT
There is noise circulating this morning of a telephone conference that took place last night involving 17 MP's. The rumour is that this discussion did not involve any of the 'usual suspects', but loyal back benchers and some members of the Government.

The prospect of a delegation being sent to see Brown was discussed, with the intention of explaining that backbench support has been seriously eroded notwithstanding efforts from some senior backbenchers to calm the storms at recent PLP meetings (Kaufman, Skinner et al).

The word is that unless poll ratings improve by late Jan 08, it is more likely than not that the PM will be told he should step aside for the sake of the Party. Apparently senior figures, including a handful of Cabinet members who are briefing openly, fear a 'total meltdown' in terms of results in the May elections next year if he is still in place. One very senior member was reported to have told of 'widespread dismay' at the PM's inability to 'do the politics' necessary to sidestep issues.

Apparently (although who knows why!) the election of Nick Clegg has worried many MPs - another youthful, witty leader who with Cameron will continue to make the PM look out of touch...
Happy New Year Gordon? Perhaps now is time to find out who Tom Watson has given presents to recently? LabourHomies say it's a tory trolling plot.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Labour MPs managing to arrange a conference call for 17 people? As they've proven amply, they can't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Anonymous said...

It could be a troll but tbh it has the right ring of truth to it...interesting times lay ahead for Brown.

Note the similarities to Charles Kennedy's Winter problems coming to a head in a January too.

Ralph said...

We know Brown has enemies in his party, the poll results are bad (and seem to be getting worse), and a large number of Labour MPs might lose their seats.

I would have thought a coup of some sort is being planned though on past records it'll be as successful as New Coke.

The Nameless Libertarian said...

I think the first moves against Brown will come in the summer, after the local elections. He can't go on like this indefinitely, but the Labour party won't want to show the blind panic they are clearly feeling just yet.

One thing, though? Who could replace him? Miliband?

Savonarola said...

100 backbenchers plus a dozen prominent Lab MPs will of necessity be considering options to avoid the cull. They are wasting their time.

Its not just Brown. Its the whole package of incompetence(Byers Morris Blunkett Hewitt Browne Harman Hoon Dobson) spin scandal broken promises corruption. NuLab was just a project to gain power. Its Hill and Knowlton Govt. Not fit for purpose.

The coup will be the implosion of the economy.

The cabal can huff and puff. There will be no takers for the job anyway.

Instead of plotting these MP's should learn a proper job like plumbing or nursing.

Old BE said...

I am trying to persuade Kate Hoey and Frank Field to stand.

Anonymous said...

It would be amusing if brown was forced out and nobody wanted the job.

Croydonian said...

The prospect of being able to point and jeer at a post-putsch Brown is a glorious prospect. Yes please.

Mrs Smallprint said...

Glad tidings for Christmas indeed. As long as we don't get another federal European in his place.

Mulligan said...

Please let it be true, I want to see the disgusting, despicable Brown well and truly humiliated, so much I'd even take another 5 years of Labour (except with Miliband or Balls in charge)

Anonymous said...

The "electorate" are just sick to the teeth of Brown now and the weak front bench, Darling, Smith
and Milliband.

If the May elections are bad and they will! acion needs to be taken sooner rather than later.

Anonymous said...

The infighting should bruun be deposed would be truly wonderful to watch.I would bet cherie has had her xmas early, gift wrapped humiliation for Gordon bought for her by a loving husband ho ho ho.
He is like some dinosaur trapped in a tar pit the more he flails about the deeper he sinks.

Anonymous said...

It is clearly in the Tories' interest to keep this deeply flawed man in office until the next election. He is their best recruiting sergeant. But I suppose, if we are honest, it is in the nation's interest to get rid of him as soon as possible.

Fortunately, we don't have to address this dilemma. Health permitting, Brown will hang on like a limpit until the election and then embark a thiry-year sulk which will make Ted Heath look like Ken Dodd.

Anonymous said...

You can be sure that if a coup is coming, Brown knows about it. Ed Balls, his chief ass kisser will have all the details.

The truth is, we don't need to make things up like this, there is more than enough bad news to keep Brown down.

Unsworth said...

Which Labour figure is prepared to take Brown's place on the footplate of the Government locomotive as it heads - unstoppable and at full pace - into the train wreck? You'd have to be very brave or very, very, stupid.

Those who are tempted would do well to remember how quickly Blair was forgotten and how rapidly Brown was perceived as being the main culprit.

Anyway, not a single one of the leading figures is seen to have a clean and competent pair of hands, so what chance of electoral success?

Benny said...

But who would his replacement be? They're all a bunch of no-hopers. I'd quite like Ed Balls to get it, then labour would probably go into single figures.

Anonymous said...

Gordon will come out in the new year in an attempt to improve his popularity with women.

The argument from Eds Balls that he swallowed willingly is that he's currently perceived as a vile greasy haired creep who women would cross the road to avoid. Do as women like gay men if Gordon came out he would appear less threatening and pick up some popularity. - can't wait.

Tapestry said...

Gisella Stuart

Anonymous said...

I think Gordon Brown will be mocked for the rest of his political career. Labour need to get rid of him - asap.

Anonymous said...

Presumably Tapestry means Gisela Stuart to become PM in succession to Brown?

Well, I suppose the leader of the governing party in Australia lost his seat in the election, so it could (very, very) easily happen here! Well, it could if she were PM. Her notional majority after boundary changes is less than 2,000, and the genuinely local Conservative candidate is everywhere, and is very prominent in Birmingham.

Anonymous said...

I don't think they can get rid of Brown easily, then it becomes a question of "Who will put the bell on the cat?".

The New Labour project was a marketing conn with no substance, just a load of slogans, financed by borrowing. Whoever was in charge would be facing the chickens which are coming home to roost.

Deciding that the captain of the Titanic was incompetent after it hit the iceberg, and his officers relieving him of command, wouldn't have changed much. Then there'd be the question of which officer, and they didn't exactly have time on their side.