Thursday, September 07, 2006
Blair wriggles - If Brown accepts it, I say he's finished.
The BBC reports here on the latest in the Blair leadership project.
Basically all he has said is he'll be gone within a year, but hasn't given a date.
For me it seems clear he is trying to get Brown out of the way, by leaving it open like this, Brown is vulnerable to ambush, i.e. Blair selects a time when Brown is unpopular with the party, resigns and backs someone else, Brown is sidelined and out. The excuse that he doesn't want to name a date to prevent being a lame duck doesn't wash, as Blair will effectively be that, unless he regains a lot of party support.
This statement shouldn't be enough to satisfy Brown. If he wants the leadership and premiership, he's going to have to grab it by forcing Blair's hand, (also he owes those who've resigned big time). If Brown supinely accepts what Blair's dishing out now, he'll never be leader. Also there is still the remote possibility of an excuse or event which may occur within the year making it necessary to Blair to stay on simply to "see something through".
Bye bye bridesmaid Brown, the premiership is just an illusive dream for you.
Basically all he has said is he'll be gone within a year, but hasn't given a date.
For me it seems clear he is trying to get Brown out of the way, by leaving it open like this, Brown is vulnerable to ambush, i.e. Blair selects a time when Brown is unpopular with the party, resigns and backs someone else, Brown is sidelined and out. The excuse that he doesn't want to name a date to prevent being a lame duck doesn't wash, as Blair will effectively be that, unless he regains a lot of party support.
This statement shouldn't be enough to satisfy Brown. If he wants the leadership and premiership, he's going to have to grab it by forcing Blair's hand, (also he owes those who've resigned big time). If Brown supinely accepts what Blair's dishing out now, he'll never be leader. Also there is still the remote possibility of an excuse or event which may occur within the year making it necessary to Blair to stay on simply to "see something through".
Bye bye bridesmaid Brown, the premiership is just an illusive dream for you.
Tags: Labour leadership, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
