What do David Cairns, James Purnell, Hazel Blears, and Eric Joyce all have in common?
Correct; they have all resigned their posts in government within the last six months, and all have called for Gordon Brown to step down or have criticised heavily a disputed government policy as their parting shot.
Blears resigned in early June, saying that the Labour Party (by implication, under the leadership of Brown) had lost connection with the British people. Cairns, of a lower profile but certainly no less scathing, resigned as Scotland Office Minister after comments calling for a leadership contest.
The most famous of these was, of course, Purnell’s resignation in June, with his letter of condemnation being given to his close friend Phillip Webster, the Times Political Editor, and appearing on the front page the following morning. Many, myself included, wondered if that fateful act of camaraderie would finally bring crashing down the premiership of Gordon Brown. Alas no.
There have also been multiple occasions when various members of Brown’s Cabinet have been tipped to make leadership attempts or to stage coups. Several times there have been outright calls from the media from this to happen, such as in the emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on the Monday following the disastrous EU election results. Every time, the names of those who could, potentially stage an uprising has always included that of the elder of the Milibands.
However, I have become increasingly convinced that even a challenge such as this would not be sufficient to topple Gordon.
Eric Joyce’s resignation and open condemnation of the government’s handling of the Afghanistan conflict has once again called into question the suitability of Gordon Brown’s leadership and policies. Despite making the front pages, this new progression will do little to dent Brown’s iron will to remain.
The countdown to the next election is imminent. Only time will kill Gordon Brown now.
Correct; they have all resigned their posts in government within the last six months, and all have called for Gordon Brown to step down or have criticised heavily a disputed government policy as their parting shot.
Blears resigned in early June, saying that the Labour Party (by implication, under the leadership of Brown) had lost connection with the British people. Cairns, of a lower profile but certainly no less scathing, resigned as Scotland Office Minister after comments calling for a leadership contest.
The most famous of these was, of course, Purnell’s resignation in June, with his letter of condemnation being given to his close friend Phillip Webster, the Times Political Editor, and appearing on the front page the following morning. Many, myself included, wondered if that fateful act of camaraderie would finally bring crashing down the premiership of Gordon Brown. Alas no.
There have also been multiple occasions when various members of Brown’s Cabinet have been tipped to make leadership attempts or to stage coups. Several times there have been outright calls from the media from this to happen, such as in the emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on the Monday following the disastrous EU election results. Every time, the names of those who could, potentially stage an uprising has always included that of the elder of the Milibands.
However, I have become increasingly convinced that even a challenge such as this would not be sufficient to topple Gordon.
Eric Joyce’s resignation and open condemnation of the government’s handling of the Afghanistan conflict has once again called into question the suitability of Gordon Brown’s leadership and policies. Despite making the front pages, this new progression will do little to dent Brown’s iron will to remain.
The countdown to the next election is imminent. Only time will kill Gordon Brown now.
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