Next Labour leader?

[uk_dave]

It'll be the apocalypse!

ETA: Now.

 

[andyandy]

I've heard this frequently, but where is the justification for this?
.

justification for which bit, that he'd do OK for Labour, or that he's a bit Blair-lite?

 

[Reginald]

Awesome....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gkHwU4DRA8


Adam Boulton and Alistair Campbell go for it on sky.


I think Boulton looked a loser there.


Especially when he accused AC at the end of cooking this up with Mandelson .. my response to that being that the Torys don't do that kind of thing right?

 

[Undesired Walrus]

justification for which bit, that he'd do OK for Labour, or that he's a bit Blair-lite?

Being a Blairite.

 

[andyandy]

Being a Blairite.

I think people generally think he's pretty Blairite in terms of policy (ie centrist pragmatism rather than any real ideology etc), but i was just using Blair-lite in the more superficial sense of leadership qualities - i'd describe Clegg as Blair-lite as well....


And that Boulton video is brilliant! He looked about 5 seconds from lamping him. Don't pick an argument with Campbell - you're not going to win.

 

[GlennB]

Regrettably, D Milliband.
Regrettably because he is a total wanker.

 

[Agatha]

Ed Balls' seat is a bit marginal for a leader. I think the party will go for one of the Millibands. Though if they do, how the hell will we tell the three party leaders apart unless they wear name badges or colour-coded ties?

 

[odeed]

I did not know much about Jon Cruddas, but some of his policies in part 2 of these videos might be appealing to Liberal Democrats, and I quite like his presentation, videos from last years Compass No Turning Back conference

Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js2OBMuMFCE

Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDNQPO-y5Oo

 

[Cuddles]

How about Howard and Mandleson? It'd be a cross party coalition of evil....

Just need one more and we can call it an axis.

(I said "so-called" because it appears that the Murdoch press did not understand that folk in the UK do not particularity want likeable leaders at the expense of perceived competency.)

They also don't seem to understand that Cameron isn't actually at all likeable, he's an incredibly annoying smug twat. It's like parents trying to act like teenagers to appear "cool" to their children's friends. It doesn't make you seem cool and likeable, it just makes you look like a complete dick. I really don't understand how people constantly make the same mistake.

 

[Undesired Walrus]

Regrettably, D Milliband.
Regrettably because he is a total wanker.

What's wrong with him?

 

[andyandy]

What's wrong with him?

I have to say i was pretty impressed with him when i watched him in action on the joint Defence/Foreign Affairs select commitee....he came across as very knowledgeable.

I think he'd be a decent choice.

 

[Delscottio]

Johnson is to support Milliband (D), so thats one gone.

 

[funk de fino]

Balls is being blamed as one of the deal breakers by the Libs. Could be a ploy by them but having seen him in action I could believe it. If Johnson is supporting Miliband then he gets my vote.

 

[Debaser]

Balls is being blamed as one of the deal breakers by the Libs. Could be a ploy by them but having seen him in action I could believe it.

But this means we'd be denied the husband and wife leader and deputy combo of Ed and Yvette Ballscooper.

 

[Rolfe]

I'm not sure which thread to put this in, but I'll try this one. The news is again saying that Gordon Brown is to resign as an MP. (This was originally said on Monday night, but contradicted.)

Is he right to do this? I think yes. What good is five years on the opposition back benches going to do him or his party? Is the new leader likely to appoint him to the Shadow Cabinet, and would this be a sensible move?

If he is going to resign his seat, surely now is the time. It's possible there might be a swing against Labour at the by-election, but unlikely they would lose the seat entirely. Surely it's better to get any negative publicity regarding an anti-Labour swing out of the way immediately so it can be forgotten about, than have the looming prospect of a by-election later in the parliament?

He can't be exactly short of cash, he doesn't need the money, and surely he doesn't need the stress. I'm sure someone will give him a nice little directorship anyway.

As an aside, an SNP MSP has just (in all seriousness) proposed Brown for the honour of the Freedom of Fife.

Rolfe.

 

[richardm]

I'm sure someone will give him a nice little directorship anyway.

He's on the record as saying that he doesn't want to go down that route, or down the speechmaking route that Blair went down, but would rather do voluntary or charity work instead.

As an aside, an SNP MSP has just (in all seriousness) proposed Brown for the honour of the Freedom of Fife.

And why not? He's lived there all of his life, been an MP there for years, been the first Prime Minister to come from there and is generally very popular in his constituency. I'm sure there have been worse candidates put forward.

And I might add that I speak as someone who doesn't like Brown.

 

[commandlinegamer]

I'm sure I read he was considered for the IMF top job, a post there were rumors about six years ago. Last year he considered the IMF and World Bank not fit for purpose [1]. Would he want to be the reformer?

[1] http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL926925320090209

 

[Rolfe]

He's on the record as saying that he doesn't want to go down that route, or down the speechmaking route that Blair went down, but would rather do voluntary or charity work instead.

Mmmm, maybe. I'll wait and see. Wasn't he suggested for something like the chairmanship of the EMU or the World Bank or am I completely misremembering?

And why not? He's lived there all of his life, been an MP there for years, been the first Prime Minister to come from there and is generally very popular in his constituency. I'm sure there have been worse candidates put forward.

And I might add that I speak as someone who doesn't like Brown.

Indeed, seems quite appropriate to me. (My wording wasn't entirely clear - I meant that Tricia Marwick was serious, not ironic, in her nomination.) Like him or loathe him, and believe me I'm in the latter category, there haven't been too many prime ministers from Fife.

Rolfe.

 

[richardm]

Mmmm, maybe. I'll wait and see. Wasn't he suggested for something like the chairmanship of the EMU or the World Bank or am I completely misremembering?

It's often suggested that he'll be heading the IMF as CLG says, but whether that's something he actually intends to do I don't know. He reckons he wants to do something where he'll "make a difference". Don't know if the IMF counts in his view; it may well do. Here are some current thoughts on what's next for him. We'll see, I suppose.

 

[Soapy Sam]

I reckon having let his constituents go through the whole election hassle, he owes them a year or two's work.
Also, the man does have a lot of experience under his belt and a load of contacts.
There has been much use of the phrase "in the best interests of the country" during the last week. Maybe it would be in that interest if he hung around for a bit?