Doesn't this picture say it all?

Is Gord capable of inspiring his party and the nation?

This is picture that was first featured here at the end of 2006 several months before Brown became prime minister. There he is, amongst enthusiastic Labour supporters and you would expect him to at least make the effort to show that he is delighted to see them. 

But look at him - he is rigid and cold as a cucumber. He's hardly an inspiration to even the most ardent enthusiast.

Yes it's easy to say that politics has become about personalities and not policies - but if a leader's personality makes it hard for him/her to inspire supporters about party policies and the vision behind them then you might as well not have them in the first place

Although you can get trained to deal with the technical points of communication the ability to make a compelling case is something that you either have or don't have. Brown's in the latter category.  

Will he survive tonight? Probably. What will be the consequence? The wounded leader will drift on, there'll be more YouTube and Alan Sugar-type gimmicks and the probability of a Labour melt-down at the general election will become even greater.

To me it's blindingly obvious that with Brown Labour is dead - only the demise will be prolonged. Without him the party stands a fighting chance of impeding the Cameron band-wagon.

(This post has been posted here as well as the main site because of the problems some people have had in getting through)