Wednesday 6 January 2010

Could Harriet be behind the plot


ITV news is reporting that Patricia Hewitt is acting for Harriet Harman. Clearly this move was more than just a call for a secret ballot. There has to be current cabinet minister involved. Whatever it's hard to see how Gordon can now go on until May.

Mike Smithson

31 comments:

Oracle said...

Punch up BBC between Bazza Sheerman and Sopel. Sopel doesn't sound much like an impartial interviewer.

Oracle said...

Main site still isn't working for me.

Jonathan said...

All rather reminiscent of "Put up or shut up".

Oracle said...

Sopel has really lost it.

Anonymous said...

It's great watching the Labourites disitegrating before our eyes.

The beeboid is actually getting angry.

Blue rog

Morris Dancer said...

Brown still has the advantage, but we'll have to see...

Witan said...

Has any cabinet minister come out in support of Brown since this letter was sent?

That is the key. The longer the silence the shorter the string for Brown.

jsfl said...

Main site is acting like a tarts drawers

Oracle said...

Here comes "impartial" Kellner.

MichaelK said...

Just posted on the main site: is the supposed outing of Harman a Brownite attempt to force a declaration of loyalty out of her?

Certainly doesn't seem like good news for her to be described as the power behind Hewitt at this point.

jsfl said...

I'd imagine if a Minister is going to do any knifing then it will be before the 6 or 10 O'Clock News

Sean Thomas said...

fascinating. In a way this putsch is so badly timed it has to succeed now, or Labour are f8cked.

The worst outcome is Brown limping on. Labour MPs must see this.

If he goes, and they shove Harman in, the damage can be limited.

Delicious dilemma. The best option of all, of course, was not to have a New Year putsch at all.

Hah.

Hogwash said...

Sopel is a Labour Muppet.

Marquee Mark said...

Just go to the Palace, Gordon...

Me said...

Not sure if this has been posted. From the Guardian live blog

"2.05pm: This is significant. John McDonnell, the leftwinger and virtually the only MP who has tried to challenge Brown for the leadership, has criticised Hoon and Hewitt. This is what he's told the Press Association."

Witan said...

I can get on the other site but posting a comment is a lifetime commitment.

Oracle said...

Sopel is still ranting and raving on BBC News. Somebody has really rattled his cage.

Hogwash said...

Not sure if this has been posted. From the Guardian live blog;
"2.05pm: This is significant. John McDonnell, the leftwinger and virtually the only MP who has tried to challenge Brown for the leadership, has criticised Hoon and Hewitt. This is what he's told the Press Association."

Is certainly isnt good for any plotters.

Richard Nabavi said...

Sean The worst outcome is Brown limping on

Nonetheless I'd say that remains the most likely outcome. What we do now know is that there won't be a clean, surgical putsch; this is already a public punch-up.

So of the four options I listed yesterday, the two best (from Labour's point of view) - namely uniting around Brown, or cleanly removing him and anointing a new leader - are now blown out of the water. They are left with either a messy change of leader, or limping on with Brown.

Either way Cammo is the winner from all of this.

Oracle said...

Fat Man Pickles is doing a very good job sticking the boot in on Sky and BBC.

Anonymous and Dangerous. said...

Even if this does fizzle out this evening, there is likely to be another one somewhere down the line before the election.

And it's not like this has happened after a bad week for the government either.

Labour has lost its cast-iron discipline.

Mike Smithson said...

This is from Robert.

Bizarrely, www2.politicalbetting.com is down. I have adjusted things so http://www.politicalbetting.com takes *all* traffic, and hopefully things will be OK.

Simon said...

the original site is now down

http://www.politicalbetting.com

Slackbladder said...

Toilets doing his best for cheerleading for Brown.

Mainsite not working it seems.

toontoon said...

How long does it take Jack Straw to get to the central lobby?

LondonStatto said...

Main site down again?

toontoon said...

Iain Dale - Northern Irish First Minister to resign.

Marquee Mark said...

Main site seems to be down again.

Funny how Brownite backbenchers can find a camera - but not members of the Cabinet (with the exception of Ballsdrick, of course).

I think this plot has still got legs...

jsfl said...

The Main site is running like a dog....

jsfl said...

Craig Sky

Brown has whips behind him (Lucky old Gordo)

Firm line in discipline...

Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Richard Manns said...

Actually, I think that Gordon is practically guaranteed to reach the election now.

Each rebellion saps the party of suicidal rebels and destroys malcontents' hopes of success.

Each day shortens the time any new leader would have to establish themselves.

So I really don't think there'll be a new leader.