UK NEWS

BATTERED BROWN TOLD TO PUT BACK ELECTION TILL 2010

WARNING: Gordon Brown

Tuesday May 27,2008

By Alison Little Deputy Political Editor

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(19)

GORDON BROWN was warned yesterday not to let voters down with another two years of bitter Labour in-fighting.

The message came as a minister told the “vultures” circling the Prime Minister to back off.

Ministers now expect the beleaguered premier to wait until the last possible date – summer 2010 – before calling a General Election. He is said to believe he needs the time to restore his authority after opinion polls, the local elections and defeat at the Crewe and Nantwich by-election increased dismay among MPs.

Experts said that Labour would lose an election held in six months’ time but might be able to recover in two years.

However, in comments that may be seen as a coded demand for an early election, shadow minister Chris Grayling said: “The Government is clearly in a state of complete chaos with ministers much more interested in saving their careers and securing the future of the Labour Party than governing the country.

“Britain shouldn’t have to put up with two more years of this.”

His comments followed a fresh round of sniping at Mr Brown from Labour MPs.

Home Office Minister Tony McNulty yesterday urged colleagues to stop their criticism.

He told GMTV: “The vultures should back off because there is no corpse. People need to understand who is the man of substance to take us through those tough times. If that is the question, I’m damn sure David Cameron isn’t the answer.”

Former minister Michael Meacher, who, last summer, mounted an unsuccessful Labour leadership bid when Tony Blair stood down, said Mr Brown must signal a major change of course before the autumn party conference or stand aside for someone who would.

Mr Brown is using Parliament’s Whitsun break to regroup and work out how to shut down the speculation about his fitness for the top job but, next Monday, when the Commons resumes, he faces a challenge to reassert control of his party.

However, the experience of the Easter break showed MPs might come back to Westminster in an even more fractious state having spent a week hearing about their constituents’ unhappiness with the Government.

Yesterday, it was claimed a “conspiracy” was in its early stages in which Left and Right-wing MPs had drawn up a possible policy agenda to satisfy both sides.

Mr Brown now faces possible defeat on extending the maximum detention without trial of terror suspects from 28 to 42 days.

There is also a gathering rebellion by Labour MPs over car tax and petrol duty. More than 30 backbenchers have signed a motion urging the Government to scrap plans to increase vehicle excise duty by up to £200 next year for cars registered as long ago as March 2001.

MPs also urge cancelling the 2p fuel duty rise planned in October.

'THE GOVERNMENT IS CLEARLY IN A STATE OF COMPLETE CHAOS WITH MINISTERS MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN SAVING THEIR CAREERS AND SECURING THE FUTURE OF THE LABOUR PARTY THAN GOVERNING THE COUNTRY'

27.05.08, 10:26pm

Enough said.

• Posted by: V • Report Comment

DEATH RATTLE FOR NEW LABOUR

27.05.08, 9:25pm

The downturn is likely to be far worse than Brown pretends in both duration and depth. The big plus for having the election in 2010 is that by then the Labour vote will have totally collapsed, eliminating them as an effective party. We will suffer during the next two years anyway but this is the light at the end of the tunnel.

• Posted by: Blairbater • Report Comment

WHY ? WILL THE NATION NOT MARCH TO WESTMINSTER

27.05.08, 8:09pm

Their was enough people to march over the Iraq war, and foxhunting , yet we continue to allow these people to bring us and the Country to its knees !

I do not recall one thing which has actualy been implemented for the good of the people or the good of the Counrty to which they are alleged to Protect, every decision made is against the wishes of the masses, Call me Dave is no better, he still mumbles on about the UK saving the rest of the world against 'Global warming' even though it is plainly obvious it is yet another scam ?

They take taxes like it is their god given right !

I think it their biggest fear , that the masses will turn on them,

• Posted by: BratislavaUK • Report Comment

SILVERSURFER

27.05.08, 7:46pm

As Gordon Brown would say, "I feel your pain!" I'm sorry for being a bit flippant, but that man Brown doesn't feel anybodys pain, he has as much human feeling as a corpse. I agree with you on the points you raised as I am similar to you, I didn't P*** my money up against the wall, but now we get penalised for it. I also struggled in the early days to buy my own house, and did without, to acomplish it.

Another two years of these bandits is going to crucify us all.

There is something I do not understand, why do we have this situation where it is them and us mentality, and really it should be us. They know fine well what we hate, but still go ahead and do it, and its only when they are backed into a corner, they retract. Why treat us like fools in the first place?

• Posted by: fireowl • Report Comment

LET VOTERS DOWN ?? AND WHY NOT !

27.05.08, 6:42pm

Thats all he knows ? he has let voters down on everything he mutters, the man is a compulsive liar ,

He is not in the least bit ashamed at the fact that he is a spineless creep, it just goes to show the voters at just how bad the rest of his Labour crooks are,

He is not thicked skinned , he is obviously just plain thick.

Its getting now to the point , that it might just be worth him and the rest of the Idiots to stay for another two years , even if it is only for the entertainment value.

• Posted by: BratislavaUK • Report Comment