Does Dustin’s exit make a “No” vote more likely?

Does Dustin’s exit make a “No” vote more likely?

Wikipedia Commons Ireland votes on the Lisbon Treaty in 17 days’ time The annual Eurovision extravanganza has just ended, and although Terry Wogan may be calling it a day due to the increasingly “political” nature of the voting, this provides plenty of trading opportunities for punters. Another possible political aspect of Eurovision that has been mooted is that of the Irish entry Dustin the Turkey, who enjoyed the accolade of being the event’s first non-human entry, but only made it…

Read More Read More

Will Gordon listen to Alan?

Will Gordon listen to Alan?

Overnight continuation thread…. The above picture is a screen shot I took from some of the day’s BBC coverage. I don’t know what is going on there but it appears to be quite telling. Anyway at this time tomorrow night I’ll be on the HotelTrain travelling from Paris to Madrid for a touring holiday in Spain – first port of call Granada. Once again Paul Maggs, assisted by Morus, will be acting as guest editors. I’m taking my Vodafone dongle…

Read More Read More

Will Labour’s big gamble pay off?

Will Labour’s big gamble pay off?

Can Gordon turn the ratings round? Nearly three days after the Crewe & Nantwich result the signs are this evening that there is no stomach within the Labour party for a leadership challenge and that the movement will stick with Gordon. Those leading cabinet ministers who have been named as possible replacements have made supportive statements and it is hard to see what could bring his leadership to a head. Ministers and MPs are gambling that the dramatic collapse of…

Read More Read More

Why are MPs such lousy talent spotters?

Why are MPs such lousy talent spotters?

What is it that repeatedly makes them choose losers? I am coming to the conclusion that there is something in the DNA of those who manage to climb the greasy poll to become MPs that makes them such terrible judges when it comes to who should lead their parties. Can anybody explain why 313 current members of the Parliamentary Labour Party should have signed Gordon’s nomination papers to give him a free run last year when there was so much…

Read More Read More

Is Miliband getting ready to run?

Is Miliband getting ready to run?

Is this the beginning of Gordon’s final days as PM? The Sunday Times is reporting this evening that David Miliband is preparing to throw his hat into the ring in a leadership contest to “save new Labour”, having told friends that he is prepared to stand if sufficient backbenchers turn against the PM. The article continues: “…senior Labour insiders claim that at least half the cabinet have privately concluded that Brown cannot win the next general election.. Among the ministers…

Read More Read More

The Saturday continuation thread…

The Saturday continuation thread…

I’m in London visting my two grand-daughters – Esther aged ten weeks and Julia aged five months – and won’t be posting for the rest of the day. Please continue discussions here. Mike Smithson

Is the problem Labour generally or just Brown?

Is the problem Labour generally or just Brown?

Would the government have a better chance if Gordon stood aside? The above, the main lead in the Guardian, is typical of what is in many of the papers this morning as they get their first chance to analyse the Crewe & Nantwich result and pose questions for the future. Labour is in serious trouble facing, in my view, a Tory landslide that could match that of Blair’s in 1997. But is there a solution? Would Gordon taking early retirement…

Read More Read More