One of Brown's problem is that he's not English
Gordon Brown has been warned that he may face a challenge to his ambition to become leader of the Labour Party. Alan Johnson, recently appointed Education Secretary, is in the wings - and he's English. This is the amazing statement from one of a couple of Blair allies who have warned Brown that if he is not"Blairite" or "New Labour" enough there is likely to be a challenge.
For those of us who have had enough of Blair and policies which have led to involvement in bloody conflict in the Balkans, in Afghanistan, Iraq and Muslim conflict at home, to privatisation in health, education and so on this is very unwelcome. Why then change, keep Blair - except those of us who have been on the doorstep for Labour over consecutive elections have heard enough to know that he is a liability with the electorate. In what kind of ivory tower do these Blairite apologists exist?
As for Alan Johnson, he has hardly uttered a word as Education Secretary (what he has said is reported in Roy Hattersley's piece in the Observer - see below), but here he is promoting himself nationally. When I heard him it was the Deputy P.M.'s job he was after. At least Brown has a track record in office which will bear scrutiny.
Blairites in the West Midland region have been hounded out of office for the temerity to criticise New Labour. Experienced councillors in Birmingham have been replaced. Blairites, it seems, are very serious about clinging onto power even if Tony moves on. First it was Alan Milburn who was touted as a frontrunner and now Johnson appears to be their favourite son. That Labour no longer represents those the party was set up for has been made clear to many politicians, but the Blairites are still not listening.
Posted by John Tyrrell at June 4, 2006 09:45 AM
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