open Democracy News Analysis - Starting gun fired in Glenrothes, Tom Griffin - Comments

Dougthedug on "Starting gun fired in Glenrothes"

Dougthedug — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:18:03 +0000

Toque:

All that gung-ho patriotism and Jim Murphy manages to avoid the true object of his devotion entirely. The words, "Union", and, "Britain", were not even mentioned.

I wonder how Labour MSP Group Leader Iain Gray is going to cope with a very active Scottish Secretary who outranks him by an order of magnitude in the British Labour Party. "There may be trouble ahead...", but I don't think there's going to be music and moonlight.

Tom:

I never thought that Glenrothes was going to be the trigger for Gordon Brown's downfall. Crewe and Nantwich was meant to be the tripwire, then Glasgow East and then it was meant to be Glenrothes. Each definite landmine for Gordon appears to be nothing more than wishful thinking from those who dislike him in the Labour Party and in the media.

The problem for those in the Labour Party who want rid of Brown is that there is no shadow power structure, no, "Men in Grey Suits", in Labour to toss him out. Brown controls Labour from top to bottom and only when 20% of the PLP sign a petition for a leadership election will the Labour party get a leadership election. Even then, there is no guarantee that Brown would not fight it and win.

He will hang on in No. 10 till they prise the door-key from his cold dead hand.

Toque on "Starting gun fired in Glenrothes"

Toque — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:20:47 +0000

I think I'll enjoy this by-election. Check out the new Secretary of State for Scotland's "blog" to see just how enthusiastic New Labour are about Scotland.

No party is more patriotic than New Labour.

Starting gun fired in Glenrothes, Tom Griffin

Tom Griffin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:26:40 +0000

Tom Griffin (London, OK): The Glenrothes by-election is set to go ahead on Thursday, 6th November. The timing is not a surprise, as with a US presidential election on the Tuesday, the outcome won't be the big story of the week.

In any case,with the immediate threat to Gordon Brown's premiership receding, the poll may not be the date with destiny that many had expected.