LABOUR MPS SEEK NEW LEADER TO AVERT 'LANDSLIDE' DEFEAT

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/986 ... ide-defeat" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

HEALTH Secretary Alan Johnson is being lined up to act as emergency Prime Minister amid growing concerns among Labour MPs about Gordon Brown’s state of mind.

The 58-year-old could take over as an interim measure if Mr Brown quits for the sake of his own health after an expected meltdown at next month’s local and European polls.

A former postman with a common touch, he is seen as the candidate the Tories fear the most.

Senior Labour sources said last night he would be the “magic wand” solution to avert a landslide defeat at the next General Election.

An increasing number of Labour members believe the series of weekly calamities besetting the Government is taking its toll on Mr Brown.

His now notorious YouTube video in which he struggled to form a genuine smile as he announced reforms of MPs’ expenses last month has underlined in many minds that he has difficulties interacting in social situations.

Those worried include his own ministers, who now see him as the major cause of their party’s misfortunes.

Even Mr Brown himself, in his more reflective moments, must have considered resigning, they believe.

One minister said: “The guy can’t be well. People are very worried about him and, to be honest, he’s got to be worried about his health and welfare himself. He must be considering going.”

It is not the first time such questions have surfaced. Famously in 1998, either Tony Blair or one of his aides accused him of being “psychologically flawed” and his temper when under pressure is notorious.

Earlier this year, a Downing Street policeman revealed that a cleaner at Number 10 had been shocked to find the Prime Minister’s private office “completely trashed” after a late-night tantrum.

Party sources are convinced the mood among MPs has turned irretrievably against him and they are examining how he could be replaced.

Rather than forcing him out by a direct challenge, a scenario likely to play into the hands of the Left, the cleanest solution would be for Mr Brown to resign, perhaps after brave persuasion from his wife Sarah or old foe Lord Mandelson.

The Cabinet and the party’s National Executive Committee could then appoint an interim leader until Labour’s annual autumn conference when a more formal voting process would begin.

It is unlikely that party members would then want to replace Mr Johnson, who, after previously feeling he was not leadership material, is now believed to be ready for the challenge.

A senior Labour MP, who has been loyal to both Mr Blair and Mr Brown, said: “We need to find an easy way to make him go away.

“The deputy leadership contest, when Jon Cruddas came so close to winning and Harriet Harman actually won, shows the way the party at large would go if given that vote. We can’t afford a lurch to the Left – that would make things worse.

“Most people think we need a magic-wand solution to get an Alan Johnson leadership. He would be reassuring. He’s the one the Tories fear. He talks normally, he’s a Mr Average and he has a sense of humour.

“He would be able to connect with voters in a way Gordon can’t. He’d also make Cameron look and sound posh.”

The speculation came as several disgruntled senior MPs were reportedly considering making SDP-style defections to the Liberal Democrats after the General Election.

The struggling Prime Minister faces a new rebellion this week. Labour and Tory peers are uniting in the Lords to water down or even throw out draconian new legislation which would ban the display of cigarettes in shops.

[britwrit]

Oh, great. After everything Johnson has done for the Royal Mail as minister, this should be just wonderful...

[norbert]

Oh, great. After everything Johnson has done for the Royal Mail as minister, this should be just wonderful...

The Tories are expecting a 50 - 80 seat majority - regardless of my opinion of AJ & New Labour , it MIGHT be a better idea than McBean , for instance the Tories are targeting seats like Dagenham - Jon Cruddasas seat as it all needs is a 8% swing , Chorley with Lindsay Hoyle ; that used to be a safe Tory seat for years with Den Dover who has now been suspended for " accounting irregularities " as a MEP and has Britain's top libel lawyers Carter - Ruck representing him

I can well believe the story about Master McBean throwing a temper tantrum , that's why New Labour kept Prescott in well past his sell by date to " referee " the feuding between His Toniness & McBean .
Apparently Prescott has some very choice views about certain New Labour people after a few drinks . The problem was a lot of Tories had his cards marked from the days when Prescott was a shadow minister and saw off 4 Tory Transport Secretaries .

What I'm driving at is the danger of not having decent MP's in Parliament that will be on the CWU's side , so it would be better to keep the Tory out in 2010 ? .

The Tories view is that if Haridan Harperson became leader of the opposition , is that they would be in forever . Unfortunately it MAY be a bit like 97 and tolerating B-Liar .

[savo]

Oh great just what the British public want, another unelected prime minister, and this one has even admitted he isnt up to the job.

I think NL wil use the red herring of a health issue with Brown as the best way to spin it to the media.

Just shuffling the chairs round on the Titanic really.

[planx]

Big Al's been after the top job for ages.

Shame we can't count on him to fight our corner when he dose get the job.

[dvbuk55]

If it is AJ - then welcome to a Tory Government - we're allllll dooooomed.

[DGP1]

If it is AJ - then welcome to a Tory Government - we're allllll dooooomed.

TBH I don't see a Labour victory no matter who's in charge, too many problems in the economy and everyone will blame the political party who was in charge during it.

[dvbuk55]

Perhaps we should do away with elections, political parties, House of lords, political corruption, money grubbing gets - I understand the reasons behind the first civil war and think it's time for a second.

[DGP1]

Perhaps we should do away with elections, political parties, House of lords, political corruption, money grubbing gets - I understand the reasons behind the first civil war and think it's time for a second.

It won't be civil at all and TBH it'll be the haves against the havenots, the streets would be lined with merchant bankers (cheaper than street lights).

[pinstripe]

Sorry guys, but what ones are the Tories again? Are Labour the party of the working class? Has the difference between the two now become so small, that there is no difference except the colour of the ties that they wear? Are we screwed, no matter who wins he next election?
Answers on a postcard....

[dvbuk55]

Sorry guys, but what ones are the Tories again? Are Labour the party of the working class? Has the difference between the two now become so small, that there is no difference except the colour of the ties that they wear? Are we screwed, no matter who wins he next election?
Answers on a postcard....

Consisting of just 3 letters and the first is y

[johnsouthwales]

i mentioned a month ago proper labour should leave and set up their own party or join force with lib-dem

[norbert]

i mentioned a month ago proper labour should leave and set up their own party or join force with lib-dem

it's like a trip back in time to the 80's with Labour nearly getting Tony Benn in and problems with the Trot Militant Tendency being a party within a party
, the longest suicide note in history with the 1983 Manifesto and the gang of 4 like Shirley Williams , Woy Jenkins etc defecting to the Social Democrats . That meant a Tory landslide as it split the vote .

The ironies are is that the Brownites and Blairites too became parties within a party , some of them like :mfo are ex tankies , people like Darling were trots once , their politics moved to the right but the mindset stayed the same .

Certain Thatcherites were also ex CPGB , they'd got disillusioned with Marxism but they still saw politics as a substitute for religion , so you got this fervor you'd associate with the far left as politics goes in circles and you can be so way out that you meet the other side round the back ; and/ or a militancy only with a different twist .

Labour's last great white hope was the late John Smith .

[randompostman]

John McDonnell a few years ago would have earnt labour more votes than the tw*t in downing street now and for me still would. john smith was a product of his time, good then but not relevant now and those days have gone as with blair and brown our choices narrow every year and as i see it you have left right and green. left and green are much the same and right do not bear thinking about and those are your choices and new labour are not in the equastion one bit.