It has been an eventful few days with the Labour conference in full swing. But the week began quite controversially.
I have to say that I was dismayed by the interview with Andrew Marr and the Prime Minister on the Sunday Breakfast Programme. As regular readers will know, I am no fan of the Labour Party or Gordon Brown. But I thought the BBC questioning of the Prime Minister's medical issues - regarding whether or not he was taking tablets for depression - was intrusive, rude and irrelevant to the issues of the day. Of course the media should ensure that politicians face tough questioning, but this should be based on policies, not on personal matters. Andrew Marr's question should not have happened and he should apologise to Mr Brown.
Having said all the above, I was also disappointed that the Labour Party seems to have turned to their core vote and are basing their attacks on Conservatives on class war, rather than debating policies. Gordon Brown's speech was a shame as it was a missed opportunity for him to set out what he and his party believes.
Harriet Harman's attack on the Sun for deciding to vote Conservative, was misguided and a gift to David Cameron. Not only will her remarks - and those reported of Peter Mandelson - antagonise the newspaper still further, but they also insult the millions of people who read The Sun ever day. Moreover, for a major Union Leader (Unite's Tony Woodley), to tear up the newspaper in front of applauding conference delegates, was crass leftist populism at its worst - it was almost Goebbels like in its imagery. Replayed on Television, the imagery will do more to win over floating voters to the Conservative cause, than any thing the Sun could ever write. If there is one thing that most voters don't like, it is when party's retreat to their core vote and become extreme.
All in all, this is a very bad conference for Labour and another terrible week for Gordon Brown. This should have been a time when the Labour party regrouped and gathered forces in time for the forthcoming election. Instead, they have turned in on themselves, continued plotting against Gordon Brown, without having the courage to actually remove him, and have retreated to their core vote. The end of New Labour was never more certain.
P.S. If you want to read a dossier on Labour's policy failures, click on the Sun page HERE.
I have to say that I was dismayed by the interview with Andrew Marr and the Prime Minister on the Sunday Breakfast Programme. As regular readers will know, I am no fan of the Labour Party or Gordon Brown. But I thought the BBC questioning of the Prime Minister's medical issues - regarding whether or not he was taking tablets for depression - was intrusive, rude and irrelevant to the issues of the day. Of course the media should ensure that politicians face tough questioning, but this should be based on policies, not on personal matters. Andrew Marr's question should not have happened and he should apologise to Mr Brown.
Having said all the above, I was also disappointed that the Labour Party seems to have turned to their core vote and are basing their attacks on Conservatives on class war, rather than debating policies. Gordon Brown's speech was a shame as it was a missed opportunity for him to set out what he and his party believes.
Harriet Harman's attack on the Sun for deciding to vote Conservative, was misguided and a gift to David Cameron. Not only will her remarks - and those reported of Peter Mandelson - antagonise the newspaper still further, but they also insult the millions of people who read The Sun ever day. Moreover, for a major Union Leader (Unite's Tony Woodley), to tear up the newspaper in front of applauding conference delegates, was crass leftist populism at its worst - it was almost Goebbels like in its imagery. Replayed on Television, the imagery will do more to win over floating voters to the Conservative cause, than any thing the Sun could ever write. If there is one thing that most voters don't like, it is when party's retreat to their core vote and become extreme.
All in all, this is a very bad conference for Labour and another terrible week for Gordon Brown. This should have been a time when the Labour party regrouped and gathered forces in time for the forthcoming election. Instead, they have turned in on themselves, continued plotting against Gordon Brown, without having the courage to actually remove him, and have retreated to their core vote. The end of New Labour was never more certain.
P.S. If you want to read a dossier on Labour's policy failures, click on the Sun page HERE.
Rob
ReplyDeleteI agree in general that a politician's private life should remain private if he/she wishes. However, if it impinges on their ability to do the job that is a different matter. Since when is the mental stability of the guy with his finger on the nuclear button not a matter of public interest? Depression affects the ability to make rational judgements under stress. I am a strong supporter of the rights of people with mental health problems but you wouldn't put someone with a known heart condition in a boxing ring and the PM's reported temper tantrums show a lack of control which is worrying.