Revenge of the Blairites?
At the end of a bad day for the Prime Minister, it was astonishing to hear Peter Hyman, former Blair speechwriter, say on Newsnight that Labour party members are telling him that it's time for the party to spend some time in opposition. And that these people felt perhaps David Cameron wouldn't be such a bad Prime Minister. Not exactly helpful...
Daniel Finkelstein over at Comment Central has the transcript
Yes, it was a bad day for the Prime Minister - aren't most of them?
I'm not surprised at the comments by 'some' Labour Party members. After all, they probably understand that this Government (I use that term in its broadest sense) has managed to foul up big time. It will take years if not decades to sort out the mess.
Why would it be in their interests to be associated with the forthcoming pain? Better to get out now and sit on the politically comfortable Opposition benches than having to bear the daily opprobrium meted out to the shit-shovellers who will have to toil in the Augean Stables created by New Labour.
Sure, the MPs wont be enjoying lavish Ministerial lifestyles, but they'll be doing pretty much OK on the relative penury of an MPs salary and allowances. On the whole it'll be better for them than those poor sods at the bottom end of the Tax chain. Still, the poor are always with us, eh?
Posted by: Chuck Unsworth | 24 Apr 2008 06:46:15
I think Opposition may actually be beneficial for Labour in the long term. As I said in an interview with Vince Cable last Saturday, power naturally corrodes a party, so while it is normal to want to win the 2009/10 battle, the war effort might benefit from a tactical retreat .
What the Tories need is to get over the idea that they have some sort of divine right to rule. I am glad that Cameron seems to be taking no chances when it comes to this.
Posted by: Hadleigh Roberts | 24 Apr 2008 10:26:15