Labour's new low

Yet again, even the expectation-lowering worst case scenario being talked about by Brown Central wasn't as bad as the real result. The 7,860 majority for Tory Edward Timpson outstripped the 7,078 Labour lead of the seat's predecessor, which had been talked about by Labour figures for the last 48 hours. To their chagrin, they got the result right.

Sticking the vote shares into the Electoral Calculus, a crude guide of what what happen if this swing ws repeated nationally, this would result in a pretty unbelievable 228 Tory majority. Expect Labour MPs, starting with Harriet Harman, to repeat the mantra that by-elections are not good predictors of general election results. That wont stop plenty of Labour MPs worrying about their future, so will any of them publicly call for Gordon Brown to go?

And once again after a dreadful night, a pretty poor start to the fightback. Ms Harman is in charge of Labour's rallying call this morning, but it couldn't have been a more vapid response. She pointed out that the figures aren't as bad as the 2004 Hartlepool by-election, omitting to mention the huge difference that Labour actually won.  She promised to step up renewable energy and improve public transport, both hollow sounding non-promises.

There is one interesting suggestion of what Brown could do to improve morale today. He could publicly appear with Tamsin Dunwoody and commiserate the poor result. Turning weakness into strength, this could show he was leading from the front, taking the bad result on the chin. And empathising with the Labour Party, who will be looking for crumbs of comfort this morning.

Comments

[RW]

I agree that Brown should now appear in public with Tamsin Dunwoody. May I suggest College Green as a location, with both of them in the stocks. Desperate back-bench Labour MPs could then pelt the pair with rotten tomatoes, which would temporarily improve their morale (the MPs that is) while giving the rest of us a good laugh.

The reality of course is that Brown, utterly incapable of tolerating criticism or rejection, will hide himself away as he always has, raging and brooding; while Dunwoody will return to the public anonymity she deserves.

[stephen]

My opinion on the whole thing is the following

http://www.crewe.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2552&posts=2

[julian randall]

why oh why wont the man relalise that the English, not his collective of the British just do not want him as PM, he stole it and has shown himself to be very very wanting in his capabilty to undertake the role, or will he rant and rave and say he knows best!!!

Go Gordon Go

[Chuck Unsworth]

Harman's response was awful. Full of 'jam tomorrow' garbage whilst ordinary families are scraping around looking for bread today. The comments about looking for new energy sources etc were utterly crass. Does she seriously believe that we're all going to hang about while scientists and politicians footle around trying to produce hydrogen powered vehicles and then everything will be OK?

It's almost as if she thought that these events were unheralded catastrophies. Yet years ago it was clear that Labour's economic profligacy would turn round and bite - it was just a matter of time.

The Labour Party may be 'listening' but it certainly isn't hearing - must be some kind of political tinnitus.

In any event, who now believes a single thing that they say? Blair was rapidly losing credibility all the way through his second and third terms - and he knew it. Brown never had any to start with, except amongst the most gullible, yet seriously believed that he did. Like a defeated whimpering playground bully, he's a spent force.

[TrevorH]

Alan Simpson labour MP has said on BBC that if Brown /Labour cannot change 'by the end of the year then its the end of the pier'.

His manifesto though seemed to be a complete abrogation of what has gone on under Browns economic direction over the last 11 years.

When Brown came to Downing street he rabbited the mantra 'change' - of course this was to hide the fact that he was responsible for everything except Iraq over the last 10 years.
He was no change.
So how now can labour MPs who crowned rather than elected Brown, have the nerve to call for real change? The public have to question the entire competence of Labour from top to bottom.

[simon]

Brown must go. End of story. I can't believe that Labour don;t seem to understand this. If he is leader at the next general election then they are looking at a landslide defeat and 15 years in opposition. Spin won't cover it any more. Change or die.

[Michael]

This is the beginning of the Labour Government's long death rattle - changing leader won't alter the electoral meltdown which will follow in two year's time. Though rolling out Harriet Harman - one of the least user friendly members of the Government - to lead the fightback is yet another indication of how they have simply lost touch with the people.

[J.V.Healy]

If brown wants to become popular he could start by;
a) scrapping ID cards and spending the money on something useful.
b) stopping racketeering by councils e.g. fines for not closing bins, inadvertently dropping small amounts of litter, not to mention parking tickets.
c) stop the persecution of motorists by speed cameras.
d) abolish the several thousand victimless "crimes" created by nu labours badly drafted legislation.
e) cease the assults on privacy and civil liberties, by his controlling and authoritarian government, mass surveillance is about control, not security.

I suspect that like Tiberius with Caligula, Blair only allowed brown to suceed him so that he would look good in comparison.

[Glenn]

Harriet Harman "promised to step up renewable energy and improve public transport, both hollow sounding non-promises"

She's really listening to what the working population think is important!

[Ron Bentham]

Blair out! Brown in! What a misjudgement.
and the party havn't got any body else who comes close. Its time we elected our own boss like the Yanks do.