I've just had to slightly rewrite my Saturday column for the Eastern Daily Press after Charles Clarke's latest outburst, in which he has called Gordon Brown 'stupid'. See HERE. Nick Robinson is worth looking at too HERE. What did Clarke hope to achieve? He's now annoyed both Brown and Blair. This means only one thing, as far as I can see. He's trying to position himself as the centrist candidate who isn't Blair and isn't Brown. Or is he? I just can't see what else he can be trying to do. Do feel free to enlighten me.
His comments are deeply damaging to Gordon Brown, especially as they are true. Brown could have stopped his little helpers with, as Clarke says, 'a click of his fingers'. But he didn't.
The ferrets in the sack continue to twitch.
51 comments:
Blair has now got to sort of two civil wars, and he is the cause of them both - the Labour one and the one in Iraq.
Let's hope the STOP BROWN bandwagon does as much damage to NuLayber as the "Stuff Blair" bandwagon, and that both are nice long, enduring rows.
Maybe Clarke was so angry and frustrated he just lost control and expressed an honest opinion!
Just seen Gordon's speech from Edinburgh. Everything is for the best in this, the best of all possible worlds.
Clarke makes a mess of the Home Office and leaves it in a far worse condition than when he inherited it, then gets sacked by Blair but is offered an 'out of the limelight'job which angers him, then he starts to swing wildly at Blair with his weekly vitriolic rantings, now he kicks wildly at Brown and calls him stupid, and all for what???? To hide his incompetence as a minister, and accepting the fact that whether Blair stays for 12 months or longer, or whether its Brown in charge, he has no future as a minister with a high profile job. Sour grapes and perceived injustice - a potent and deadly combination.
Long may Clarke continue with his bull in a china shop mentality and long may Labour killing Labour continue.
I think I might have said this before, but as Charles Clarke hates both Brown and Reid, he will either stand himself or anoint Johnson. At the moment, I reckon he's purposely keeping his options open.
Interestingly he describes Milburn as "leadership material," but this is an empty endorsement purely designed to wind up Gordon, as Milburn (a) won't stand, and (b) wouldn't get 44 MPs even if he did.
Let's see,
1. He's always hated Brown (it's mutual) and his promotion prospects under a Brown leadership are effectively nil.
2. He now hates Toni too. And refusing the F.O. job in a marked manner when Toni made him carry the can for the H.O. debacle means he's burnt his bridges there.
So, "a plague on both their houses!"
It's a great chance to piss in the soup - and who knows, if they cancel each other out, an outsider might look on him more favourably. Especially if that outsider is squints at him from a mirror every morning.
One thing that these ex-ultra-lefties are very good at is hating.
Clarke as PM ? Only if you want someone who looks like he's spent the previous week on a park bench.
Isn't it more a case of getting his revenge in first, as he clearly sees no prospect of returning to Cabinet under a Brown Premiership?
Clarke's comments certainly could be the opening salvo in a leadership bid.
However, am I just a paranoid right-winger or is it a little strange that the BBC don't consider this the lead story on 'World at One' - ex-Home secretary labels Current Chancellor and likely next PM 'Stupid'...
They can't stop, can't they?
Brownites are naturally already annoyed by Clarke with Harriet Harman telling him to shut up.
Glenda Jackson had a further go at him saying that he would prefer Cameron in Downing Street than Brown and Blair should distance himself from these comments.
Remember this is personal between the Labour "heavy" weights from long remembered slights, Brown bearing long-held grudges, put-downs, briefings against and so on. Labour is facing the possibility that it's top-ministers and their supporters will pull each other apart. There is unlikely to be a truce...
Clarke on BBC : 'Ex-Health Secretary Alan Milburn, a close Blair ally who has suggested he might stand for the top job, was "leadership material", he added.'
The rebellion against Blair is being followd by a rebelleion against Brown, opening up space for other contenders.
Charles is a dedicated, highly intelligent, adroit politician, gin swiller, a very genuine man. He was badly treated at both Education and the Home Office where the problems he encountered were entirely the fault of others. I know this is true because he said so on TV.
People call him rude names like 'Mr. Bumble' and 'Bollock Chops' but he cannot help his unkempt appearance, he loves to relate to the people he represents.
Charles is making a run for the leadership, why?, because he has nothing lose.
No sane PM would have him anywhere near the Cabinet Table ever again .......Hmmmmm! having said that.........?
You read it here first!
"Do feel free to enlighten me."
No enlightenment - only speculation. He could be, as the Beeb has suggested, an independent-minded individual enjoying speaking his mind and being heard by millions after a decade of ferocious NuLab party discipline? I agree that his comments will be helpful to neither Blair nor Brown.
Maybe he just thinks Gordon Brown is deeply stupid, as I do too, and he just couldn't stand pretending any more. I know I'd have broken long before this.
He's working for someone else - Johnson?
Iain, If you want to cut the 1st three sentences, it's fine by me.
I applied to Keep The Faith under my 'real' name of Gordon Ursus!
I don't know how you suggest similar without giving the game away?
They have not as yet put up a list, though are boasting 4000 so far.
After yesterday's yawn it's getting interesting again. Why is it only the harpies who are doing media?
How did lunch go? And casting couch?
Has Guido got a picture?
ScotsToryB
Why assume he is up to anything?
He is just a bitter and twisted fat dickhead who quite rightly got sacked throwing a tantrum.
If this jug eared, waddling compost heap seriously considers himself to be prime ministerial material it just goes to show deluded he is, no shocks there.
No doubt he was bullied at school for being the academic fat one with dandruff, and BO ,also probably married the first woman that would (god knows why) sleep with him.
Appearance is all.
Blair yesterday - injured, dignified, honest.
Brown yesterday - secretive, grudging, deceitful.
So in the final match between No. 10 and No. 11, it's 1-0 to the man who's retiring.
Clarke's Teflon's annointed baby. The sacking was all a big ruse. To allow Charles to go out, spread the word to the people, and expose Gordano for what he truly is.
ps
If anyone is expecting a Christmas card off Gordano, it wont be postmarked SW1, more likely KY1.
I think he is getting his own back on Brown. The STOP BROWN campaign has begun.
He should have worked out by now he wouldn't win any leadership contest as he's currently remembered by his peers as an incompetent home secretary, which just wouldnt do with the voters.
Therefore this way he keeps himself in the media spotlight, begins to rebuild his political standing/career, does the new leader a favour so he owes him one when it comes to a new cabinet and most importantly stops Brown!
Everyones a winner!
Has the normally anodyne Nick Robinson come back from hols with a more gloves off approach? Just my observation - his posts seem to be getting a bit sharper. Couldn't possibly be in response to the blogosphere grabbing share of clicks now, could it?
Did anyone hear Ruth Kelly on the radio this morning? She said something to the effect that Charles Clarke had always thought that about Gordon, quickly realised her mistake, then tried to correct herself. Humphrys must have been feeling generous as he basically let her get away with it.
What does everyone else think?
Clarke is a bright bloke and is clearly of the opinion that Brown's route to the throne is not as secure as first thought. I doubt there is personal ambition to be a candidate.
However he has either volunteered his services or been requested by Reid / Johnson / a.n. other Blairite successor to stick the boot into Brown.
He is perfectly placed to do so with maximum effect and it would assist his recovery to the Cabinet if a Blairite candidate does actually win through.
Just about sums "Tubby Clark" up.
If you did not hear- one of the few genuine Labour MP`s -Frank Field-on World at One I recommend it. His comments very "pithy" on Grunge Brown.
"I just can't see what else he can be trying to do"
Iain, perhaps he's telling the truth and just saying out loud what he thinks. Candour and honesty are rare values these days but he's certainly not revealing anything new.
He's simply outside the tent pissing in.
LBJ didn't get everything wrong...
Morrisox said:
Appearance is all.
Blair yesterday - injured, dignified, honest.
..... you believed him?
Reading these comments it's striking that no one is SHOCKED that a former cabinet minister publicly denounce a current colleague, and one as senior as Brown, as "stupid". And it was this very individual who was blasted in turn by his replacement after having been dumped for a monumental act of incompetence and, er, stupidity.
MorrisOx 2:02 PM said...
Blair yesterday - injured, dignified, honest.
Brown yesterday - secretive, grudging, deceitful.
So in the final match between No. 10 and No. 11, it's 1-0 to the man who's retiring.
Blair - honest???!!!
If Mullah Tony of Islam stood up and said "Jesus is Lord", I'd seriously start questioning the evidence for the Resurrection.
For those not into theology, just google Hilaire Belloc's poem 'Matilda'
( http://www.poetry-archive.com/b/matilda.html )
and replace the word 'fire' with 'WMD'
Blair has had so many people lying and telling half-truths on his behalf for so long now that I (and I am sure many other ordinary people) many othersno-one believes anything he or anyone associated with him says any more. I, for one, don't care. I just want rid of the lot of them.
I think it was motivated by two things: One - Brown carries off his air of being awesomely bright by not saying anything. But he is a stupid man and maybe Clarke just couldn't resist.
Two: He's paving the way for a contest. Brown is not a shoo-in and he wanted to make this electrifyingly apparent to the electorate.
Brown is probably eating nails and ruining his bleached teeth. Personally, I have always thought him gruesome.
Of course I don't believe him, anon. Even the frowns and pauses are scripted.
As I said, appearance is all.
Sorry Charles.
Charles Clarke is a bit of a loose canon at the moment, I think he wants to let off steam, injured pride, etc.
He was quoted in last week's EDP as saying he had not been invited to speak from the main platform at the Labour Party conference, but had accepted a number of invitations to speak at fringe meetings.
He would not say what topics he would be speaking on, but said he would be making a series of announcements in the next few weeks in the run-up to the conference.
I wonder what he has up his sleeve?
Iain, I'm looking forward to your column tomorrow, btw.
Chancellor Bought And Sold For London Gold
snp
Commenting on Gordon Brown's latest panic attack on the SNP, which has been dressed up as a speech on his perceived 'Britishness', SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP pointed to the recent successes of the SNP, which has panicked the Labour Party into reaction.
Mr Salmond said:
"The more Gordon Brown goes on about his Britishness the more he highlights his own fatal weakness in the Labour leadership campaign. He believes that his own Scottishness is an obstacle to him becoming Prime Minister. As Charles Clarke said, he is 'nervous' and 'lacks confidence'.
"Gordon Brown wants Scotland to believe that we are unique in the world in our inability to prosper if we take responsibility for our own future and our own success.
"If he suggested Ireland would be doing so well if London took its decisions, he would be laughed out the room. Ireland has as many strong social bonds with the UK as Scotland but that does not mean Dublin lets London choose its future.
"The Chancellor is stuck in Labour's tired old rhetoric of divorce, but no one in Scotland thinks Scotland and England are married. We are partners in a 300 year old union that is no longer serving our nation's interest. We are neighbours and friends and that positive relationship will only be enhanced when we move forward to an equal partnership that gives Scotland the freedom to flourish without London remote control.
"Gordon Brown would say or do anything to win the keys to Number 10. His interventions in Scottish politics are more to do with his own narrow ambition than with the hopes or aspirations of Scottish families. He is willing to put his own success before the wellbeing and future wealth of his own nation.
"Gordon Brown has been bought and sold for London gold."
Iain - This fantic whirlygig of banners is cheap and overwrought. Slutty, even.
You had it exactly right before. A banner up for around five days, and then a fresh banner. It was a delight and very smooth.
As wes say in de Carribean man yous got to take your spliff out to dat Clarke man.
Ah means wot de lump of lard wit de designa beard got to do wit anythin dat we bruthers is thinkin? Is rappin style is worse den Peter O'Sullivan, knows wot I mean?
Does e know ow to smile? Wen you got de enemy on de ground den yous give im a good kickin before yous tell im wot a good norman e is, innit?
Yous is not a norman man
My apologies for failing to proof-read before making my post of 3:38 PM. The 1st paragraph should end with a full stop, while the 2nd paragraph should read:
"Blair has had so many people lying and telling half-truths on his behalf for so long now that I (and I am sure many other ordinary people) no longer believe anything he or anyone associated with him says. I, for one, don't care. I just want rid of the lot of them."
Is a loose canon a libidinous priest? And you in the communications business, Ellee...
Blair, Brown, Johnson, Clarke - it's all very confusin', isn't it? Or so Dave tells me.
When all is said and done on this issue, Charles Clarke is right on the money isn't he?
So someone who got sacked for generating appalling PR, lost control of his staff, whinged that he wasn't satisfied with the job the PM offered him is having a go at Gordon for generating appalling PR, losing control of his staff and not being satisfied with the job the PM gave him?
And he was rude to my dad. Poisonous puffed-up jug-eared gargoyle, Mayyhew Norman called him.
Now he's a poisonous puffed-up jug-eared gargoyle who's been sacked and is sucking on sour grapes.
Sweet.
http://rachelnorthlondon.blogspot.com/2006/09/another-elephant-in-room.html
Iain, Ig you watch the Blair Broadcasting Corporation 24 hour news and compare it with Sky you will see something very interesting. They are giving Gordon Brown a battering hour after hour and are casting around for other politicians to stand against him.
What is going on??
Clark may look like a moron but he is playing a long game. He has no prospects under Brown who will be next PM. Forget Reid and Johnson.
Cameron will be PM after Brown loses next election joining his hero Sunny Jim as shortest serving PM in recent history.
Cons Part inherit a poisoned chalice. Huge budget deficits a shrinking econmy strikes by public service workers. Brown retires. Clark vs Johnson for Leader of New New Labour. Voters panic. Elect New New Lab. PM Clark. In his dreams. And may be our future nightmare.
How depressing that most of your commentators seem to take this odious new labour crew seriously. It's like asking which rat do you prefer? Why should anybody want a rat?
And anyone who has got involved with this foul crew in order to get himself into power must be considered deeply suspect until he proves himself otherwise. Don't people realise that the only way the labour party could ever have got elected in this country was to misrepresent themselves to the voters and then continue to lie and cheat to stay in power.
The Machiavellian genius Mandelson, who got them there, knew this. And they are now bound to tear themselves apart, because the truth will destroy them. The clever ones know there is nothing for them after Blair - apres lui le deluge. Good riddance.
And ferrets don't twitch; they squirm, wriggle and bite - endlessly.
What's Clarke up to?
I thought you would be cleverer than that Iain....you'll know exactly what he's up to with in, I predict, the next fortnight as he comes out in support of a certain candidate, with him, of course, as DPM.
He might be playing the long game Mr Griswald but if he's not careful he'll only be representative via seance by the time that shower become electable again.
Not that I'm complaining mind you.
Personally I think he's either doing this scorched earth policy on the behest of an up 'n' coming with pretensions to the crown.
Or more likely he realises there is nothing left for him anywhere and he's going to screw them all as he probably thinks he has been.
Any ideas as to which Cabinet member told the BBC: "It would be an absolute fucking disaster if Gordon Brown was Prime Minister and I will do everything in my power to fucking stop him"?
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