Thursday, September 11, 2008

Lady T to Lunch at Chequers: Reaction From Scottish Labour Awaited

Last month, the Scottish Labour Party made huge capital over a remark Alex Salmond made in an interview with me about Margaret Thatcher. They castigated him for uttering a pro Thatcher sentence and said he should be ashamed of himself for associating himself with her in any shape or form.

I await with interest the damning comments of the Scottish Labour Party when they learn of Gordon Brown's invitation to lunch to Lady Thatcher at Chequers this Saturday. Perhaps Mr Salmond would like to formally ask them what they think.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

It will be a case of, 'spot the one who's forgotten what they are there for'

Anonymous said...

He will ask them Iain don't worry. Just picking the right moment. Perhaps just after the new "Leader" in Scotland is announced on Saturday. Perhaps at FMQs next Thursday. It will be like waiting for the second shoe to drop for the Labour Party.
But what does it say about Brown and his relationship with his fellow party members in Scotland?

Anonymous said...

He's just hoping to get some more cheap publicity, like when he asked her to No 10. And she's becoming senile and won't properly understand the use that's being made of her. Gordon Brown is too far beneath contempt to be allowed to survive. He should be humanely put down.

Anonymous said...

I was expecting more tasteless "Thatcher has dementia jokes"....maybe they're still forthcoming...

MikeyP said...

Anon 9:54

He should be humanely put down.

No he should not. He should be slowly eviscerated with a putty knife!

Man in a Shed said...

You know I think oddly Brown in genuine on this, and I don't give him the benefit of the doubt (about his motives) very often.

Alex said...

Presumably quizzing her about the mechanics of standing down as PM under pressure.

Anonymous said...

Brown obviously wants to 'tap' into the Greatest Prime Minister's mind asking how he can get te public to love him as they do her!

Remember that Baroness Thatcher was very low in the polls prior to the Falklands!

Perhaps Brown is about to create an International Incident with Peru over Paddington Bear - or something we can all get behind him on!

Anonymous said...

MikeyP said...

Anon 9:54

"He should be humanely put down."

"No he should not. He should be slowly eviscerated with a putty knife!

I wonder why you find this acceptable Iain, but swearing is forbidden?"

I'll probably be accused of having a lack of a sense of humour again.

Iain Dale said...

Dear oh dear. The use of the exclamation mark clearly indicates that it is a joke. Is that really the best you can do?

BrianSJ said...

Well, with the Glenrothes by-election coming up, it is quite possible the topic will be raised.

Anonymous said...

I am anti-Thatcher. Her policies were damaging and divisive and Galtieri saved her.

If she is suffering from dementia, as has been reported, she should be left alone with her dignity.Where's Brown's moral compass now?

On the Scottish dimension-you just could not make it up.Not a critical word on Labour ever appears.But Salmond is lambasted for a balanced remark on thatcherism.

Anonymous said...

"Perhaps Brown is about to create an International Incident"

My own totally evidence free view is that Blair (based on a Falklands style political strategy) wanted a nice easy-roll-over-win of a war to boost his tough guy street cred. Iraq seemed to fit the bill. And later Afghanistan looked a nice easy peace keeping alternative.

He, Brown et al, are totally ignorant of what war is all about and what it takes to support troops in action.

I think invading Iraq was right BTW, just Blairs motives and tactics were suspect.

Anonymous said...

It's about time this political has been was ignored and kept out of the media.

As for Mrs Thatcher...

Anonymous said...

Mr Dale,

You have chosen not to post my comments. That's entirely up to you - it's your blog, your rules, you chose what is published - we do have the right to free speech in this country. If I want to put my views on the web it is simple enough to set up a blog or website and have my say.

However what you have chosen to publish comments calling for the killing of Gordon Brown. There are limits to free speech. You cannot call for the death of another person in public. There was the fairly recent example of a person who objected to the Danish cartoons of Mohammed with a banner who was prosecuted. What is on your blog is analogous to that.

"Gordon Brown is too far beneath contempt to be allowed to survive. He should be humanely put down."

and

"He should be humanely put down.

No he should not. He should be slowly eviscerated with a putty knife!"

You are clearly aware of these comments, yet you allow them to stay on open view. I have contacted my solicitor for advice, and will let you her opinion. Depending on this advice, I may contact the relevant authorities to alert them to your actions. What results would, of course, be up to them.