Thursday, November 19, 2009

Have Labour MPs Given Up?

Have Labour MPs given up? I only ask because I have never seen the government benches so empty during a Queen's Speech debate. Normally they are packed to the rafters. Conservative MPs did a head count yesterday and while Gordon Brown was speaking there were only 127 Labour MPs there, with massive gaps appearing on the green leather benches. This has never happened before. It is symptomatic of a parliamentary party that has lost all confidence in its leader and all confidence in its ability to win an election. Many of them probably just couldn't face turning up and performing like nodding dogs. It's not that they were in the building - they weren't. They didn't even bother to turn up for one of the parliamentary set pieces of the year.

They really do appear to have given up.

13 comments:

Cat Enaccio said...

Read this yesterday on ConHome tbf.

Lexander said...

Hardly represents what the government REALLY would like to do for the year! This is yet another royal charade that would stop with a proper republic in place. Most of the missing MPs would like to see an end or cut-back in the hmq business!

Stepney said...

Why bother?

The mindset goes thusly:

I'm getting paid, we're not going to implement any of this shite, I've got Christmas shopping to do and a job to find by next June.

not an economist said...

Actually I thought Brown had a good week last week and wasn't doing too bad this week. I am surprised if Labour MP's have "given up" as you suggest. I certiankly don't see Cameron and Ossy as unassailable come the general election.

Rod said...

Lets hope that after the next election that Labour is left with only 127 MPs .

Newmania said...

Iain a Poll a week ago had them only 10% behind they would quite reasonably hope to close the gap in the run in, most governments do. That gets them into hung Parliament territory at least.
You think the Lib Dems would not partake of the pact that dare not speak its name ?They could be bought for a bag of crisps and a weak shandy
This is no time for complacency
*wags finger *

Anonymous said...

They have returned to their constituencies to prepare for opposition!

ToryBanter said...

I exspect (as I have I have written http://torybanter.blogspot.com/2009/11/gordie-no-mates.html )
that No Labour MP in their right mind would won't to be apart of this blatant political game.

There are no real policies just trap's for the Conservative Lords.

Dominic Allkins said...

@Newmania..

"Iain a Poll a week ago had them only 10% behind they would quite reasonably hope to close the gap in the run in, most governments do."

Sorry to burst your bubble but politicalbetting.com have done some analysis on Governments closing the gap. Seems it doesn't actually happen.

Ah well.... never mind eh??

Andrew said...

I am no Lib/Dem, but I thought it disrespectful that various MPs (but mostly Labour) scuttled out when Clegg got up to speak.
Speaker Berk-cow should make a ruling on this.

Anonymous said...

The ministers have given up; 4:05 Parliment. Bob Russel libDem is accusing the Lab Ministers of huge disrespect by not attending or listening to the debate on the Queen's speech.

This is is just like school end of term, except that lasted for 1-2 weeks. This mob are taking the piss as usual by it being for 6 months.

Mirtha Tidville said...

Oh I do love good news stories....More like this please Iain

Anonymous said...

Looks like you have . . Given up that is . . .