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Rats desert a sinking Blair.

by Colman Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:28:12 AM EST

One of Tony Blair's ministers resigned from his post today and called on the prime minister to do the same. News of Tom Watson's departure came as Downing Street described reports that Mr Blair would step down next May as "speculation". Mr Watson, a junior defence minister, was thought to have signed but then removed his name from yesterday's letter calling for the prime minister to name a departure date. As he quit front bench politics today, he said it was "not in the interest of either the party or the country" for Mr Blair to remain in office. (Guardian)

Odds that's he'll survive into next year?

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Rats desert a sinking Blair. | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
They describe Watson as "a ormer whip and uber-loyalist".

Not good for Tony.

Lenin's Tomb describes it thusly:

Blairite Minister quits - demands Blair's resignation.
A Blairite minister has quit and urged Blair to step down.  Amazingly, it is Tom Watson MP, former junior defence minister and possibly the most unpleasant Blairite in the country.  This is obviously an attempt to manage the situation before it all falls in on New Labour heads.  Like I said:

September 23rd - Don't Miss It. [LENIN'S TOMB]
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:29:36 AM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
"former whip". <sigh>.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:33:34 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
No more unthinking sycophancy for Dear Leader?

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:37:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Possibly not.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:44:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
No Dear Leader is currently in place.

This is an every politician for himself moment in the Labour Party.

No one now has the slightest incentive to curry favour with has been Blair. Even the former ultra-loyalists are playing games designed to help their future career prospects. If they think putting a bit of clear water between themselves and Blair will help, then that is what they will do.

The starting gun has been fired for the leadership election. The wee timorous cowering beasties of Westminster are devoting all their energies to looking to see who will have the mantle of Dear Leader bestowed on him, so they can begin being sycophantic to him. The hope of the terminally ambitious is to promise support to all leadership contenders, so as to be in favour with the one who wins.

Blair will be very lucky if he can stick to his planned timetable.

by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 08:43:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
I think Michael Frayn (of "Copenhagen" and "Democracy" fame) should start taking notes for a play called "Manchester".

Nothing is 'mere'. — Richard P. Feynman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 08:55:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
I thought we had "Dear Leader" and you had "Dear Lead"?

"I said, 'Wait a minute, Chester, You know I'm a peaceful man...'" Robbie Robertson
by NearlyNormal on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 02:30:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
Blair had the Dear Leader franchise for the UK, but in dealing with George W. he was awestruck by a greater power.

It is all a matter of scale. The dominant male in the  British domestic political baboon troop, reverts to being a subordinate primate in the larger Anglo-American grouping.

The BBC had a body language specialist on yesterday, who pointed out that Blair when following his leader puts his hands in his suit pockets. They had pictures of him doing that with Michael Foot (the Labour leader when Blair was starting out in politics, when he finished third in the Beaconsfield by-election in 1983) as well as with Bush.

I do not think it is quite the same between Blair and other European leaders, although he seems to find it frustrating to deal with Chirac who is immune to his charm and can neither be persuaded or bullied to do what Tony wants.

by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 03:23:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
Another reason to read Chimpanzee Politics?

Nothing is 'mere'. — Richard P. Feynman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 03:31:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
So it really does look like the plan to release this timetable to head off the conference revolt, has turned into  "Light the Blue Touchpaper and retire".

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:41:32 AM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Now they're saying a second minister has resigned...
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:48:09 AM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Not quite a minister:
Mr Watson was followed by Khalid Mahmood MP who quit as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Home Office minister Tony McNulty.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:50:28 AM EST
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Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
I presume we can expect these to resign as well:
Chris Bryant
Rhondda MP and parliamentary private secretary to Lord Falconer

Wayne David
Caerphilly MP and PPS to Adam Ingram, the armed forces minister

Ian Lucas
Wrexham MP and PPS to Bill Rammell, education minister

Sion Simon
Birmingham Erdington MP and PPS to minister Ian Pearson

Kevin Brennan
MP for Cardiff West and assistant government whip

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:53:19 AM EST
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Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
BBC News 24 are reporting that 4 more PPS's have resigned. It includes Wayne David and some other people not on the previous list.
by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:06:17 AM EST
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Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
At 14:06 yet another PPS has resigned.
by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:07:34 AM EST
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Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Are PPSs expected to be the next generation of ministers?

Nothing is 'mere'. — Richard P. Feynman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:10:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
At one time a PPS was a personal friend, relative or ally of a senior Minister. Only the PPS to the Prime Minister was at all important.

Prime Ministers, I think since Harold Wilson, have seized control of the appointment of PPSs as additional patronage to help control the Parliamentary party. The number of PPSs has expanded and many ambitious MPs do see it as a first step to a ministerial career.

I have now found a BBC article about today's resignations (so far).

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5319328.stm]

"Tony Blair has branded ex-junior minister Tom Watson "disloyal, discourteous and wrong" for signing a letter urging the prime minister to go.
He spoke out as six parliamentary private secretaries also quit claiming Mr Blair had not "ended uncertainty" over when he intends to step down.

The resignations came as Mr Blair faces growing pressure to name a departure date before the end of the year".

 

by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:34:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
This is getting more and more interesting. What are the odds we'll have some proper grown up ministers resigning by the end of the day - or at least visiting Number 10 with torches and pitchforks?
by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:31:01 AM EST
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Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
That's what I was wondering.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:31:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
There are four: Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:32:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Ian Lucas was in fact on Colman's list. The others:

  • Chris Mole, Ipswich, PPS to Phil Woolas, Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government.

  • Mark Tami, Alyn & Deeside, PPS to Dawn Primarolo, Paymaster-General (Treasury).

  • David Wright, Telford, PPS to John Hutton, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:41:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
Just for ignoramuses like myself.

Wikipedia: Parliamentary Private Secretary

A Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) is a junior role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament (MP). In this role, the MP acts as the Parliamentary contact for a senior minister, shadow minister, or sometimes a group of ministers.

The role is seen as a starting point for many MPs who are looking to become ministers themselves. The seniority of a PPS is linked to the seniority of the minister in question. Although PPSs are unpaid and do not hold public office, they are regarded as being part of the payroll vote and are expected to be as loyal as ministers.



Nothing is 'mere'. — Richard P. Feynman
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:09:59 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks... (none / 0)
I was indeed scratching my head...
by Nomad (Bjinse) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 10:31:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Khalid Mahmood? They had terrists working in the heart of Whitehall? Good of them to do a preemptive purge.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:55:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Khalid Mahmood for Homeland Security Minister. Seriously, it would be a smart move by the next Prime Minister.
by Gary J on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 08:49:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
the most famous male bellydancer in the UK is Khaled Mahmoud.

Whenever I hear the MPs name I always smile and imagine something inappropriate

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 08:14:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
and looking at a few gambling sites, a fair volume of people are moving in for a relatively early dump, (Although a few are grabbing the high odds that he'll be around still in 2008

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 07:49:19 AM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
As the signatories would have been fired anyway (I gather "just a matter of timing" is the spin being put about) isn't this a case of sinking ships deserting the rat?
by Londonbear on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:43:43 AM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
As you say, "spin".

Blair found nothing more elegant to say about Watson than, "I was going to fire him anyway."

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 09:52:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
"That's what you are. What about me?"

When used by a national leader, 'pathetic' springs to mind here, for some reason.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 10:47:16 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
If he'd been in any position of strength, he would have thanked the junior minister for his advice. and come out and said how it was not the time.

However this response can only really weaken Blair.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 01:04:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 0)
Martin Kettle is providing covering fire for Blair in the Guardian CiF
Let's assume that Gordon Brown's coup works and that he now drives Tony Blair from office much earlier than even the reduced timetable to which Blair is now reconciled - in other words that he forces Blair to quit any time between now and early 2007.

The legacy of that will be threefold. First, it will leave a certain amount of individual bitterness at the top, which will mean that some Blairites - perhaps even Blair himself - will finally feel emboldened to tell the world (even if the world isn't interested) what they think about Brown and the way he has operated over the past 12 years.

Second, it will leave a traumatised party which could - in spite of Labour's 100-year history of pulling together when it matters - create ideological divides of the kind that haven't been seen in its ranks since the Bennite insurgency of the late 1970s and early 80s. In the short run it guarantees an even more difficult conference later this month. In the long run it could even lead to splits in the Labour party itself.

And third, it will have a destructive effect on Labour's standing in the country. Voters do not like divided parties. They have a long record of punishing them whenever they get the chance. Now that there is a presentable Tory party for the first time in more than a decade, there is every chance that a large tranche of voters will say it's time to give the other lot a chance.

Hm. Coup.


*coup d'etat: a sudden and decisive change of government illegally or by force
*a brilliant and notable success

Wonder which he meant?
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 01:00:46 PM EST
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (4.00 / 2)
looking at that article, each of those paragraphs could possibly be run in reverse.  and if Reid is prefered by Brown, we could end up with exactly the same situation. (If not worse, as Blair may mellow after he's rejected, whereas Brown will see the prize snatched away at the last minute.)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 01:08:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Re: Rats desert a sinking Blair. (none / 1)
I love this ahistorical extrapolation about "divided parties." As if all the failures in British electoral history would have turned out different with a united party.
by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Wed Sep 6th, 2006 at 01:29:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Blair like Thatcher (none / 0)
both managed to destroy the representation of their party in local government. both manged to reduce their own party membership. both thought they were immortal at the expense of undermining the whole rock their party was built on.
by observer393 on Thu Sep 7th, 2006 at 03:47:58 AM EST
Rats desert a sinking Blair. | 35 comments (35 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)


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