James Purnell Has Quit - And Does A Geoffrey Howe on Brown.

[TheBigotBasher]

He has done a Geoffrey Howe. Only in these days of 24 hour media, he did not wait until he could get his chance at The Commons.

How long before an election?

From The Times
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6434068.ece

Gordon Brown was dealt a devastating blow tonight as James Purnell quit the Cabinet and told him to stand down to save the Labour Party.

The Work and Pensions Secretary’s sensational decision, given to the Prime Minister shortly before polling ended in the European and local elections, left an already damaged Mr Brown in grave peril. He told Mr Brown to stand aside and give Labour a “fighting chance of winning”.

The departure of such a talented minister in a crucial reforming role raised immediate questions over whether other ministers would follow, and whether Mr Brown had the authority to complete his Cabinet reshuffle.

[LSdemocrat]

1. Have the Labour malcontents been purposely trying to lose these elections and/or destroy Labour?

To start off with, let me say I understand that Purnell at least had the sense not to announce until polling was virtually over, but some of these others, notably Hazel Blears, seem to almost to be purposely tanking Labour's chances in today's election, and seem to be joyfully anticipating the thrashing that Labour is almost certain to receive. Yet, they, as much as anyone else, seem to be responsible for Labour's pathetic standing with the public.

Do these malcontents (the word "rebels" seems almost too dignified) really have any clue what they are doing? Am I missing something?

Where do what's left of the Labour grassroots and membership stand in all this?

[TheBigotBasher]

3. The Blears Resignation was not leaked by her

look towards The House of Lords

[T_i_B]

10. Blears: My resignation 'regrets'

And besides this, we have Mandelson and Miliband both in the papers today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8096833.stm

Ex communities secretary Hazel Blears says she regrets "enormously" the timing of her shock resignation - just before local and European elections. The Salford MP said she thought as two other ministers had announced they would stand down, she could do so without sparking a "huge firestorm".

"In the end, that judgement was wrong," she told the Manchester Evening News.

Labour activists in Salford have put forward a vote of no confidence in her, expected to be discussed next Thursday. But constituency sources have told the BBC it is likely to be defeated.

In her interview with the Manchester Evening News, Ms Blears also said she regretted mocking the PM's YouTube video and wearing a badge saying "rocking the boat" as she quit.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. My first thought when I heard her apologies was

"she's figured out she needs someone to vote for her next time - floating voters will desert Labour, so she needs to shore up the Labour faithful, who'll be pissed off at her dump on Brown". I didn't think her desperation would be quite as transparent as "I've got a vote against me coming up in a week - oh shit".

[fedsron2us]

12. Both a creep and a nonentity

Even if she survives the no confidence vote there is a good chance she will be out at the next election as her majority is far from bullet proof.

[fedsron2us]

2. Geoffrey Howe was a political titan compared to Purnell

who is a loathsome little toad whose ambition far out runs his ability just like that other no talent midget, Hazel Blears. Much as it pains me to say this, at least the Tories underpinned their fratricidal squabbling with the genuine political issue of Britain's role in Europe. There are no such excuses for this pile of crap who are surely destined for political oblivion come the next election. Voters hate overweening politicians squabbling over power at a time of economic crisis even more than they despise incompetence.

Verily bald men fighting over a comb.

[T_i_B]

5. Very true indeed

"Much as it pains me to say this, at least the Tories underpinned their fratricidal squabbling with the genuine political issue of Britain's role in Europe."

Couldn't agree more. It seems that Labour's obsession with power at any cost has lead to Labour squabbling not over policy and how to serve the common good, but how to recitfy bad poll numbers.

And ultimatly I just don't see how changing leader is going to change a thing myself. It didn't then they got rid of Blair (and how many of these MP's signed Brown's nomination papers BTW?), and it won't stop the rot if they simply replace Brown with Alan Johnson.

It's not a change of leader Labour needs, it's a change of policies, and a changed outlook from top to bottom, not just from the party leader.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

4. I agree with fedsron2us

Political opportunism.

Sacrificing Brown to the electoral gods won't save the Labour Party, and no quick-fix can.

A commitment to social democracy at the least is needed, and this step will take years.

[dipsydoodle]

6. One of the floor crew on Have I Got News For You

actually went over to tell Ian Hislop the news while the program was being recorded.

[T_i_B]

7. Caroline Flint's 'window dressing' attack

Who on earth would want Caroline Flint in their window anyway?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8086314.stm

Former Europe Minister Caroline Flint has launched a blistering attack on Gordon Brown for treating women ministers as "female window dressing".

Ms Flint is angry that she stood by Mr Brown but he failed to promote her to full cabinet minister status.

She accused Mr Brown of running a "two-tier" government with an "inner" cabinet circle.

Ms Flint, a close friend and ally of Hazel Blears - who resigned as communities and local government secretary on Wednesday - goes on: "Several of the women attending cabinet - myself included - have been treated by you as little more than female window dressing.

[TheBigotBasher]

8. THe complaints of those facing demotion

and not wanting it. Where was her courage before the demotion?

[non sociopath skin]

9. I have to admit to growing anger as each of these shabby divas - male and female - ....

... all equally culpable in that dead-in-the-water travesty called "New Labour" ... flounce out because they "Vant To Be Alone" ... at least until the boardroom offers start rolling in.

And will the media please stop referring to Blair, Mandelson, Purnell, Blears and their ilk as "modernisers". What's "modern" about them? There were robber barons in the nineteenth century.:mad: There were spivs and barrow boys in the nineteen-forties.:mad: There were corrupt self-serving "tribunes of the people" in the Roman Empire.:mad:

I despair, I really do. Brown and the Prince of Darkness versus the alumni of the Bullingdon Club with Vince Cable and the Orange Book Club as the Only True Hope of the "Progressives".

That I should have lived to consider emigrating to the States to enjoy some mildly progressive politics.

O tempora! O mores! O FUCK!!!!!!!! :mad::mad::mad:

The Skinned (sic)

[T_i_B]

13. James Purnell quits as MP

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/feb/19/james-purnell-quits-as-mp

James Purnell, the former work and pensions secretary who quit government last summer in an attempt to oust Gordon Brown, is to stand down from parliament.

Purnell who is leading a three-year Open Left project on the future of leftwing politics for the thinktank Demos, said he would focus on contributing ideas to the Labour project in the future.

In a statement which also highlighted his achievements since being elected to parliament in 2001, Purnell said: "I have been proud to represent the people of Stalybridge and Hyde. And this has been an extremely difficult decision to make. But I have decided that I no longer wish to be an MP.

"I have spent all my working life in or about Westminster. And while this has been a huge privilege, I've realised I don't want to have spent all my life in frontline politics. I'm looking forward to completing my project at Demos. After that my hope is to contribute ideas to public service and to the Labour Party."

[non sociopath skin]

14. Gee, thanks, James.

And we love you and your ego too.

The Skin

[fedsron2us]

15. He will be sadly missed but not by me.

[LeftishBrit]

16. Don't let the door hit you, etc.

He'll be a has-been before he's actually ever *been* anything, and good riddance.

[RFKHumphreyObama]

17. Translation

I thought that my resignation last year would make me the Boy Wonder poster child for the Blairites and mark me out as a rising star of the party, a modern-day Geoffrey Howe and a possible future leader. Instead it has made me look like the absolute fool I am and shown that I am regarded by my colleagues as a total lightweight whose sense of self-importance exceeds the actual influence I have. Rather than actually attendng to my constituents and doing my job properly, I've decided to quit and cash in on what opportunities I can get before the number of people who actually take me seriously fades to zero"

Good riddance Mr Purnell