Gordon Brown ‘seeks Lib-Lab coalition’
Posted on Thursday 31 May, 2007
Filed Under New Labour
Sky News political editor Adam Boulton – writing in this week’s New Statesman – reckons that the prime minister in waiting could be about to spring a de facto Lib-Lab coalition government on Britain, partly to punish to those nasty lefties who tried and failed to get a second candidate onto the Labour leadership ballot paper:
There is one “known unknown”, however, that could be the biggest surprise of all. Something the Chancellor mentioned at his proleptically victorious campaign launch. Just what did he mean by wanting to form a “government of all the talents”? Some of his loyal assistants, the sort who already regard the prospect of Blairites in a Brown government as a gesture too far, have been quick to play down the plans. They suggest that Brown simply means consulting more widely and appointing the likes of the Tory lords Sebastian Coe and Chris Patten to public positions.
But, intriguingly, there are others at the heart of Project Gordon who think an all-embracing government could go a lot further than that. “Will we offer jobs to Liberal Democrats?” mused one. “I’d say it’s more a question of when. Now, from a position of strength; in the run-up to the general election when we may need to; or afterwards, when we may have to.” …
Brown could claim to be completing the plans for “a progressive century” of centre-left government, abandoned by Blair when his landslide meant he didn’t need Liberal Democrat votes in parliament after all. Things have got a lot tighter in the division lobbies since then. Rebellions are habit-forming, and a decent quota of Lib Dems would at least cancel out the “John McDonnell” faction.
Far-fetched? Silly, even? Possibly. But food for thought to those that hope against hope that Brown is some kind of closet Old Labourite.
And remember how Sarkozy surprised many recently with the appointment of Bernard Kouchner – one of the most popular politicians in the Socialist Party – to the foreign minister portfolio. Brown would not be above taking a page from the French president’s playbook.
In addition, one factor that Boulton doesn’t mention is that such a move would be a good way of neutralising ludicrous Tory claims of a ‘lurch to the left’.
And if we are talking about reviving ‘The Project’ of the mid-nineties, suggestions of severing ties with the unions could be about to join The Police in staging a comeback tour.
That may well crop up on the agenda anyway after Sir Hayden Phillips finally publishes his report on party funding.
Sure, it’s all speculation. But I’m still convinced that the political action for the left in the period ahead will be inside the Labour Party, and not outside it.
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53 Responses to “Gordon Brown ‘seeks Lib-Lab coalition’”
Dave should also note that McDonnell is still FAR more popular than Cruddas among party members and trade unionists!
Three words to the Cruddas camp:
Ha.
Ha.
Ha.
Mike and Andy Newman are absolutely right about McD’s profile: East Anglia starts only an hour by train away from London and no-one round here in the Labour Party that I know had seriously registered his existence until this attempt to get nominated.
By contrast they do know, all too well, the activities of the local Liberals. Anyone who has ever had any experience of campaiging in elections knows what a lying lot of twisters they are, not to mention what a rag-bag their typical council groups contain. From the inevitable last minute leaflet with a ‘poll’ (made up on back of tofu wrapping) suggesting “Liberal Democrats pnly party to beat the Tories (or Labour, depending on where they’re standing), to the bald assertion, “Labour to exterminate local badgers” (I imagined this one but it’s pretty close), they are the biggest toss-pots going.
As for their councillors… Well, the Ipswich Liberal-Conservative Coalition is a good example. Liberals include: former Labour MP’s son, who is driven by a belief that the Party failed to help his terminally alcholic father, racist ex-Labour who campaigned against a Sikh Temple, one of my local Liberal councillors (they withdrew the bounderies so now we have these scum representing us by the town centre) who was up for defrauding the DHSS for claiming maximum disability allowance (case dropped, in very murky circumstances). They stood another rabid racist, ex-CP, ex-Labour Party, figure who got suspended from the Party when he said of the previously cited Councillor, “they used to put people like you down, didn’t they.” (fortunately he lost). Liberal Treasurer, Trans-sexual Julie, probably the most tiresome person on the planet, with another foggy financial background. And bear in mind that this lot are collaborating with the Ispwich Tories..
And so it goes. I could mention a lot worse about them, but the above is enough. It is fairly typical of what I hear is the case in much of the country – the Liberals are sad, mad, and driven by the kind of thirst for power only rank amateurs have.
If Brown thinks he willy curry favour with Labour activists by extending the hand of friendship to the Liberals, he should think again.
Andrew,
yeh, I hate them too. But I’m also fed with Labour Party members whining about how good they are at fighting elections.
But at a local level, you are right, they are the opportunists, opportunists. Round where I am they have picked up a lot of support from Asian ex-Labour members – mainly the type who want to import the politics of communalism and then find out it won’t work inside Labour
Them plus the white middle class who flock to a party that proclaims its green credentials whilst always finding a reason to oppose any and every measure to limit car use – a big vote winner with the two or three car families up the hill.
But the experience in Scotland and Wales shows that a coalition with them is a different kettle of fish – the opportunists are just that, they have nothing to say and so make no impact and it is the marginally sensible ones who take the lead.
I don’t think Gordon will do it, I don’t think the Lib Dems want to do it anyway, but I wouldn’t see it as the end of the world.