Monday, October 08, 2007
British politics update
Four months or so back the Clarion warned that Gordon Brown was a surefire led pipe lock to find a way to screw up Labor's electoral majority. This week he may have done just that.
In the run-up to the Labor Party convention he allowed a huge buzz to build-up that he was going call an early election. He was going to secure his own mandate. There was no absolute need, with Labor's comfortable majority in Parliament, he doesn't have to call an election until 2010.
How did what seemed like a very strong first 100 days come apart so badly in recent weeks? It began when Brown stumbled on Iraq, a very unpopular war with the British public. He suggested that Britain was going to reduce troop levels in Iraq. Of the 1,000 troops he initially suggested would be brought back, 250 had already returned to Britain. Another 250 were already scheduled to be rotated home. Whoops. Still, Gordon Brown was going to have his election, the whispers were everywhere. Then, just before the Conservatives own convention their Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a plan to dramatically reduce property taxes on the British middle class. It was very popularly recieved, especially amongst what might be described as Blairite swing voters. Tory Party leader, David Cameron, gave a bang-up speech at the convention answering questions about his youth and substance in the process. Suddenly, this week under the glare of polling data that indicated the possibility of a hung parliament, with the Liberal Democrats holding the baton, Brown ditched the idea of gambling on an election that would have made him the shortest serving Prime Minister since the Victorian Era.
The British media is excoriating him for being a vacillator, always a problem for Gordon. (Kinda like the Bush I wimp factor.) The politico talking heads are saying he will never have another chance like the one he has blown. He has two years to recovery, but by all accounts taken a major blow to the chin.
Brown has issued a new Iraq plan, indicating half of Britain's troops will be withdrawn by next year. He has taken full responsibility for the "election fiasco" (his words) which has the Liberal Democrats tooting the horn for fixed terms.
Gordon Brown had better hope the next two years are mighty good for the British economy.
In the run-up to the Labor Party convention he allowed a huge buzz to build-up that he was going call an early election. He was going to secure his own mandate. There was no absolute need, with Labor's comfortable majority in Parliament, he doesn't have to call an election until 2010.
How did what seemed like a very strong first 100 days come apart so badly in recent weeks? It began when Brown stumbled on Iraq, a very unpopular war with the British public. He suggested that Britain was going to reduce troop levels in Iraq. Of the 1,000 troops he initially suggested would be brought back, 250 had already returned to Britain. Another 250 were already scheduled to be rotated home. Whoops. Still, Gordon Brown was going to have his election, the whispers were everywhere. Then, just before the Conservatives own convention their Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a plan to dramatically reduce property taxes on the British middle class. It was very popularly recieved, especially amongst what might be described as Blairite swing voters. Tory Party leader, David Cameron, gave a bang-up speech at the convention answering questions about his youth and substance in the process. Suddenly, this week under the glare of polling data that indicated the possibility of a hung parliament, with the Liberal Democrats holding the baton, Brown ditched the idea of gambling on an election that would have made him the shortest serving Prime Minister since the Victorian Era.
The British media is excoriating him for being a vacillator, always a problem for Gordon. (Kinda like the Bush I wimp factor.) The politico talking heads are saying he will never have another chance like the one he has blown. He has two years to recovery, but by all accounts taken a major blow to the chin.
Brown has issued a new Iraq plan, indicating half of Britain's troops will be withdrawn by next year. He has taken full responsibility for the "election fiasco" (his words) which has the Liberal Democrats tooting the horn for fixed terms.
Gordon Brown had better hope the next two years are mighty good for the British economy.
Labels: Politics
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