Is Alan Milburn about to mount a leadership challenge?

Rumours reached me last night that Alan Milburn, the former health Secretary and strategist of Labour's 2005 general election campaign is to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership this weekend, presumably on the basis that Labour will get absolutely smashed in the Crewe and Nantwich by election.

My source for the rumour is a reliable Labour insider, who has dual sourced it himself. Furthermore this thread on Politicalbetting shows that other Labour insiders are talking about it as well.

I do not know how successful such a bid will be, but it really does look like ferrets will be fighting in a sack.

Obama the Messiah

Well, perhaps that is over egging it a bit but according to this post Barack Obama is pulling in massive crowds lined up on every available vantage point to hear the man speak.

He is a truly inspirational speaker, and more importantly, whilst of African decent is not a traditional "victim" black politician. He will have the ability to lead.

I still want Senator John McCain to win, and think he may well do so, but one thing is sure, Barack Obama will one day be President of the United states of America.

When Obama wins the Democratic nomination, he will be involved in a presidential race like no other for decades which will reinvigorate American politics and will raise turnout. All very good for Democracy.

Labour poll position still dire

It looks like Labour's poll woes continue despite the £2.7 billion bribe and yet another relaunch.

The Sunday Times has news of a Yougov poll with the the Conservatives on 45% (+1), Labour on 25% (-3) and the Liberal Democrats on 18% (+1). (Please note the changes are on the last Yougov Sunday Times poll, not the last Yougov poll which had the Conservatives 26% ahead)

The Independent on Sunday has news of a 17% lead in a Comres poll. It places the Conservatives on 43% (+3), Labour on 26% (NC) and the Liberal Democrats on 19% (+1).

It should be noted this is the highest percentage that Comres has given the Conservative party. It in combination with other polls shows that Labour is drifting in the mid twenties which should come as a shock to them as that is lower than Michael Foot achieved in 1983, with a manifesto described as the longest suicide note in history.

Things do not look good for Labour in Crewe and Nantwich either with this poll in the News of the World indicating a decisive Conservative victory. It places the Conservatives on 45% compared to Labour on 37% with the Liberal Democrats on 14%.

Draft Queens Speech, my reaction:

Well, Gordon Brown's draft Queens speech was of course a rehash of broken promises and policies lifted from Conservative manifestos and policy documents.

The big question is however, what will be in next weeks relaunch?

The answer is of course, that there will not be one next week, because that will be when Labour lose the Crewe and Nantwich by-election. The re-launch will be the following week.

So what will be in that relaunch?

I have no idea, but then, neither has Gordon Brown, he has enough trouble dealing with the panics of today.

The Sun says this whilst the BBC has this.

Tamsin Dunwoody denies Gordon Brown is an asset!

Tansin Dunwoody, Labour's PPC in the Crewe and Nantwich by election has been caught on film refusing to say whether Gordon Brown is an asset to the Labour party or not!



Hat tip to the Crown Blogspot here.

If Gordon is being deserted by candidates before they become MP's what hope has he got?

Is Darling's £120 bung enough?

In what is frankly outstanding news Alistair Darling the Chancellor has given all basic rate tax payers £120 per year by raising personal allowances by £600. Apparently this will not affect higher rate payers.

This does compensate all those who lost from the 10p tax issue, but it does not give all of them their maximum loss. However it does sort things out now. Where it does fall down though is compensating an a lot of people who actually gained by the abolition of the 10p tax band. Suits me though.

So is it enough?

The short answer is yes and no. If it was to buy of Labour rebels led by Frank Field then yes it appears it is. Frank Field even apologised to Gordon Brown in the house for getting personal over the weekend.

If it was in the hope of not losing Crewe and Nantwich, it has not got a hope. For a start the manner in which the concession was dragged out of the government speaks of a government that is aloof, slow and difficult. Secondly the electorate can bank this now and still give the government a good kicking. In short, the Crewe and Nantwich by election will still show a Conservative win.

The BBC has this.

Housing market worst for 30 years!

In fact, the worst it has been since the last time we had a Labour government in 1978, and this particular set of records began, according to the Independent.

The assertion comes from a regular survey of what members of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors are saying about rising or falling house prices. They have not seen a market as bad as this since Sunny Jim Callaghan was Prime ministers and we were the sick man of Europe.

If you were hoping for cheery news in your news papers this morning you will be disappointed.

On a more serious note, I do hope they are wrong. We do not need a major house price collapse, as that will cause major problems for many. What we could do with is a market that is flat.

Frank Field's latest attack on Gordon Brown

Frank Field gave an interview to the BBC's World Service last night, which was repeated on the Today program this morning.

Alan Johnson, Minister for Health was interviewed on it before they went on to discuss social care.

You can listen to it here.

I have to say Alan Johnson's reply sounds so plaintive. Please please stop attacking Gordon Brown!

Is this Gordon Brown's worst week since the last one?