Charles Clarke in today's Independent has confirmed rumours that he is eager for David Milliband to stand against Gordon Brown in a bid to become the next PM. The policy website that was launched last month by Clarke and Alan Milburn to debate the future of the party was seen as an attempt to gather support for an alternative candidate for the leadership, and to dismiss the idea that Gordon Brown will simply walk in to No.10 uncontested.
Clarke said that Miliband would be a good candidate and a good prime minister:
'Unlike [the Tory leader] David Cameron, he's got good ministerial experience in a tough, spending department.'
Notably he did not agree to endorse Gordon Brown as the next PM, by stating that "I'll take that decision when we have a leadership election".
If Labour members have any political sense they will opt for a leadership contest, and I would hazard a guess that Miliband would be a stronger contestant against Cameron in terms of offering something new to the party, appealing to a wider section of society( or at least attempting to do so), would not be so intrinsically associated with Tony Blair, and would give the 'young' Cameron a run for his money.
In my opinion, opposition parties would be more fearful of a Miliband leadership, (especially the Tories) as Brown's popularity is currently plummeting in the polls. One thing is certain, Brown is no doubt very annoyed that the attempted coup d'etat last summer failed. Things could have been very different by now...
Clarke said that Miliband would be a good candidate and a good prime minister:
'Unlike [the Tory leader] David Cameron, he's got good ministerial experience in a tough, spending department.'
Notably he did not agree to endorse Gordon Brown as the next PM, by stating that "I'll take that decision when we have a leadership election".
If Labour members have any political sense they will opt for a leadership contest, and I would hazard a guess that Miliband would be a stronger contestant against Cameron in terms of offering something new to the party, appealing to a wider section of society( or at least attempting to do so), would not be so intrinsically associated with Tony Blair, and would give the 'young' Cameron a run for his money.
In my opinion, opposition parties would be more fearful of a Miliband leadership, (especially the Tories) as Brown's popularity is currently plummeting in the polls. One thing is certain, Brown is no doubt very annoyed that the attempted coup d'etat last summer failed. Things could have been very different by now...
1 comment:
your totally right. with the Trident issue blowing up this week Brown must be cringing. the way things are going there won't be a parliamentary labour party for him to lead. instead of securing an orderly handover, Blair seems obsessed with his legacy!!
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