Saturday, September 09, 2006

Will Peter Hain Add to the Chaos?

Slugger O’Toole reckons we shouldn't miss BBC Belfast's Inside Politics this afternoon, when Peter Hain talks about Charles Clarke, his own relations with Brown, and the possibility of the original “John Reid” assembly being dissolved. Gulp.

18 comments:

Graham Smith said...

I still haven't decided why all the fuss is being engineered right now in order to keep Labour in the headlines.

Is there something else going on at the moment that this is keeping out of the news?

The Maciavellian (sp?) part of my mind wonders if this crisis is being provoked in order for Blair and Brown to stage a massive show of unity at the Labour Party Conference prior to introducing further unpopular restrictions on our liberties...

Of course, it is possible that Mr Brown realises that he is about to be blamed for the pensions crisis, etc. and sacked immediately after the Labour Party Conference. In such circumstances he would be desperate for conference to pass a motion of no confidence in their existing Leader and Deputy Leader.

Anonymous said...

All the rats out of the woodwork and running around.
Stabs in back a speciality.
NuLab but old style quarrels.

Tapestry said...

The crux seems to me whether Labour can choose a leader who has not done a deal with Murdoch. Brown was Murdoch's safety play, now looking very wobbly. Johnson is Murdoch's next Labour thoroughbred in line to be pushed forwards if Brown stumbles. But what if a Murdoch-non-aligned leader came to the fore?

With Cameron not playing Murdoch games, (and paying a price for not doing so), if a Labour leader came to the fore who refused to play Murdoch games, say Charles Clarke, then power would flood back into Parliament, and the media years started by John Major and perfected by New Labour would be over.

Labour MP's must surely like the smell of that.

Anonymous said...

I've just listened to Hain - he mainly focused on NI issues. He did, however, seem to be a very strong supporter of Brown. When asked whether he would run on a joint ticket with Brown, Hain replied "there are no joint tickets".

Theo Spark said...

Just what we need 'Oh so Vain's' pennyworth, he should lay off the Sunny D

Anonymous said...

Peter Hain has always stuck in my mind as the arrogant sod who told the campaigners for a referendum on the EU constitution to put away their placards, because there isn't going to be one. He's a very typical NuLab careerist - a Blair loyalist while Blair was unassailable, now sucking up to Brown.

I wonder by the way if Blair promised Clarke a peerage or an EU job? Clarke has nothing to hope for from Brown, obviously.

Praguetory said...

My God, the banner colours get worse. I just opened up to get a headache-inducing cheap curry yellow. Anyway, I know that we Tories shouldn't be seen to interfere, but I just thought I'd let you know that I've decided to back Blair. Thanks for letting me know about this campaign.

Anonymous said...

I for one love the roving banners.

Stick with them.

Anonymous said...

Slugger brain of Westminster, Pressie is bloody furious with Brown, for kicking up this fuss, but his brain cells have just reminded him that Brown disappeard when he was in the quagmire just a few weeks ago. Pressie isnt going to be quiet on this one so get ready for further backbiting.As an election is likely with a new prime minister and Pressie is finished in the Commons he wants Blairs Patronage 100%-and Blair supported him not Brown.

Anonymous said...

praguetory - I agree about the banner colours. Four or five well-chosen colours, rotating on a five or six day cycle, were stylish. Now it's a hurdy-gurdy and just awful.

Anonymous said...

I [real] Lab = Brown.
Me [now] real nu Lab = Hain.
Yu [were] nu Lab = Clarke.
He [promises] re nu Lab = Bliar.
She [help me] re nu Lab = Blear.
It [fat-chance] Lab = Amicus.
We [weally are] nu Lab = Mily & her odd friends.
Yu Lab b*****d = Compass.
They = alla buncha self-destructing neosocialist tossers...

Anonymous said...

Didn't Peter Hain once live near a bookshop in Putney?

Anonymous said...

As this has descended into a commentary about Iain's skin tones v. banner colours, may I suggest a monthly competition for relevant Pantone nos.?

1st prize: lunch with Iain & whoever.

2nd Prize: Casting couch coyness revealed.

3rd prize: Guest co-blogger on the day of your choice for a month.

Can I ask all you people versed in this sort of stuff, can Hamsterman call an election if the Labour Party decide to depose him? A snap election to show who actually runs the country?

He's got nothing to lose and we would all benefit (*!*!?) from his crowing 'historic 4th term - never in the history (looks coyly, ahem, sorry Iain, down and and to the Left) of this great country has so much been given by one (quick upward glance and ever so reticent smile/almost grin) man, despite the sacrifice, despite the price paid by my family (gulp, pause), ('nother gulp, pause) in the service of (straight to camera, frightens horses) MY country. I believe (last remembered thought comes to mind) that it it in the best interests of this great country of ours. that, you, the stakeholders, the multi-profiled, the analysed, accept that (insert sob bearing glottal stop)it is only I, I, I, who can ultimately be your SAVIOUR ON EARTH.

Looks like a space cadet convert, grins as only he, (and a photograph of a dog that I have always regretted not sending to Private Eye but you're welcome to it) can do.

Blue, despite the obvious connotations, works.

ScotsToryB

Anonymous said...

Oops, seems like i repeated twice, twice, apologies.
STB

Anonymous said...

It seems that Hains past has been forgotten completely, he of the 'chucking razor blades onto the rugby field while SA was playing' to show his disatste for apartheid.

Hain is basically Reid in a fancy suit with a perma tan, with his commie credentials just as paid up.

You also have to look at the demographics of Hain. Which part of the UK has come out en masse lately to kick Bliar in the balls?

Hain is looking to his future and nothing else, same as the rest.

Anonymous said...

I was listenng to Radio 4 on the M25 today at 9:00 and again at 5:00.

At 9:00 Bleary came on and pouted her usual bilge, then a Gordonite who (thru gritted teeth) came on and said Gordon "was easy to work with" and he *actually* changed his mind once when she suggested something. Following that a Blairite came on and called Gordon a control freak and backed up Clarke. So no problem then.

On the way home at 5:00(from my charity work) I heard Tony Balony shafting Gordon yet again. It appears that Tony has called Gordon's bluff and got him to shut up - yet again.

So Tony's line is now that he wants to be able to talk about Renewing New Labour policies (his policies) whilst Gordon has to shut up and watch while Tony builds Gordon's successor.

Tony it seems will be playing the Mr Nice Guy and Gordon the nasty traitor. I would expect that while Tony play Mr Nice dirt on Gordon will surface just when Tony starts to promote his successor.

Bend over Gordon ...

... I was wondering - does Gordon have a criminal record, criminal act or medical condition or something else that precludes him from being PM?

On the medical thin, we all know he sh*ts himself very easily!

Anonymous said...

Peter Hain?

I recall running through his pathetic demo at Twickenham in the late sixties.

Loads of sandals, shrieking and hair shirts, all losers.

I had two minutes to get to my seat in the west stand and missed the kick-off, so, therefore, I can confirm that he is a waster, fattening chappie, hypocrite and nul-labour disaster - like the rest of them.

Squirming rats - all of them.

Anonymous said...

These people were such cowards that they were willing to allow people to be bombed and Britain to go to war knowing it was immoral and illegal, and they're reemphasising this nature now.