Thursday, 31 July 2008

Folly or political art ?

Steve Richards in the Independent is becoming one of by favourite columnists and continues this morning reflecting on the Miliband article.

Yesterday morning, Miliband proved he has a ruthless streak, one that can change the political landscape. The article in which he focused on the future of Labour without mentioning Gordon Brown ensured that the noise around the leadership question got a lot louder. More significantly, he would have known that this would be the consequence of his intervention. For the first time, the tumultuous speculation about Labour's future had acquired deadly definition


Has this sealed the fate of Gordon Brown?

He writes almost as if Brown had already moved on, perhaps permanently locked away on a holiday in Southwold. The tone was modest, the themes were familiar and the future direction was only vaguely mapped out, but the contrast between substance and impact makes it a minor work of political art


Of cause some think that it has sealed Miliband's fate,the front of the Telegraph says

Miliband's actions triggered angry retaliation from supporters of the Prime Minister, who accused him of disloyalty and undermining the party in the wake of last week's disastrous Glasgow East by-election defeat.
Some of the Prime Minister's allies believe that Mr Brown must make an example of his minister, demoting or even sacking Mr Miliband.


But I tend to agree with Steve Richards

The act gets all the attention, not what is being written or said.
This is why Brown is now in such danger. Will anyone pay attention while he is in charge? As he has admitted privately, no one is listening to him at the moment. In such circumstances, he needs the big figures below him to put the case. But they are not being heard either because their actions are seen solely in the context of the leadership speculation

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