Comments
A setback, not a crisis
2009-04-13 12:55:19
The word crisis is the most overused in the media lexicon. In ten years with Tony Blair, I think I witnessed five full blown crises - Iraq, Kosovo, September 11, fuel protests and foot and mouth disease.
There were hundreds of situations described as crises, but for me that means a set of circumstances which threatens to overwhelm your entire organisation if the wrong decisions are taken. So the hundreds of so-called crises were setbacks, problems unwanted or unexpected events which got in the way, temporarily at least, of the strategic direction of the government.
The Damian McBride affair is a setback, a problem, an unwanted if not entirely unexpected event which temporarily at least gets in the way of the strategic direction of the government.
What must be particularly annoying for Gordon Brown is that, thanks in large part to his successful handling of the G20 summit, the strategic direction of the government was becoming stronger. He looked the right man for the right problem, making the right alliances at the right time, and David Cameron looked out of his depth. A Tory party anxious to make politics a policy-free zone will milk the McBride row for all it is worth.
A real crisis may require new policy, structures and personnel. The response to a a setback will depend on circumstances, but two general rules should apply:
First, decide what you really believe to be the right thing, and do it.
Second, get the whole story out there as quickly as you can, however murky.
That second lesson was one we learned particularly painfully as some of the frenzies in The Blair Years showed.
This is now one of those stories that will be picked away at until all the loose ends are pulled, so best to get them pulled quickly. For that reason, I hope someone inside No 10 is getting to the very bottom of this episode now.
I do not for one second believe Gordon Brown would have known about this, let alone sanctioned it. As I said on the blog yesterday, policy is where the Tories are weak. It is where Gordon is strong. Of course relatives have been targeted before, usually left of centre wives - Hillary, Cherie, and Glenys all spring to mind. But I know Gordon well enough to know he would have no truck with what was being mooted in these emails.
But it did happen on his watch and with one of his key people involved. So, on doing the right thing, there is the question of Cameron's call for an apology. There may be politics attached to it, but it is worth asking the question - if a Tory spin doctor had been found to be planning smears against the families of Labour politicians, would we have asked for, and expected, an apology? I think the answer is yes.
The worry may be that if he does, the Tories will then move to what they see as the bigger prize - an apology for the global economic crisis (a real crisis by the way, and GB's first.) But I have seen a fair bit of polling on this. The public are not looking for an apology. They are looking to the government to sort it out, and GB has been getting more credit from the public on that than the media debate would suggest.
Which brings me back to the real damage of this setback - the halting of the traction he was getting on the economic situation; the stalling in the sense growing that the Tories under Cameron would not be up to the scale of the task in hand.
It will not be easy to penetrate the noise surrounding the McBride affair in the short term. But provided the right things are done in the coming days, it will be possible to get back on to the policy track quicker than it may seem to those in No 10 today. First off though, the public has to see that when GB says he condemns this type of politics, he really means it.
Archive
Darling credible, Mandy exciting, Tories panicking over adsPublish date: 2010-03-25 11:21:25
Today is all about credibilityPublish date: 2010-03-24 09:38:11
Obama's win good news for politics everywherePublish date: 2010-03-23 10:11:13
I take my hat off to a genius brieferPublish date: 2010-03-22 17:21:23
With Hague disabled, Labour team v Tory team even more importantPublish date: 2010-03-19 11:43:25
Tory lack of clarity gets candidates jitteringPublish date: 2010-03-18 10:12:25
Is Kate Winslet's split more important than Michael Foot's funeral?Publish date: 2010-03-17 11:38:52
Why Sir Trevor did no favours for CameronPublish date: 2010-03-16 10:57:18
Support the Street Kids World CupPublish date: 2010-03-15 11:25:17
Bumping into Peter M on the fundraising campaign trailPublish date: 2010-03-14 00:27:35
Adonis shows the way on transport, and debatesPublish date: 2010-03-12 12:22:05
The record needs a better hearing - Labour and ToryPublish date: 2010-03-11 08:50:51
What happened to the detoxification of the Tory brand?Publish date: 2010-03-06 12:00:38
Support, activism and hope returning to LabourPublish date: 2010-03-05 09:46:34
Happy Birthday Lord Ashcroft HB2UPublish date: 2010-03-04 10:59:48
Michael Foot ... above all else a lovely manPublish date: 2010-03-03 14:22:46
Elvis support for Labour lifts the mood furtherPublish date: 2010-03-03 10:16:30
Hoovergate - the rebuttal amid hope of Labour winPublish date: 2010-03-02 13:00:35
At least Britney knows what she is singing aboutPublish date: 2010-03-01 10:57:28
News blackout on Olympian success storyPublish date: 2010-02-28 14:52:49
Kseniya Simonova's got talentPublish date: 2010-02-27 21:14:58
Debate expectations in a good place for GB and CleggPublish date: 2010-02-26 10:21:53
We all agree - Carlisle is cleverer than DCPublish date: 2010-02-25 11:59:11
On News International phone-hacking and CameronPublish date: 2010-02-24 09:40:08
GB, temper or not, a better leader for Britain than DCPublish date: 2010-02-23 10:24:48
Cameron inquiry call says more about him than GBPublish date: 2010-02-22 15:15:59
Some great stuff in The Observer todayPublish date: 2010-02-21 11:00:46
Game definitely on. If polls narrow more, Tory jitters set inPublish date: 2010-02-20 14:35:40
Cameron so right about pigs in pokesPublish date: 2010-02-19 09:12:50
How twitter is changing balance of power in film indsutryPublish date: 2010-02-18 12:00:19
Thanks for the thanks. Is online shopping not always like this?Publish date: 2010-02-17 10:44:30
There'll be another New Big Idea along in a momentPublish date: 2010-02-16 09:53:22
People may listen more to the political GB having heard the personal GBPublish date: 2010-02-15 13:11:57
Happy Valentine's Day. My present to you is Jacques BrelPublish date: 2010-02-14 12:06:54
A celeb fest in my weekend of culturePublish date: 2010-02-13 10:38:58
Alan Johnson right to stand up for security servicesPublish date: 2010-02-12 14:27:56
Time to turn up volume on sport schools revolutionPublish date: 2010-02-11 10:17:54
Let's give Cameron a Doris Day moment over AshcroftPublish date: 2010-02-10 10:29:05
Time for Maya's voice to be heard amid the non-tearsPublish date: 2010-02-09 09:04:22
Marr needs to explain his 'sexed up' question re casualtiesPublish date: 2010-02-08 13:55:36
On GB's tears with Piers, and my emotional moment with MarrPublish date: 2010-02-07 16:04:56
On NI, Tory fears of Labour spinsters, and headbands in sportPublish date: 2010-02-06 10:00:25
Daily Mail tells truth shock horrorPublish date: 2010-02-05 08:54:36
Welcome to the virtual Maya launch partyPublish date: 2010-02-04 10:38:44
Public ahead of press on the mess that is CameronPublish date: 2010-02-03 13:52:26
Cameron winning on media support but losing on leadershipPublish date: 2010-02-02 10:47:50
Buy The Blair Years and raise cash for LabourPublish date: 2010-02-01 09:00:00
A lesson in campaign mindset from young Labour studentsPublish date: 2010-01-31 13:14:19
Media tweets show the real agendaPublish date: 2010-01-29 21:18:59
TB made a judgement, and is defending it wellPublish date: 2010-01-29 14:04:38
On inequality, special advisers, Ireland, and TB/IraqPublish date: 2010-01-28 13:45:08
Message machine Mandelson on form todayPublish date: 2010-01-27 12:15:42
Only one place to be tonightPublish date: 2010-01-26 09:20:26
Cameron and tweeting ought to be natural fitPublish date: 2010-01-25 11:55:58
Big bucks campaigning not what it's cracked out to bePublish date: 2010-01-24 10:28:57
A life in unemployment statisticsPublish date: 2010-01-22 09:39:21
Learning the wrong Iraq lessons for Afghan warPublish date: 2010-01-21 10:24:46
Denis MacShane MP on the rewriting of history re Iraq warPublish date: 2010-01-20 10:44:07
Darling v Gove, Osborne and help the rich squad is No ContestPublish date: 2010-01-19 10:12:27
Dacre's DownfallPublish date: 2010-01-18 03:30:21
Rebutting the good and the bad, and support from football fansPublish date: 2010-01-17 12:45:38
Mandela is a great man, Invictus a great filmPublish date: 2010-01-16 08:54:48
Is Paul Dacre hiding a guilty secret that explains his deranged paper?Publish date: 2010-01-15 09:56:24
What's the real fight to be had?Publish date: 2010-01-14 10:20:20
On Owen Coyle and Brian LawsPublish date: 2010-01-13 18:27:58
Thanks to friend and foe alike for helping yesterday go byPublish date: 2010-01-13 08:49:25
So far so good in campaign to remove discriminatory lawPublish date: 2010-01-11 09:48:15
Thanks to Will Hutton for talking sense on 'class war'Publish date: 2010-01-10 12:56:48
In defence of airbrushed postersPublish date: 2010-01-09 16:45:29
Fire is always best turned on the ToriesPublish date: 2010-01-07 15:41:19
On Hoon-Hewitt and John PrescottPublish date: 2010-01-07 00:55:10
Sad and baffled to see Coyle goPublish date: 2010-01-05 16:26:05
Cameron's wobble the product of his team saying what their audiences want to hearPublish date: 2010-01-05 10:50:58
New Tory slogan - if you've got the cash, splash it on crap adsPublish date: 2010-01-02 12:11:18
And the musicians of the decade were ... The Beatles and The KingPublish date: 2009-12-31 18:52:25
Prepare for avalanche of Ashcroft posters for ToriesPublish date: 2009-12-30 15:06:06
Here's Good Luck to you, Mrs RobinsonPublish date: 2009-12-29 12:22:42
One man's White Christmas joy is another's football disasterPublish date: 2009-12-24 13:36:05
My favourite fact of the day - a French decimal time systemPublish date: 2009-12-23 16:48:00
A few crisis management tips for EurostarPublish date: 2009-12-22 11:49:35
Do we need same approach to booze as smoking?Publish date: 2009-12-19 09:13:28
Prepare for tears, tantrums and an imperfect but miraculous Copenhagen conclusionPublish date: 2009-12-18 10:23:03
London 2012 and Copenhagen today ... different approaches to tight deadlinesPublish date: 2009-12-16 11:13:21
Tiger cut off at the knees. I bet he'll be backPublish date: 2009-12-14 11:03:17
Cameron Shameron on the need for new laws to clarify Ashcroft tax statusPublish date: 2009-12-13 17:06:56
When poor mental health creates great art ...Publish date: 2009-12-12 15:21:13
Giggs gets my Sports Personality vote, but I'll miss the big momentPublish date: 2009-12-11 13:56:15
Tough day for Labour, but tough questions for Tories tooPublish date: 2009-12-10 10:03:13
Alistair Darling's quiet authority key part of recovery.Publish date: 2009-12-09 11:03:25
Clegg risks squeeze as election nearsPublish date: 2009-12-08 15:30:58
Copenhagen really matters. Guardian front page sets scene wellPublish date: 2009-12-07 10:26:33
Four years on, what do we think of Cameron's leadership?Publish date: 2009-12-06 13:55:17
Boris and Waddles, an everyday tale of Tory croneyismPublish date: 2009-12-05 09:53:35
The Speaker's wife is a credit to him, and spot on about Cameron's ToryismPublish date: 2009-12-04 10:52:37
PMQs win for GB was a direct result of Cameron's strategic failurePublish date: 2009-12-03 08:21:10
Cameron's conkers add to his problem with serious opinionPublish date: 2009-12-02 10:59:45
Sarko at risk of riling Obama and GB. Cameron on conkersPublish date: 2009-12-01 10:29:48
The life and death of the man who made the link between exercise and healthPublish date: 2009-11-28 11:37:29
Even top Tories think Dave and Co can't do piss up in a breweryPublish date: 2009-11-27 20:51:29
Well done BBC Inside Sport. Shame on media for news blackout on Coulson bullying casePublish date: 2009-11-26 13:59:57
Well done BBC in Mental Health Media awards. Looking forward to Inside Sport on depression tonightPublish date: 2009-11-25 10:26:22
BBC main bulletin blackout on leaders' speeches bizarrePublish date: 2009-11-24 10:17:48
Business right to be worried about Tory axe on RDAsPublish date: 2009-11-23 10:17:12
Why should Brown and Cameron apologise for being seen to pay tribute to the war dead?Publish date: 2009-11-22 11:12:38
Beware climate change denial dressed up as 'commonsense'Publish date: 2009-11-21 12:54:27
Something for the weekend - a long lazy blog lifted from interviewsPublish date: 2009-11-20 12:35:23
If France and FIFA won't act on Thierry Henry, let's have a boycott of Gillette razorsPublish date: 2009-11-19 10:09:00
Never in the history of human taxation has so much been promised from so many to so fewPublish date: 2009-11-18 18:32:39
Tories far from 'effete and unfamiliar' when it comes to twisted tax prioritiesPublish date: 2009-11-18 09:52:12
Two very different stories of depressionPublish date: 2009-11-17 17:17:11
Congrats to Ellie on PPB campaign, and Willy Hague on getting van RompuyPublish date: 2009-11-17 11:40:14
Private schools worse than State schools - unless it's drugs you're after. DiscussPublish date: 2009-11-16 12:10:25
Fiona Millar 5 Toby Young 0Publish date: 2009-11-15 13:18:38
Where we fight we winPublish date: 2009-11-13 11:22:00
Good luck to Number 10 on 'lobby' review. And a big NO to the other PRPublish date: 2009-11-12 14:39:11
Robert Enke RIP. May his death increase understanding of depressionPublish date: 2009-11-11 17:59:53
On the exploitation of grief to get GordonPublish date: 2009-11-11 08:59:01
Why Tories are not home and dry, and wrong to call GB callousPublish date: 2009-11-10 13:00:20
Labour needs more of the winning mentalityPublish date: 2009-11-09 10:30:44
The scandal of friendship and the shame of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?Publish date: 2009-11-07 10:53:53
US clarity of strategy required for full explanation on AfghanistanPublish date: 2009-11-06 10:31:48
Just because he is French doesn't mean he's wrongPublish date: 2009-11-05 10:58:46
Congratulations to David Cameron and Trevor KavanaghPublish date: 2009-11-04 10:34:36
Is there a Sun blackout on Cameron's dumping of 'cast iron guarantee' on Europe?Publish date: 2009-11-03 20:37:04
Johnson seems to get it on immigration. Right on advisors advising tooPublish date: 2009-11-03 11:58:59
Public opinion on climate change - the public might be the problemPublish date: 2009-11-02 11:37:23
In praise of Stephen Fry, who should tweet or not as he sees fitPublish date: 2009-11-01 09:29:34
John Sergeant spot on re TB. TB's Olympics legacy. Liam Gallagher's generosityPublish date: 2009-10-30 11:50:44
Conservative contortions on Europe and BlairPublish date: 2009-10-29 11:44:12
Two-jobs Osborne suffering credibility deficitPublish date: 2009-10-28 09:14:22
Canaries win AC spin award with dark nights productivity surveyPublish date: 2009-10-27 09:41:48
Blair - dead big in Japan!Publish date: 2009-10-26 17:21:17
No complacency, variants on a themePublish date: 2009-10-24 09:48:46
Griffin may have been dreadful, but there can be no complacencyPublish date: 2009-10-23 11:57:29
Margaret Hodge MP on how to fight the BNPPublish date: 2009-10-22 16:48:39
Thanks to Charlie Falconer and Dominic Grieve - yes, I know he is a ToryPublish date: 2009-10-21 17:24:18
On Biscuitgate, barmy Tory policy, and BNP v GeneralsPublish date: 2009-10-21 10:36:15
More on Obergruppenfuhrer Dacre, Biscuitgate and Bullingdon ConservatismPublish date: 2009-10-20 12:16:37
Biscuitgate and Susan Boyle, no win territory for GBPublish date: 2009-10-19 12:31:00
Hating the Mail - a mindset worth havingPublish date: 2009-10-17 11:28:12
A line by line guide to the Mail statement on Gately article outragePublish date: 2009-10-16 19:12:36
Hit the Mail where it hurtsPublish date: 2009-10-16 16:36:02
Talking Cameron and Obama with US Democrats. Progressive Convervatism? No, he can'tPublish date: 2009-10-16 10:02:40
Inspired by kids' green passionPublish date: 2009-10-14 18:24:13
Good news on leukaemia, good news on student activismPublish date: 2009-10-13 08:24:21
Musings from Bertie Ahern, and how I won the Nobel prize for literaturePublish date: 2009-10-12 09:26:18
Continuing double standards in the mediaPublish date: 2009-10-11 11:36:21
The best policies in Cameron's speech were those of Labour Big GovernmentPublish date: 2009-10-08 17:07:40
Tongues slipping all over the placePublish date: 2009-10-08 09:00:07
Cameron confuses strategy and tactics and puts Union at riskPublish date: 2009-10-07 10:29:26
Osborne inspires apathy at BBC LeedsPublish date: 2009-10-06 16:01:59
Let's see more of the Tory candidates pleasePublish date: 2009-10-06 09:23:11
Labour needs to fight on record to stop Tory vandalismPublish date: 2009-10-05 14:28:40
VacuDave goes all peevish at difficult questions. Bring on the debatesPublish date: 2009-10-04 23:33:52
Lots of joking around in Jersey, though nothing as hysterical as Dave's Europe positionPublish date: 2009-10-03 10:31:22
On The Sun, Obama in Copenhagen and Alistair McGowan on the looPublish date: 2009-10-01 10:59:49
Sun switches ain't wot they used to bePublish date: 2009-09-30 10:17:14
Darling and Mandelson show what I mean by authenticityPublish date: 2009-09-28 16:28:18
Serious Politics 1 Low Journalism 0Publish date: 2009-09-27 11:55:54
Media's love for Cameron should be turned into a weaknessPublish date: 2009-09-26 10:30:03
Time for ministers to stand up and fightPublish date: 2009-09-25 09:40:26
Today's media double standards watchPublish date: 2009-09-24 09:29:45
Breaking News - GB wins award, Lib Dems face all waysPublish date: 2009-09-23 09:43:49
Why authenticity is the key to comms, and why Merkel will winPublish date: 2009-09-22 08:29:13
Why I love NHS walk-in centresPublish date: 2009-09-21 12:13:03
Here goes with the smoked SalmondPublish date: 2009-09-20 10:40:21
Breaking News - Cameron's vacuousness an impersonator's nightmarePublish date: 2009-09-19 11:06:09
Cameron has an army of spin doctors - aka journalistsPublish date: 2009-09-18 10:07:06
On Scottish independence, Cameron's short-termism, and Jimmy Carter being rightPublish date: 2009-09-17 09:56:56
Is Cameron Alex Salmond's Trojan Horse?Publish date: 2009-09-15 10:13:42
On the TUC, Roy of the Rovers and Anna WintourPublish date: 2009-09-14 11:04:46
Memo to Apple boss Steve JobsPublish date: 2009-09-13 17:36:31
A day in the life of a (crap) City traderPublish date: 2009-09-11 17:52:25
Defend record with pride, attack Tories with gustoPublish date: 2009-09-10 11:06:36
Cameron's Conservatism beyond parodyPublish date: 2009-09-09 10:38:00
On transforned cities, and tales of Princess Di and Laura BushPublish date: 2009-09-08 09:45:54
Labour should put minister up against Griffin on Question TimePublish date: 2009-09-06 12:39:56
School speech the latest source of right-wing frothing at ObamaPublish date: 2009-09-05 08:23:02
More horse's mouth, less Beeb blah pleasePublish date: 2009-09-04 22:49:20
Real respect for sport can be Olympic legacyPublish date: 2009-09-04 09:27:34
First ladies watch out for Japanese bombshellPublish date: 2009-09-03 10:47:19
TV debate - good idea in theory, but ...Publish date: 2009-09-02 15:37:43
'No worries' - the new response to thanksPublish date: 2009-09-01 12:25:19
Tremors of Japanese political earthquake will be felt far and widePublish date: 2009-08-30 15:50:54
Pressure on Ed Miliband can help get a climate change dealPublish date: 2009-08-28 13:39:08
Why Tories and media cannot stomach GCSE success storyPublish date: 2009-08-27 16:03:34
Exposing the absurdity of Chris GraylingPublish date: 2009-08-26 13:20:19
Joy and beauty and a night of magicPublish date: 2009-08-20 10:55:11
Twitter NHS backlash good for ObamaPublish date: 2009-08-14 15:44:49
A lifetime's ambition fulfilledPublish date: 2009-08-08 16:59:02
Breaking the blog-a-day spell as warm up to holidayPublish date: 2009-07-20 17:44:49
No hiding place from Twitter, me on the bike, JP in DCPublish date: 2009-07-17 18:17:09
At last - something Obama cannot do wellPublish date: 2009-07-16 10:05:47
Will MPs take the lead in the debate on euthanasia?Publish date: 2009-07-15 12:30:01
Berlin brothel leads the way to a greener worldPublish date: 2009-07-14 10:57:25
A time for GB to explain the whole picturePublish date: 2009-07-13 12:37:54
All hail Monty, Jimmy and Collie!Publish date: 2009-07-12 20:06:36
First triathlon of the summer for me, education award for FionaPublish date: 2009-07-12 09:43:06
Of Burnley's friendly and Obama's wandering eyePublish date: 2009-07-11 12:38:52
Two great early morning momentsPublish date: 2009-07-10 10:27:07
Cameron had better be sure he's rightPublish date: 2009-07-09 11:06:22
Guardian scoop has big questions for press, cops and CameronPublish date: 2009-07-08 20:40:54
Divisive legend: Lance ArmstrongPublish date: 2009-07-07 10:38:23
First hug a hoodie, now grab a gayPublish date: 2009-07-06 12:57:09
Mail on Scumday's wonderful account of Lansley's kipperdomPublish date: 2009-07-05 13:14:51
Ecclestone undermines his own success with alarming views on HitlerPublish date: 2009-07-04 14:04:04
When the conmen move more quickly than the councilPublish date: 2009-07-03 10:19:52
Andrew Lansley done up like a kipperPublish date: 2009-07-02 10:10:52
A day spent interviewing footballers, then being interviewed by a transvestite comedianPublish date: 2009-07-01 14:47:40
When the power of black eyes fadesPublish date: 2009-06-30 09:24:59
Farewell to Henry HodgePublish date: 2009-06-29 20:41:12
Honouring the power of sport to do goodPublish date: 2009-06-29 14:49:42
Andy Murray is a winner. Is that why some Brits don't like him?Publish date: 2009-06-28 09:19:20
New Parliament will look very different. The younger the betterPublish date: 2009-06-27 17:34:26
Two nice surprises, sad end to dayPublish date: 2009-06-26 09:16:33
Apology from the Spectator on Iraq boosts Henry Hodge fundPublish date: 2009-06-25 19:57:26
Thanks to Mr Harper on mental health, rebuttal of Mr Hague on IraqPublish date: 2009-06-24 23:47:54
Glad to find Eric Cantona in a quiet cinema ...Publish date: 2009-06-24 00:46:23
By Dave's friends shall we know him?Publish date: 2009-06-23 11:30:20
The Speaker has to balance tradition and change - but defend ParliamentPublish date: 2009-06-22 11:58:44
Less a blog than an apology for not having done onePublish date: 2009-06-21 20:07:43
The day Lions skipper Paul O'Connell took my trousers downPublish date: 2009-06-20 11:48:28
On the Iraq inquiry, Independent article wrongPublish date: 2009-06-19 20:28:24
Thank you to three readers, now please get involvedPublish date: 2009-06-19 09:13:35
A tribute to a lovely manPublish date: 2009-06-18 17:19:40
Bad times in Belfast, great day for Burnley, odd statement from Ed BallsPublish date: 2009-06-18 10:04:47
A plea for five-figure cyber-donationsPublish date: 2009-06-17 07:40:42
On two inquiriesPublish date: 2009-06-16 08:57:39
From India to Iran to Labour witPublish date: 2009-06-15 10:13:17
Memories of Princess DianaPublish date: 2009-06-14 09:54:55
A House Divided?Publish date: 2009-06-13 02:53:47
A humbling NHS experience, a media row and a good GB speechPublish date: 2009-06-12 10:48:46
Psychiatrists heading for relegation in 'disease prestige' league tablePublish date: 2009-06-11 10:25:35
The shrinks awaitPublish date: 2009-06-10 09:44:16
As Obama fights for healthcare, let's celebrate the record herePublish date: 2009-06-09 12:52:55
Anger at BNP seats must be turned into activismPublish date: 2009-06-08 14:11:10
Can today be as frenzied as Friday?Publish date: 2009-06-07 10:31:04
Take heart from a win in LambethPublish date: 2009-06-06 18:46:40
JP is right there was no proper campaign but Tories still weakPublish date: 2009-06-05 13:47:20
Do we care more about the NHS or moats?Publish date: 2009-06-04 00:21:23
Guardian of social justice or attention-seeker?Publish date: 2009-06-03 10:19:33
Who says Britain can't deliver the best?Publish date: 2009-06-02 08:08:38
Mainstream has a duty to vote against BNPPublish date: 2009-06-01 11:03:29
Let Diversity inspire a vote against the hate-filled BNPPublish date: 2009-05-31 12:24:20
White House whack at UK media well-timed but sure to be ignoredPublish date: 2009-05-30 13:41:00
Elvis has a plan to make MPs King againPublish date: 2009-05-29 12:09:44
At least there's a campaign on in ItalyPublish date: 2009-05-28 09:04:32
A blow to gay rights and a boost for Cameron's short-termismPublish date: 2009-05-27 11:27:41
It's my blog and I'll be a big kid if I want toPublish date: 2009-05-26 23:25:58
Highs feel better after so many lowsPublish date: 2009-05-26 10:13:12
Only one present countsPublish date: 2009-05-25 11:05:46
Contrast Cheney and BushPublish date: 2009-05-24 12:11:45
Sex (or at least the female form) obsessed BritainPublish date: 2009-05-23 20:49:57
Sport at both ends of the financial spectrumPublish date: 2009-05-23 09:57:23
Stronger together - whether Scotland or expensesPublish date: 2009-05-22 10:22:36
Back to Number 10, familiar faces, familiar argumentsPublish date: 2009-05-21 10:14:34
Speaking up for ParliamentPublish date: 2009-05-20 11:44:17
Peace in the Middle East - yes he canPublish date: 2009-05-19 09:37:35
Breaking news - one frenzy at a timePublish date: 2009-05-18 10:34:30
Getting a good look at Vince CablePublish date: 2009-05-17 09:36:55
How do you solve a problem like Silvio?Publish date: 2009-05-16 09:32:21
It was the internet wot won itPublish date: 2009-05-15 10:04:57
There now follows ... a good whack at CameronPublish date: 2009-05-14 17:21:28
They got their kit off - so you get your cash outPublish date: 2009-05-14 07:41:11
Expenses row must not obscure Tory intentions on minimum wagePublish date: 2009-05-13 16:12:08
We love you Burnley, we do ... what a nightPublish date: 2009-05-13 02:37:17
A tweet cannot express the wonders of TGVPublish date: 2009-05-12 08:48:31
It's Mind week - Get it off your Chest with me and Stephen FryPublish date: 2009-05-11 06:29:15
Hate the Mail, love ObamaPublish date: 2009-05-10 10:04:00
Burnley 1 Reading 0 - a biased reportPublish date: 2009-05-09 21:26:32
MPs expenses - time for party leaders to meet againPublish date: 2009-05-09 09:50:19
Should happiness replace prosperity as national goal?Publish date: 2009-05-08 08:43:23
Musings from a sleepless nightPublish date: 2009-05-07 07:33:49
Darren Fletcher - an injustice that has to be rightedPublish date: 2009-05-06 09:52:29
Maggie's legacy not as great as she thinksPublish date: 2009-05-05 08:33:02
Here's hoping Cardiff is metaphor for CameronPublish date: 2009-05-04 09:38:30
More Mr Benn and Co pleasePublish date: 2009-05-03 10:03:00
Going Fourth with JPPublish date: 2009-05-02 18:25:41
Journalism - print first, think laterPublish date: 2009-05-02 09:10:01
In praise of two poetsPublish date: 2009-05-01 10:26:36
JP hits the road againPublish date: 2009-04-29 18:52:11
My night with Eddie IzzardPublish date: 2009-04-29 10:53:25
Explaining the 50p top tax ratePublish date: 2009-04-28 09:22:53
George Best and Martin McGuinnessPublish date: 2009-04-27 09:02:35
Cameron confused over indepdendence and impartialityPublish date: 2009-04-26 12:20:56
Guide ro Marathon running part 2Publish date: 2009-04-25 11:01:34
Good signals on coal and the OlympicsPublish date: 2009-04-24 10:45:28
Tips for the London MarathonPublish date: 2009-04-23 17:29:27
Missed the Budget, saw why it matteredPublish date: 2009-04-22 23:09:31
Football good, politics bad. AllegedlyPublish date: 2009-04-22 00:00:24
The Great Wall gets greaterPublish date: 2009-04-21 09:55:22
Two sides to police storyPublish date: 2009-04-20 11:39:54
Budgets, Balls, billionaires and Susan BoylePublish date: 2009-04-19 12:31:45
Do muscles have memories?Publish date: 2009-04-18 09:44:44
Bring back standing at footballPublish date: 2009-04-17 14:50:22
When Facebook friends fall outPublish date: 2009-04-16 12:29:16
Guardian sightings and the email and bath plug agendaPublish date: 2009-04-15 11:32:16
The spin is all in the prismPublish date: 2009-04-14 09:22:41
The real lessons from Damian McBridePublish date: 2009-04-12 10:49:47
Will English always be the dominant language?Publish date: 2009-04-11 10:02:02
On the pipes and what makes a ScotPublish date: 2009-04-10 11:06:20
John Prescott lazy? NO WAYPublish date: 2009-04-09 09:11:31
David Frost is seventyPublish date: 2009-04-08 08:48:38
The Speaker, BBC2, tonight and tomorrow 8pmPublish date: 2009-04-07 14:25:31
Obama, colds and being woken by Korean missilesPublish date: 2009-04-06 11:59:24
When a call matters more than protocolPublish date: 2009-04-05 11:33:42
Green Cities Champions LeaguePublish date: 2009-04-04 10:19:53
Could Cameron have delivered the G20 deal?Publish date: 2009-04-03 10:11:59
Of Benn and BonoPublish date: 2009-04-02 08:21:16
Memo to Sarko - allez vite a LondresPublish date: 2009-04-01 08:46:17
Happy April Fool's DayPublish date: 2009-04-01 01:44:05
Eurostar, Le Monde and a thought for the G20 sherpasPublish date: 2009-03-31 09:17:22
Why Kevin Rudd made an impactPublish date: 2009-03-30 10:24:41
Pre-G20 hype matters less than post-G20 processPublish date: 2009-03-29 13:17:28
The Damned UnitedPublish date: 2009-03-28 10:37:04
A hobby horse, a plug and a bit of sportPublish date: 2009-03-27 10:22:23
Cloughie - he had a lot to be big-headed aboutPublish date: 2009-03-26 09:38:36
A sad sight of the old fearing the youngPublish date: 2009-03-25 17:03:07
Post-modern, post-structural, or bullshit?Publish date: 2009-03-25 08:18:02
Learning the right lessons from ObamaPublish date: 2009-03-24 08:53:15
Lazy Dave needs to keep an eye on lazy KenPublish date: 2009-03-23 11:16:14
Farewell favourite restaurant, hello hometownPublish date: 2009-03-22 08:18:09
Dave, Danny and have the Tories really changed?Publish date: 2009-03-21 08:55:13
Life beyond Dover ...Publish date: 2009-03-20 10:11:21
My friends in The New Statesman - Fergie, Fiona, Tony, Sarah, Kevin, 'Dacre,' and a great GB idea for the G20Publish date: 2009-03-18 10:38:22
Iraq, Iran, GB, Obama and diplomatic chessPublish date: 2009-03-17 10:07:13
The Age of StupidPublish date: 2009-03-16 08:27:13
Is all change good?Publish date: 2009-03-15 10:00:06
The pressure of being a post-modern sex godPublish date: 2009-03-14 10:00:55
Cameron still hasn't sealed the deal with businessPublish date: 2009-03-13 09:21:49
Stand up for social workersPublish date: 2009-03-12 08:31:17
Surely Malcolm Tucker could have told Armando Ianucci ... You can't spin a spinnerPublish date: 2009-03-11 10:58:25
Start of a new approach from Labour?Publish date: 2009-03-10 09:54:12
A peace process still strongPublish date: 2009-03-09 08:21:05
Day of destiny for the real footballer of the yearPublish date: 2009-03-08 09:21:06
Private advice to Peggy Mitchell - the leaked note in fullPublish date: 2009-03-07 08:17:21
Boris, the Tories and the tummy-tickling poodle pressPublish date: 2009-03-06 09:49:37
A day in the life of the self-obsessed TV reporterPublish date: 2009-03-05 07:55:47
GB - good speech, well deliveredPublish date: 2009-03-04 19:31:05
Notes on the environment, a role in EastEndersPublish date: 2009-03-04 10:58:56
She may be my 'wife' but it is time to rebut!Publish date: 2009-03-03 10:52:59
Some speeches matter more than othersPublish date: 2009-03-02 12:04:45
Mental health and the Carling Cup FinalPublish date: 2009-03-01 09:08:17
Inside the chocolate factoryPublish date: 2009-02-28 10:23:59
GB on the G20, JP on Jeremy KylePublish date: 2009-02-27 09:14:36
Charity and the credit crunch, please give generously!Publish date: 2009-02-26 08:55:12
Why oh why are the Tories not home and dry?Publish date: 2009-02-24 09:44:59
Me, Dermot and ten top songsPublish date: 2009-02-23 10:02:19
Names round-upPublish date: 2009-02-22 08:43:39
What's in a name?Publish date: 2009-02-21 09:58:14
Editing the New StatesmanPublish date: 2009-02-20 11:42:36
Salute Peter M’s proper use of the F wordPublish date: 2009-02-19 09:58:58
Labour's communications challenge for the NHSPublish date: 2009-02-18 10:34:39
In praise of KeighleyPublish date: 2009-02-17 14:33:57
A night at the EmiratesPublish date: 2009-02-17 00:06:51
When marriage is testedPublish date: 2009-02-16 13:36:35
Spare me the myths and the whiningPublish date: 2009-02-15 13:29:50
Dave Cameron - is that all there is?Publish date: 2009-02-14 11:11:55
Boris Johnson: F is for ...Publish date: 2009-02-13 07:55:10
The Cameron vacuumPublish date: 2009-02-12 14:48:33
Lincoln, Obama, Blair and the 24 hour media culturePublish date: 2009-02-11 10:28:47
Eighteen interviews later ...Publish date: 2009-02-10 19:24:45
Time to talk about Time to Change on NewsnightPublish date: 2009-02-09 22:47:49
So that’s what they mean by online community?Publish date: 2009-02-08 12:12:51
First blogPublish date: 2009-02-05 15:23:57
Danny Kelly
2009-04-17 14:19:14The Damian McBride blog should have been circulated to labour bloggers throughout the country to reiterate to the media that while some Labour advisers have been found guilty it is hardly endemic on the scale the Tories are suggesting. The BBC 5 Live lunchtime discussion on the topic was so one sided with time given to Amery who was fed lines by the presenter. I wish I had read your blog before trying to phone them.
Arthur
2009-04-15 14:12:31I note Mark Kermode's rather wet interview of you on the late review the other week. The central thrust of your argument was that cynical journalists and bloggers were to blame for the public's cynicism in respect of the motivations of our politicians and C U oN TuesdayS like yourself. As an ordinary member of the public (and former Labour voter), I take issue with you on that. We see you for what you are - a feckless bully and sociopath who should be held accountable for pushing us into the war in Iraq on the basis of a lie - Michael Shipster knew there were no WMDs in Iraq prior to the invasion and told the government. I know many ex servicemen who would dearly love half an hour with you in a locked room to discuss the point - perhaps you could one day oblige them for charity?
The most amusing thing here is that you continue to believe that you can help Labour at the next election; are you completely stupid? Don't you realise that you have no credibility with the public and that Labour are greatly diminished by their continuing association with you? I doubt it, because you don't appear to be someone who has any modesty or sense of their own limitations - what on earth were you thinking when you stepped into a room full of professional athletes and thought you could give them a team talk prior to one of the biggest matches of their lives (ref: Britsh Lions tour to NZ)? And your sporting credentials are what exactly??????
Arthur
ps - can you do us all a favour and stop writing articles in the sporting section of the Times. I don't care that you pride yourself on doing Triathlons and I am not interested in who you think the greatest sportsman are of all time. Your articles diminish what was once a great paper.
pps - your novel, like your first work of fiction (the dodgy dossier) is a load of S H I T E. Don't give up the day job.
MIKE GORE
2009-04-15 09:32:04"policy is where the Tories are weak, it is where Gordon is strong"??? My God, what more can this lot do to the country beyond bankrupting us and setting up an obscenely bloated client state? Still, at least Gordon is strong on policy!
John Roberts
2009-04-15 00:32:22Why Alastair, if something was wrong, was McBride not sacked? It smacks of weakness on Gordon's part. If Gordon 'condemns this type of politics' why did he not sack him, and everyone else involved immediately and personally? Or did he just want to keep them happy, and ensure that they end up with nice pay-offs, so that he can bring them in to do exactly the same thing in 3 years time?
jed
2009-04-15 00:23:53Alex,
Your blog misses a key point for me in that new labour appear to have established long standing aggressive spin tactics. One cannot stand back and complain 'what a suprise', and 'nothing to do with me' and 'lets get back to the economy', when your loyal pit bull terriers bite people and you are caught out as the master and trainer.
Tiresias
2009-04-14 14:41:24Gordon Brown is one of those minor Prime Ministers, like Lord Rosebery and will mostly be remembered for this sort of daft and filthy scandal. It's him, it's the way Gordon is, a strange, angry man, capable of intelligent thought and resolution, but horribly flawed by a foul streak of hatred.
Russell
2009-04-14 14:28:48Alistair, isn't it strange how every Labour supporting journalist or newscaster says the PM said "a matter of great regret" and then does not say what the regret was about ! The PM regretted Labour were found out I think and he is desperately trying to make out he knew nothing and the code of conduct was at fault. He doesn't say he regrets the pain suffered by those who had stories invented by Labours head of policy who he appointed, he doesn't say he regrets not sacking his chum McBride (he eventually resigned). Instead the PM sends out Blears, Johnson, Pound etc. to state repeatedly that he acted properly. Journalists should start to hold this government to account a lot more.
Paul R
2009-04-14 13:27:26While the e-mails from Damian McBride were nasty and completely inappropriate, far more serious scandals have been given far less coverage in the media.
Take for example scandal involving Ian Oakley who was Conservative candidate for Watford. He was convicted of 2 years of sustained harassment against his Lib Dem opponents. He defaced their local office with graffiti, vandelised cars, made nuisance phone calls for months and painted 'pedo' on the front door of another Lib Dem (also making accusations elsewhere that the man was a convicted paedophile). After Oakley was convicted, the Conservatives would not comment on the matter because he was no longer a member of the party. As far as I am aware, none of those abused received a personal apology from David Cameron. I believe the Daily Mail only wrote two stories on the Ian Oakley case - there are more than that today on Damian McBride.
Alan Douglas
2009-04-14 09:28:53Alastair, you accidentally missed out a word. It should read :
STEALING "policy is where the Tories are weak. It is where Gordon is strong"
A list of the policies that Bliar and McGloom have lifted, and then implemented feebly, would reach the moon, and back.
Mr Spin, who do you think you are kidding, the days of controlling the media about the PM's underwear are long gone.
Alan Douglas
jayprich
2009-04-14 00:53:31Dear Alastair,
I agree your main point that an apology was warranted and should be given.
The media frenzy will of course abate as you describe, however you omit to comment on the cumulative damage of a "non-crisis". I feel this one will not leave the public's "sub-conscious" as it is linked to Brown's choice of people around him.
The economic crisis cannot be averted or its effects universally mitigated, to assert UK plc or Govt has strategic direction is nonsense, we and other countries are firefighting. Gordon Brown's choice of policy is just a matter of picking winners and losers: it can be a shorter but sharply painful contraction hurting all but the most prudent savers or a long and painful stagflation hurting (in real terms) all but the most profligate. In my view and Merkel's he is making a bad choice. He can only hope the US-China trade war doesn't kick off.
Your media handling advice "get the whole story out there as quickly as you can, however murky" seems not to have been followed and I think that chance has gone and that Draper's position will prove untenable given his apparent enthusiasm for even the initial puerile smear stories suggested by McBride.
Thank you for an excellent blog.
http://twitter/jayprich
Pam Spooner
2009-04-14 00:49:02Why don't you just open a bottle of whisky and go back where you belong? You always were a shit....And take Draper and Brown with you......None of you have long to go anyway.....
Victor, NWKent
2009-04-13 23:12:02Crisis! What crisis?
Kevin
2009-04-13 21:06:30It's a distraction but then even a distraction can help since people fed the story of 'economic Gordon' continuosly can come to see him as one dimensional. This is a chance for Gordon to hammer home is own moral image. It also gives him the chance to purge those who are going to be unhelpful in the run-up to a General Election. Having a mass clear-out at all levels of government should provide the press plenty of chatter especially if new faces are also combined with personality. This chance may not come again and so should not be wasted.
Émilianna
2009-04-13 18:49:58The media deals in hyperbole. Everything is a crisis or a controversy.
Jane: Good point about the "not under my roof".
I'm not a spin doctor but my instinct would have been for GB to deal with this categorically: this is what happened, these are the consequences, this is what I'm prepared to do about it, and, it stops now. Whether or not the Tories and the media want to drag this out has nothing to do with Labour at this point. It should be in the past. There's something dignified about moving on and letting the hyenas sort their misery out for themselves.
Again, I have no "communicating" expertise whatsoever.
Charlie: if the McBride affair is a crisis, I am positive residents of Zimbabwe will gladly trade crises with the British people.
Alex
2009-04-13 18:27:59You really are so full of it. The G20 summit has been seen by most serious commentators for what it was, ans a meaningless PR exercise by heads of state who mostly have no authority to spend the headline numbers that were talked about, although the numbers were themselves either vacuous reannouncements or mistsatements of existing arrangements. Brown is going nowhere on the economic front. He never had a clue and he never had the objectivity to analyse the state of the economy.
This is a crisis, but not for the people of this country but for politicians such as your self who have operated by controlling the mass media. Hitherto, that was possible, but now with the medium of the internet, the collective ability of the people far outweighs the capabilities of those such as yourself who have sought to manipulate public opinion.
CPW
2009-04-13 17:11:52An analogy: Fred the Shred didn't personally transact the business that wiped 70% off RBS's value. However, he took the brunt. He was responsible. Authority was delegated in his name to take those risks and he chose inept people to take them.
Brown employed the cretin McBride and should therefore acknowledge his mistake. You're known by the comapany you keep after all.
Thats why AC keeps dropping Bono and Geldoff's fucking names every other blog.
Leveller on the Liffey
2009-04-13 16:29:53Andy G – What Brown would be apologising for is the actions of one of his senior aides which has brought politics into disrepute.
Saying that he is sorry for what one his people has done is not the same as accepting responsibility for it.
Besides, it puts a stop to incessant calls for an apology every time a Tory gets on the media, national or local.
John Egan
2009-04-13 16:18:39There is no doubt that has been damaging. However, while the Tories will use this to avoid the real issues facing the nation and indeed there lack of policies as Alastair rightly mentions there are positives.
This has been dealt with swiftly and correctly and I am sure the public will see that. If anyone is spinning here it is the British media. Whether or not it is a matter for Brown to apologise and I don't think it is the fact that this seems to be the most important issue for the BBC at the moment is deeply worrying.
Jane A
2009-04-13 15:44:07I think the other thing which distinguishes a setback from a crisis is longevity & the sooner this is closed down, the easier it settles into the background. If GB were to apologise - not because he knew, but because it happened under his roof - people will feel he is listening to concerns and responding appropriately.
Secondly, if I were he, I would expel DMcB and DD from the Labour Party for bringing it into disrepute. Over, sorted, move on.
Charlie
2009-04-13 15:35:06Setback not a Crisis......AC doing what he does best!
Brown and this Labour Government are like Monty Python's Dead Parrot.
If they were'nt "nailed to the perch" til 2010 by electoral rules, they would certainly have "shuffled off this mortal coil and gone to meet their maker" long before now.
Andy G
2009-04-13 15:22:19What would Gordon Brown be apologising for exactly? McBride has gone and his actions have been condemned I'm not sure what an apology would achieve. I also think it might sound a bit silly apologising for someone else's blunder.
Victoria Bates
2009-04-13 15:17:34Interested by your blog post today, would like to use it for a news story but would be good to have a chat about where GB can go from here, potential candidates to fill McBride's shoes etc. If you can, please give me a call on 7015 1215... Victoria, CityA.M.
Ian Eastwood
2009-04-13 15:08:17What an absolute balls up. Political jibbing is nothing new, it's a dirty game. But how on earth did McBride think this wouldn't end up as front page news playing right into the arms of the Tory's.
This at a time when Cameron seem to be flaying around in quicksand looking for some policies. Now he's no need to bother for a couple of weeks.
When will some of Labour's top people learn the “what if “ rule? Seemingly never.
CPW
2009-04-13 15:07:28Alan Johnson, BBC "Gordon is not responsible for every single person who works for him, for what they do in their own time."
When I was studying Business Studies at Burnley Municipal College (a building Im sure you're familiar with AC) one of the things my tutor impressed on us was that a manager delegates authority but, still, responsibility falls at his door ultimately. Does this maxim of business management not hold for the mandarins of geovernment too?
Think he was distinguishing authority from responsibility. Mt Johnson seems sadly to have confused them. Bringing him to college for a fresher course next time you venture to the Happy Valley, AC
Dick the Prick
2009-04-13 14:42:43There really should have been some kind of damage limitation prep at least. If you're gonna plan something - at least plan for it going tits up too. Media is changing but good admin never does.
Scary Biscuits
2009-04-13 14:30:01Alastair might well be out of the inner circle. Otherwise he would never be reduced to giving his advice publicly.
My question, though, is could Brown take it even if he wanted to? The 'right thing to do' would be, as Al suggests, to apologise. But if Brown chose this route, he would have to make it credible. It would have to be accompanied by clearing out all the other related issues. This is the problem. It would mean getting rid of Charlie Whelan (again). It would mean finding another job for Tom Watson outside the bunker. Brown has already lost his equivalent of Al. Without these other two he would be naked. I just don't think he could do it.
The obvious alternative, which almost all Labour party supporters are studiously ignoring, is to find a new leader. He, not Watson, McBride or Whelan is the key problem. As Al says, the Labour party has many great policies. The trouble is that Brown is emphatically not the right person to sell them to the electorate. All he knows how to do is bully and smear. He cannot evangelise. Even his G20 triumph left people vaguely thinking he had done well but not really knowing what at. Unlike Blair, he lacks the rhetorical skill of persuasion.
The longer Brown stays as leader, the worse it will be for the Labour party. Plenty of opportunities have already been passed by. Each time, procrastination wins. The senior people in the party need to get a grip of their balls and 'do the right thing'.
P.S. Al, your website post a comment box doesn't display properly in IE 8.0. IMHO I think you've tried too hard with the layout of your blog. Stick to a more traditional format and you'll make it easier for people to read.
Alan Quinn
2009-04-13 13:32:20I think you miss the point a bit Ally. Will the general public be discussing this at work, down the pub, at the match etc? Or will they be worried about their jobs? It will be fish and chip paper this time next week.
As long as the public see the government actively trying to help by bringing forward building of new schools, hospitals, rail links, by helping Jaguar/Land Rover, by ordering British Nimrod spyplanes for the RAF instead of ordering 40 yr old US Boeings (the budget for this is in place, no new money is needed) the public will see that he's on their side.
Mike Hobday
2009-04-13 13:29:06I hope it's not true, as reported, that McBride reported directly to Gordon Brown. I want Gordon to be managing the economy, not the operatives. Is there a chief of staff, and is s/he managing these people properly?
Alina Palimaru
2009-04-13 13:29:03Brilliant distinction between two completely different situations! It highlights the need to step back from the media-induced frenzy and ask a few questions to understand what this whole thing is about. A calm, cerebral reaction is much needed now, even if it will mean the media will be running out of fodder for their bitch-fest.
I remember how panicked and furious some of the outlets were here in the US after Obama had delivered his superb speech on race (following the Rev. Wright controversy, which some hurriedly thought would effectively end Obama's presidential run). They were mad because instead of bile, anger, and more accusations they had been provided with a balanced, calm, wise response to a delicate issue, which was inconsistent with the media plans for more inflammatory coverage. Well done AC!
Jondo
2009-04-13 13:27:17Dear Alastair
The first response that you set out to a setback was to 'decide what you really believe to be the right thing, and do it'.
However later on when discussing whether GB should apologise for the economic crisis, you do not discuss an apology to your own guidelines of whether it is the right thing to do or not, but rather based upon the polling you have seen and therefore what will resonate with the public.
Are these two positions consistent?
Or when you say 'right thing to do', do you mean 'right thing' politically?
oldrightie
2009-04-13 13:17:06"First, decide what you really believe to be the right thing, and do it"
Yup, regardless of what that belief is. You and your mendacious gang of cretins can just up the postal ballot numbers. If it's believed to be the right thing.
Are you aware how few people come after your Government. Too scared of the potential consequences of being monitored by your stooges and stazi.
Grumpy Old Man
2009-04-13 13:14:10Dear Alistair. Your party is hell-bent on taking the wrong decisions over a set of circs. The blogosphere has come through the Ardennes and is behind the Maginot Line of spin,deception and fear that you and Mandy built to manage both the MSM and your own MP's. And the beauty of it all is that you don't (publicly) seem to realise this. Both this post and the previous one, distancing yourself from the current Labour practice of those black arts that you are a master of, give the impression that you are past it. I don't believe you, and I am certain that, after the clearout of No10 of the toxic ones, you will be again central to Labours dirty tricks organisation. I shall follow your future career with great interest.
dmc5007
2009-04-13 13:07:54The Tories want as much traction from this as possible and the longer it goes on the better for them, talk of enquiries is nonsense and there are much more important things for the PM to be concentrating on.
So while this is a distraction you are absolutely right - this is not a crisis but while it takes the public's eye off the real issues it can only embolden the Tories until an absolute line is drawn under the issue. That means plugging this drip-drip of news and accusations and ending any more avenues for the Tories to plunder the headlines with.
Post a comment