Sam Edwards

Alastair, I admire your ability as a PR man but New Labour are just as rotten now as the Tories were in 97. I'm voting Lib Dem at this election as they actually have some attractive polices. If GB has promised no income tax on the first 10k that you earn (which could have been sold as a key ingredient of economic recovery) then Labour would probably have taken a 30% share of the vote and a working majority. Having been in office for so long they have lost the ability to connect.

Cromwell

GB seems to be fighting hard, That is more like it. I believe GB needs a big rally and a street campaigning meeting more people onthe street.

The media will get what they deserve soon. The public tend to have a delayed reaction. The MPs expenses outrage, I believe barely has anything to do with expenses. It had more to do with bank corruption, Iraq war, immegration, tax rates on the rich etc. The people feel MPs are serving their wealthy masters instead of them.

The media should be bracing itself because this election has revealed them to be so biased that it is seekening.

A hunt for one man (Gordon Brown) has been the issue since he became PM. It was well coordinated and people are realizing it ever more.

This leads me to my next question: Why do the media and establishment hate Gordon Brown so nuch:

I am not sure but I believe they are in a hurry and urgently needs Gordon Brown out of the way.
I never sensed this urgency with Blair.

Maybe because Brown is on the left of Blair and GB's tone is different from that of Blair in foreign affairs.

Anyone has any ideas on this?

Robert Jackson

Dave's obviously had enough of the election already if the Times was reporting him measuring up the curtains for number 10.

Perhaps the electorate might think the wiser of him?

Neil

Waaaagh! Why dont the media love Mandy any more?

James

It would be poetic justice if Labour did win the election. Then GB would have to sort out the economic nightmare that he has helped to create.

SMukesh

I worry that DC lacks judgement...The fact that he refused to sack AshcrofT despite the scandal,that he kept Andy Coulson on despite the serious allegations of phone tapping scare me...This shows someone who is willing to sacrifice principles to capture power...He will soon be found out but will it be before the election?

Danny J

How can you complain about the media going soft on Cameron, when Blair had them in the bag for 10 years or more. It works both ways, so please stop bleating and feeling sorry for yourself.

Neil_

Great polls tonight showing Conservative at 2005 defeat level give or take <1%. Well done GB in last debate on IHT tax cuts for rich/same old tories. Come on Labour it is all to play for - still!

Djunfitforwork

I agree with Tom -that some new Policy MUST be announced this week -for example at least the INTENTION to raise enough money from an International Finance Tax to protect and improve services whilst paying down debt. The media emphasis that "They will all have to cut -whoever gets in" -plays into the hands of the Cons -and a Popular Tax alternative would help neutralise this -and also be social-democratic policy.

On a campaigning note -I hope to see SOME Posters at least -rather than piously hoping that "word of mouth" can compete with The Cashcroft-paid Tory propoganda. It needs BOTH -given that the Press hostility is another factor -as in 1992.

Otherwise -it's 50-50 that George Osborne will be Chancellor by Midday Friday -a prospect too awful to envisage.

Robert Jackson

What I'm interested to know is whether the local election non-aggression pacts between the Tories and LD's that operate when they are in local council coalition are operating at the constituency level in the same areas?

In my part of the world you would never know there was an election on as you drive through the city apart from the Ashcroft stuff.

On the other hand in the rural area where dad lives there are Tory and LD posters competing garden by garden as it is an outlier LD pickup.

Ed

must be tough to see everything you've worked for about to go up in smoke. You thought you'd built an election-winning machine but actually you ripped the soul out of a once-great party and ended up destroying it. A good life's work. hahaha

Fred Redman

If Cameron is on a roll, it's through his own hard work and that of Conservative politicians and activists. Spinning is minimal. Someday the spinning has to end, revealing a public debt of epic proportions, soldiers coming home in boxes because war is ideologically unbeautiful, and society straining at the seams while an unspun Brown seeks to smear a woman who has to live in an area blighted by his - and your - policies. If the Conservatives win, I hope we have a Truth Commission to identify which toxic ideas came from whom in order to ensure that justice is admininstered upon them.

Rod

Aye, right, mr Campbell, it's all the fault of the media.
A bit rich coming from someone who spun against the BBC for many years, whilst working for a government that that went out of it's way to help the Murdoch empire; changing rules on broadcast ownership etc.
That would not have been a quid pro quo for Murdoch's
support during the Blair years now would it.
when the fantasy collapses on Friday am I wish you good luck in real life.

Jamie

As a UK citizen who is viewing the election from abroad I think that the influence that the UK media is trying to have on the election is an absolute disgrace. The Daily Mail, The Sun, The Telegraph, The Express, now The Times are all pushing their own Tory agenda, whereas The Guardian and The Daily Mirror stand alone in supporting the Lib Dems & Labour respectively.

Surely this type of media bias can not be allowed to continue if we are to have fair and balanced political debates in the future? The Free press is essential to a democracy but when it is being abused to the extent that it is being used by rich and often foreign media tycoons to push a particular political agenda surely something must be done?
Why aren't newspapers, by law, in the run up to elections made to present political debates in an impartial light, much the same way that the BBC is meant to? They could spout any agenda they like during the rest of the time but during times of an election the press should have an obligation to present political debates in a fair and balanced light. This would curb the type of ridiculous bias that is occurring at the moment and it would instantly curb the power that rich unelected media tycoons could have over an election.
Even with all the media support that the Conservatives seem to have the polls still suggest that the general public are not convinced with but the media seem to be trying, by hook or by crook, to force David Cameron through the door of no.10 - this is not right.

Peter Wicks

As a socialist all of my adult life, from the days of Bevan until Tory Blare tore up clause four that signaled the end of the slightest whiff of Socialism.For my sins I am still a member of the Labour Party and a retired member of Unite the Union on which over the years I have written many a line on the state of the Labour party and one in particular springs to mind at this junction in the life of the Labour Party.....

Headless Chickens


The elections over
Labour went bust
MP’s ranting
“We have lost their trust”

Flapping around
Chickens without heads
Our seats are lost
The party is dead

Blaming Tory Tony
Or Wee Goody Brown
As the whole of Labour
Came crashing down

“What went wrong?”
The numbskulls shout
Forgetting the DEAD
From a distant wars

Forgetting the underclass
The wretched poor
Forgetting the old folk
And forgetting what Labour
Really stood for

Radicalpete

This poem was posted some three years ago on the Amicus web page,when the council elections took place in the UK and my forecast has been spot on ever since, greed now rules our green and corrupted land.....

RG

Brian_B PS I thought free media was our right in the UK? maybe you would like that to be sold from underneath also us to prop up New Labour for another 5 years ?

RG

Brian_B please you have got be joking? have you been living on planet delusional for a bit too long - here is an alternative view to the "C" grade stuff you have been swallowing : intensity on GB is growing because he has no popular support, no one voted him as PM in the UK outside the PMLP, he obviously is of fairly shabby character, he is prepared to lie on national TV, his memory is failing him (he can't remember a simple conversation with a Rochdale pensioner)and even those close to him would admit if they had a shred of honesty (which I SERIOUSLY doubt) that he is a complete electoral liability. The only candidate the LP could field that could be conceived as significantly worse would be Peter Mandleson and thank God due to his disgraceful track record he is now shelved in the Lords. Brian have a look in the mirror and give your head a bloody good shake

Tom Mailey

The Labour Party has 3 days to show this country that they haven't run out of steam. They are the ones to steer is through the next five years. If it's with the Liberals then if that's what the people vote for so be it. But shout from the roof tops the achievements of the last 13 years. Also remind Plied Cumry and the SNP they wouldn't be in power at all as it was Labour that provided them with those countries assemblies. The Tories would never have done that.

Also to Kathy, there is no ill feeling intended in my reply only frustration at the way this lady was treated. You take care also, and my best wishes to you and your family.

Paul Locke

As David Yelland pointed out in an article for the Guardian a week or so ago, the metropolitan political media set decided ages ago that Cameron would be the next PM. Marr's behaviour is no great surprise.

I don't think the BBC will have much to fear under the Tories - a deal will already have been struck about the licence fee.

The London media is overwhelmingly made up of people from the same background as Cameron - private schools, coaching for Oxbridge all inculcating an innate sense of superiority. He will maintain the status quo.

I hope in the last few days of the campaign we get some scrutiny of, say, Tory plans for the Minimum Wage (I think I know...); whether they'll really abolish ID cards (which must be terribly convenient for a government); and young Cameron's trip to apartheid South Africa in the 80s. Surely there's dirt to be dug up on that last one?

Nobody with a conscience votes Conservative.

rosie

"The Conservative party has issued a statement about the councillor who said Gordon Brown should "fall under" a car. A spokesman said: "This was clearly a comment made in the heat of an election event."

Haven't seen anything in the MSM about this story from earlier today where a Tory councillor yelled at Gordon Brown that he should fall under a car. Wonder why not?

Andrew Marr looked intensely smug this morning as he held up the Mail on Sunday, with the story about Mrs Duffy not voting Labour. (Or anything else!)

I wonder if the Mail on Sunday is Mrs Duffy's regular paper?

Brian_B

Cameron and Clegg must be pinching themselves with the free media ride they are getting.I expected the media war against Brown to be put on hold during the campaign- if anything it's intensified.

Lucy

The full line was: "You're a man. We can watch the body language, we can all see, you're on a roll aren't you."

"You're a man" - what was that all about? Excuse me while I puke into my breakfast. Andrew Marr, oh dear.

Jacquie R

Anyone spotted that interesting poll about the party leaders in today's Observer? In all three questions, Brown's ability was rated far above the other two...

Which of the three would be best in a crisis? Brown got 40%, Cameron 33%, Clegg 12%.

Which is most capable? Brown 36%, Cameron 33%, Clegg 17%

Who best understands world problems? Brown 45%, Cameron 23%, Clegg 14%

And yet, according to their Ipsos MORI poll, Brown's likeability rating is -28, Cameron's -2 and Clegg's +32.

All this just underlines the fact that, with the help of the media, Thursday's election is to be little more than a schoolgirls' (no offence to schoolgirls) popularity contest. How shallow is that?

But, like others, I hope there will be more positive stuff by Labour in the last few days of the campaign - about what has been achieved and a future vision that gives hope.

Gordon may have an unfortunate smile, but there is young blood in there that should have always played a more prominent role. Let's see more of them this week.

The myth is spreading that Labour is tired, old and broken. Please, Alastair, get them to look progressive and energised,even if they don't feel it right now.

Chris

Am very surprised by your "anti depressants" swipe - perhaps your meds need reviewing given that you can't see what is happening in this election right in front of your eyes. Pick which bet you want to have with me and say how much - proceeds to a mental health charity
Tories to get over 300 seats
Labour to get less than 250

Dave C

I despair at times how our Labour Party shoots itself in the foot.Looking at the way they just lie back and take the shots without fighting back leaves me so frustrated.
If the party will not do it then it needs you to spearhead the fightback.

Listening to Cameron & Clegg you would think that this Government has just been sitting on its backside.

When the Labour Party came to power in 97 our Health service was in a mess.If you couldn't pay for treatment you could wait for 18 months to get an operation. Getting an appointment with your Doctor could take days. If you needed a scan tough luck. Hospitals were old and dirty. Thirteen years later and some 100 new hospitals built why are they not shouting from the roofs.

When it comes to Schools the Tories were quite happy for kids to be in leaking classrooms or Portakabins.
Hundreds of Schools built and computers everywhere and more kids going to University than ever before.

Pensioners have never been so well looked after although there is more that needs doing. Remember the Cold Spells when it took a week of bad weather to trigger a payment?

Constitutional change?
Working assemblies in Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland.Only a Labour Party would deliver this.
Why hasn't Cameron been challenged on Hereditary Peers having a say in the 21 st Century.As for Ministers taking a 5% cut.(They can afford it whilst in the Shires Tory County Councils are recruiting Chief Executives earning more than the Prime Minister.)

What else have we had:
Freedom of Information
Minimum Wage
Sangatt closed.
The list goes on an on.

Why Gordon is not giving the numbers of increased growth quarter on quarter until the Bankers screwed it up for all of us is beyond me.Why he is not comparing his inflation rate and interest rates to the previous 12 years of the Tories? Why does he not say how much Debt has been repaid from when he came in.We finally paid the Americans for the loans they provided during the second world war in 2006.The story should be we have done it once and we can do it again.

As for the Banks and the FSA when will someone challenge the Tories on the cost of Disbandment of the FSA(Redundancy etc).Who will run Osbornes new setup.What will it cost to run and who pays for the millions of documents which currently say Regulated by FSA and will need reprinted.So much for "waste" and efficiency to achieve what?

There is loads more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The reality is that if the Tories get in then Camerons we are all in this together will be in fact "Some of us are more in it than others."

If the Labour Party cant grasp this because they have become too "sophisticated" then you must come to the rescue of us who can see misery ahead.

Kind regards

Dave

kathy

In response to the latest post from Tom Mailey, it is very commendable that you feel that the Labour party have not done enough for Mrs Duffy. I think however, any further overtures to her would look opportunistic. I agree the press bulldozed her on the day but I for one do not blame her at all for taking money to give her an easier life for her story. Although a lot of Labour bloggers consider her a traitor and the same bloggers would have caused the biggest outcry if it had been Cameron or Clegg who upset her. I will not vote Labour although I did in the previous two elections. You talk about walking into a nightmare. Many people feel like we are already in it. All politicians have been discredited by the Expenses Scandal but even before that people were disillusioned by Labour.I have said on this blog before that People like Mandelson, Tony Blair, Hazel Blears Jacqui Smith, Tom McNulty, and even Alistair himself helped people to see Labour as lying, cheating, backbiting,spinning. People felt that this government did not care what ordinary people like Mrs Duffy worried about they were all just in it for themselves and enjoyed the trappings of power.I appreciate a lot of Labour Supporters are still doing their best to promote Labour and I admire how some of them are working hard canvassing. But I do not have to always vote for a party because My Mum Dad and Grandparents did. I make up my own mind. Sometimes we have to admit that those we loved have let us down and move on. No Hard Feelings Tom. Take Care.

Phyl Wright

I think it is an absolute disgrace the way the media are trying to manipulate the vote. it is so Tory biased, it is hardly believable. Aren't news channels also expected to reflect and not make news? I just hope the electorate can see through the horrendous articles and headlines of the Tory press and vote Labour. The Labour party has the most experience and compassion of any party. Gordon Brown may not be the most media savvy of any politician but he is a good and decent man who represents a party of substance and real policies, not the flim flam of the Tories.

Patrick James

The most interesting thing about the final days of the election is how badly the Conservatives are doing given the advantages they have.

Whey are they not 20 points ahead in the opinion polls?

Despite the massive media bias in their favour and the huge amount of money the Conservatives have to spend on their campaign their lead is in the single digits. It's not enough.

A clear Labour victory is very much a possibility. If you actually look at what the opinion polls are saying in the websites dedicated to that analysis then there is definitely everything to play for.

As a gay man I am spending the last few days convincing the LGBT people I know that they are much better to vote Labour than Lib Dem because although the Lib Dems have good policies for LGBT people there is a very real chance that they will be propping up the Conservative party in the event of the hung parliament.

Trevor Taylor

I totally agree with several posters that we need to stress again and again what Labour have done This cannot be said enough as it is being lost in the artificiality of this campaign. That and what the Tories have done in the past. Shout it loud and shout it long. Britain is not broken but it can be!

Darby_87

The Andrew Marr show today gave a very dubious message of the current public service - I'm sure everyone must have seen the camera shot featuring the Mail at the forefront of the table "GORDON WILL NOT GET MY VOTE" - Accompanied by comments such as "You're on a role aren't you" - DC "Vote Conservative on Thursday" AM "Well I think that was the right message to end on" - What on earth is going on? I personally think this is a disgraceful account of public service political coverage...

Then again, will serve the BBC right when the Tories get in and start spreading their precious licence fee like Oxford Street leaflets

Bob Vant

Sorry to intrude, but will you please look up The Holme Valley Labour Party Website, and click on "Survey"?

It's a non-party-political-evidence-based contrast of life in one constituency under Tory and Labour. It covers the very "daily, bread and butter" things which lots say politicians aren't interested in.

It's an incontrovertible indictment of the Tory record. I just can't see how they could deal with it. The evidence for what's got better under Labour relies on 3-rd party evidence.

See for yourself...but can we beat the school where parents were running a raffle to try to save teachers' jobs back in '96......and whose Chair of Friends Letter says they raise £ "For the nice extras"?

I can't get anyone to pick it up and push it! I've tried to get it passed Up There, but no response. Will you please pass details on to anyone who might find it useful? Me? I'd shift the whole campaign up here, basing it on the details of local schools, hospitals, police, etc, as showing what's been done EVERYWHERE!

Bob Vant

Mark Wright

"Brown Knocks 20 Point Cameron Victory Down To A Hung Parliament - Tory Strategy In Disarray As Coalition Becons With Lib Dems" (source: 'The Daily Fiction')

Now how's THAT for a headline?! Now how's THIS for a story...

"Conservative Party Central Office were in disarray yesterday as the latest opinion polls suggested that David Cameron would require the support of the Lib Dems were the current opinion poll results translate into seats in parliament. Clegg's Lib Dems have several key policies that are at direct odds with the vast majority of Cameron's Conservatives and could herald a new series of splits within Tory ranks. In particular there is the subject of Europe and whether the Tories could realistically govern alongside a party that is so openly Europe-friendly. Even Clegg's promise of an 'in or out' referendum on the issue is at odds with Cameron's refusal to provide a referedum even on the now ratified Lisbon Treaty.

Another flash-point in any Con/Lib Dem coalition is the matter of Lib Dem economic spokesperson Vince Cable's 'Mansion Tax'. A Lib Dem manifesto commitment which which is squarely at odds the Tory manifesto commitment to provide tax relief for through their controversial inheritance tax proposals first set out by George Osbourne back in 2007.

A senior Tory has been quoted as saying "A shotgun wedding with the Lib Dems is not what we had in mind when we elected Cameron as our leader back in 2005. If the price we pay is a compromise on Europe and on tax relief then that is a too high a price to pay for many. Mr Cameron may find his relationship with his own party just as fraught as the one with his new bed-mate Nick Clegg. This time last year we were riding high with a 20 point lead in the polls. Many senior Tories are asking how this disasterous turn events has come about and whether the last 5 years of cameron rule has been nothing but a wast of time and failed photo opportunities."

Funnily enough, I've yet to read that story ANYWHERE! Maybe Kevin MacGuire should start using his head for some serious analysis rather than patting himself on the back for coming up with some lame Elvis puns?

But the wider truth is that the media narrative on this election has been obvious from day one. Any negative moments with GB are pushed to the fore and analysed to death. Cameron's and Clegg's gaffes are seldom reported or dwelt upon. Not forgiving what GB said in the car but I doubt neither Cameronn or Clegg could put their hand on their heart and say they haven't done anything similar; hence their lack of comment on the issue I would infer.

As somebody who has participated in a Labour event recently I have experienced first hand the anti-GB bias (why use good footage when you can edit the sound with the worst pictures instead to make some really bad overall footage instead) in the media's reporting of him. It's always highly personal and seldom based on policy.

No wonder he explodes from time to time; he's spent the last couple of years having piss taken out of him daily. Not on his policies but on him as a man irrespective of his achievments.

I now realise GB has had the odds stacked against him before the starting gun was even fired.

Simon

Actually in the majority of the south west of England, it is Lib vs Con, and so voting for Lib will help to stop the Con gaining seats there.

Graham Jones

Andy Marr has always been a sycophantic little weasel, so there's no surprise there. What will be the biggest fall-out from this election though, will be that the public trust for the media has vanished.
Nobody can rely on them again to be fair between now and Thursday. What happened at the last three elections, was that everyone got an even hand from the media.
Not this time, though.
It's been an absolute disgrace, a failure in public duty.
The BBC have failed to pursue the weakest manifesto in history, from the Tories. Any policy that is in there, is either unworkable, unpalatable or unforgivable. This is a failure at editorial level, to control fair scrutiny across the political spectrum. The BBC have four days to make their election coverage fair. If they fail to, they will live to regret it, and thousands of BBC workers will be thrown onto the scrapheap.
But the biggest legacy of the BBC's failure, would be that they could no longer be trusted to 'inform, educate and entertain' the public;, but to 'decieve, dumb-down and brain-wash the electorate.
They are putting their future at risk, by failing to scrutinise Cameron. He is a risk to the lower poverty rates in society, a risk to the economic recovery, and a risk to public broadcasting.
Cameron is part of a neo-con agenda that has shifted it's sights temporarily from the White House to Britain. We are over-run with this vile bunch in the media. They act like a fifth column, eating away at our values of fairness.
The only thing to do is keep talking to people, in the street and on the doorsteps. It is by talking to people, where we can still make the biggest difference. By asking people to think, we are giving them an alternative to the wall of tory hype in the media.It it through this simple act, that we can can appeal to peoples better judgement.
The Labour party are still fighters and believers - fighting for British values and believing in the British people. This is our message of hope.

Tom Mailey

In response to Kathy re: Gillian Duffy, I don't care who she votes for but Labour have to show its human decency side. SKY has the cheek to believe it hasn't had a hand in the hurt they caused her. This could have been anything to suit their idea of news and the people's right to know! I would feel the same way if it had been Cameron or Clegg. The press are like vultures. They couldn't chase her enough to get a reaction. However, the Labour party have to make it right for her loyalty to the party she supported for so many years. If we loose this election let's do it with some dignity. If the Tories do win, it won't take long before this country wake up to find they are stuck in a nightmare!

Graham Parker

You said in answer to my question in Leeds that GB would triumph because people would see beyond the personality and judge the parties on policy - sorry Alastair but you called it wrong. The personalities of Clegg and Cameron have outshone Brown's, which, to be fair, take not a lot of doing. Brown has tried to create a new camera friendly personality but the people are seeing it for what it is - an extension of the poor state of politics in the UK. The three debates were more of a beauty pageant than anything else and played straight into the hands of the PR people behind the three parties. Your problem is that what you are working with is not as good as the other two. You more than anyone else has been responsible for sustaining the idea that we should consume our understanding of politics through the media, it's a tad rich to cry crocodile tears when it all goes tits up.

As for Andrew Marr, anyone who has read his book on the modern history of Britain would not have been surprised at his support for Cameron. His fawning over Thatcher was so evident that I was left feeling he would carry her back across the No 10 threshold if he could.

As sickening as it may be, the game really does look up for Labour. There's a strong possibility that Brown could end up matching Foot's decline in Labour backbenchers. I asked you if Brown would be the first PM to lose his place due to PR - I stand by my position that he will be.

franfair

I usually enjoy the Andrew Marr show, but am still reeling from the nausea created by his parting words to DC. Will someone also please tell the BBC to stop showing that shot of GB standing under the large supermarket sign saying "Goodbye"? It may appeal to someone's sense of humour, but to those of us who don't want him to go, it's very annoying and adds fuel to the media bias argument. I will have to go and read Michael Crick's column in this week's Radio Times again, just to reassure myself that somebody at the Beeb still cares about this country.

RG

In the land of the blind the one eyed man is king - particularly apt given the incredible political myopia being displayed by the Labour party and all the ridulous, paranoid, lying spin thats coming out. You cant loose AC - if GB blows the election it will be because of the unfair "Tory" press and media or the population are misguided or we don't get it - not his fault at all or the fact that the majority of the public don't like his personality, policies and 13 years of lying spin perpetrated by people like you. Accept it you can't polish a turd as they say up here!

kathy

In response to Tom Mailey's suggestion of buttering up Mrs Duffy, she is far to intelligent to fall for that one. If you read her story in today's Daily Mail, she comes across as having been a hard-working, kind, principled person. Which is more that can be said for some of the bloggers on here. This sums up Labour, if they don't agree with you, bribe, coerce, flatter, threaten to make them. This is the reason people have had enough of Labour. The posts on here are getting more and more desperate and delusional. It is all over, sad, but very true.

tweeter

good thing marr is on too early on a sunday for most people!

Alan Quinn

Just back in from two hours on the doorstep in Bury South. Not one mention of GB's gaffe,only told to clear off once and plenty of support, we're still being asked for posters and flags too.

spooney

I agree with Slim. AC, you must get the following message over to the campaign team. GB's closing statement on the leader's debate should have been much more positive. Does everyone remember GB's speech at last years labour conference? The begining was all about the positve things labour has done the last 13 years: new schools and hospitals, increased investment in education, pension credits, child and family tax credits, sure start, free nursery education from 3, increased child benefit, waiting lists reduced, free travel for pensioners, winter fuel allowance and free TV licences for pensioners, increased maternity benefits, smoking ban, civil partnerships, and what about PEACE IN NORTHERN ISLAND. Get this lot in adverts in the newspapers this week and make sure all labour politicians repeat it again and again until next Wednesday night- and Labour has still got a real chance!!

BlueDawn

Oh dear - sow what you reap!!

Boudicca

Feeling a bit peeved that the BBC is no longer acting as the Brown Broadcasting Corporation constantly spewing out Labour Party Propaganda ... and after all you've done for them as well. How ungrateful.

Tricky Dickie

AC...how on earth is the message going to get through when the people presenting the news/views are all millionaires?
Burley, Boulton, Neil, Marr, Paxman and Dimbelby to name a few.
Every media pundit has a vested interest to start with.
The problem for Labour is the usual intellectual officer classes for the attack force are now materially Tories because of their prosperity under a Labour government.
The core voter and the base values have been left behind.
The rise of the grotesquely rich has soared to the point now 2 million is now not enough to be called rich.
10 million would not get you into the sunday rich list..yet a salary of 14K is considered a good wage by employers who know that they can pay peanuts because the government will top it up to enough to live on.
Why must we compete with Chine/India for the poor and yet aspire to USA executive pay levels.

Here is the question I wanted Marr to ask that I know he would have asked Brown...."why do over 60% of the people think you are not to be trusted with government"

Cameron walked through the last debate without answering a single question. the polls were rigged and the media have short changed the people.
Time we took a serious look at some hard questions on how our politics has been bought buy the rich vested interests.

Pam Nash

Alastair - after the 'Elvis' debacle, Kevin Maguire (Daily Mirror associate editor and chief Labour journalistic cheerleader) called you 'Comical Ali'. Never was a title so apt, because even when the U.S. troops were visible behind him, whilst he was interviewed on camera, Comical Ali denied their very existence.The parallels between you and him are staggering. Alastair - the Tory tanks are behind you, rapidly approaching the Number 10 door; I understand your rage at the demise of the party you spun and lied for.......but resistance is futile. You will go down in history as Labour's 'Comical Ali'.

R Lodge

yes, the marr ending was revolting. i don't remember blair getting such a leg up when he was on a massive roll in 97. marr should be ashamed of himself. if he has a crush on cameron, he should keep it hidden! the bbc seem to have decided that the "story" is labour finished and they're pursuing it with childish glee. that's not reflecting momentum so much as creating it. i agree that the tories have so far flopped in the campaign - where they looked certain to stroll in. but now, a late surge seems possible. the worst thing is that proper tactical voting would keep them out but no-one seems able to lead on this.

Slim Pickings

After 13 years Labour can't campaign on change, so why hasn't it campaigned on achievements? Surely reminding people of good things the Government has done, as well as what it will do to tackle the recession and other policies in future, was the campaign an incumbent party should have run? I'm intrigued as to what the Labour campaign has been about, and I'm a supporter? Can anyone tell me please?

pat rogers

I absolutely do not want David Cameron as prime minister and am downright scared at the thought of George Osborne as chancellor. That's a given. So what is my best option to stop that, given that I live in a safe tory seat? None at all I'm afraid. I really would like my vote to count but it doesn't. Is proportional representation really going to happen if I vote lib dem? History suggests not.
And while I'm here the election coverage of Gordon Brown has been ridiculous. the day I choose my next PM based on who is better at, kissing babies, schmoozing the electorate and smiling nicely on television is the day I should stop bothering to vote altogether.

Paddy Quinn

Couldn't agree more. Media coverage of Cameron is now officially ridiculous.

Brown's warnings about the devastation of Tory policies is not getting through. Need to focus on all those people who stayed up and partied and cried that night/morning in 1997 and ask them to take a second look at Labour. Also need to admit that many people were right to feel let down at times over last 13 years.

That should be the message of the next 4 days-a personal appeal to the still huge block of undecided voters to take a long hard look at the Tories as well as having a second look at Labour.

Andy Farrell

For the last week I have been in France, on a coach trip of 'real people', not the political elite, who have real concerns but for reasons known only to themselves the majority have never voted and despite what they saw won't be this time either.

They won't be failing for the media version of politics and directives on voting for Green Dave or now Clegg because they are media friendly (in terms of look good on camera etc) but also won't be voting for Labour and policy because of how 'side issues' have dictated an apathetic approach towards a hung parliament.

The two prats on the trip who were members of the BNP were thankfully treated with the contempt they deserved with Gillian Duffy's view completely agreed with by all other passengers on the coach but recognized as nothing to do with what these ignorant morons preach.

Based on 'catch up tv' and old newspapers I think the Tories will unfortunately win full control, not just get a hung parliament, that Clegg will do very well and that Labour will come a significant third but just hoping that media bias is seen for what it is, in the way my fellow passengers see it and those as undecided as they are at least vote. That we get to see that politics matters and we get a parliament formed on sense not apathy.

peter

Alastair, why are you talking about other people taking stimualnts? You appear very paranoid. Why are you talking about the press being stitched up? New Labour was best buddies with Rupert Murdoch and when the Guardian turns away from Labour we have to admit we have made a terrible mess.

Tom Mailey

It must be totally obvious to a blind man that the full force of the media barons want a Tory government in office on Friday. David Cameron is being used as the front man. He's a useless numpty but that doesn't matter, As long as he doesn't put a foot wrong they hope that by Friday they are making the country feel there is no other choice for their vote, they will be brainwashed into giving them what they desire POWER! They won't care what happens to the people as long as they become richer. Labour needs to pull out all the stops this week and curtail this runaway train before they totally derail this country. It's not over until the fat lady sings. Also eat humble pie with Gillian Duffy, get her to cast her vote let the people see Labour cares deeply. It may have been Gordon saying the words but it wasn't the Labour Party. Give her the biggest bunch of flowers you can get. If we manage this and it will be a big IF, dump these stupid policies such as ID cards. Now is not the time. This time Labour has to show it's the people of this great country that matters and that includes Ireland, Wales and Scotland too. Get rid of all these quangos that are bleeding us dry with salaries that the people that do the work for them can only dream of. If we lose this it could be a very long gime before this country will trust Labour again as Labour will be blamed if the Tories do get in and run riot over us.

olli issakainen

David Cameron sees Big Society as a substitute for the state. His idea is to strenghten communities and civil society. Power to the people! Nothing wrong with this?
Well, there is a small hitch. This year, for example, the government spends £170bn on benefits alone. It is a bit difficult to believe that voluntary action could compensate for it. It is time to get real. Big Society is a small idea.
The other problem for the Tories is that the tide against big government has turned since the economic crisis started. According to Robert Putnam strong society is not mutually exclusive from a strong state. The strongest societies are the fairest societies and the fairest societies have strong states.
Labour´s idea is to have an active reforming government. Mr Cameron would break up public services. Much would be done by volunteers, charities and private businesses. Government should only help citizens to provide themselves. Would this utopian idea work in practice? I think the welfare state is a better option.
So, the Tories want social responsibility. This brings me to the question of character.
Good character includes moral courage, civility and ability to put the needs of others before your own. Many goals, for example, co-operation and social responsibility cannot be met through the state or the market.
David Cameron thinks that the character of British society and some people is changing. Mr Cameron claims to be a liberal, but on the other hand he blames liberal values for "Broken Britain".
Big Society depends on people to take more responsibility, also for others. So people with empathy, compassion and kindness are needed. But these character traits cannot be legislated for. Voluntary action needs volunteers!
The state cannot create character, but it can do something. As Anthony Seldon has said: "character matters too much to be left any more to the chance of birth and circumstance".

kathy

Alistair, there may be not much enthusiasm for a Cameron Government but there is definitely no enthusiasm for another Labour one. I understand things are looking desperate for Labour and you are trying to bolster up the troops. However, I think it is all over for New Labour, people have had enough. You only have to look at how haggard all the MPs looked at the unveiling of the Car Crash Posters. They know it too. I'm sorry, but Labour is now associated with Lies, Spin, Bullying and people like Peter Mandelson who must lose votes for Labour every time he appears. Dragging Tony Blair out is surely a death wish. Labour did some good things but unfortunately the bad things outweighed them. New Labour has had its day and it is time to move on to new faces at the top.

David

Hi Alastair

Strategy

Your blog analysis was absolutely right.

If Cameron is on a roll then his extremely worried face throughout the chat belies it.

I say chat because Marr did not follow through on most questions and highlight Cameron's spin. One particular question was on child tax credits where DAVE referred time after time to upper limit of £50 000 and ANDREW failed miserably to highlight the lower limit which would have highlighted the many families that would lose benefit.

Gordon must nail DAVE on Monday night on that issue.

I was also struck by DAVE talking about changing the face of Britain in a year. REALLY!!!!!!

Gordon must take him up on that one because that really is a NOVICE speaking. That is unless DAVE means to wreck the country in a year.

The result of the election is still undecided in my view. The trends in ICM and YouGov, for instance, are still pointing towards Labour 30%+ and Con 35%- despite the vagaries of some polls. The turnout is also likely to be the deciding factor. If you can get the Labour vote out on the day then who knows?

Good Luck to Gordon on Monday and the workers on Thursday.
David

George Woodhouse

You are putting on a very brave face in view of the disaster ahead. But you are right about one thing - there is not much enthusiasm for Cameron or anyone in the political arena.

I put most of the blame for this on the cynical oppotunistic way you and Tony ran the country for many years followed by a Gordon who was just not up to it.

The only thing there is clearly enthusiasm for - Gordon must go!

Nick

Alistair

As you mentioned your partner's experiences when out canvassing, could you include mine too in the interests of balance?

In my experience, the electorate made their minds up about Gordon Brown and Labour in around 2007. They have now stopped listening. They want you out. Yes, Cameron and now Clegg may prompt some uncertainty, but Brown prompts strong dislike. I was around in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 1992 too, certainly Sir John Major prompted nothing like the vitriolic reaction that Brown gets on the doorstep.

The sad thing is I suspect you really know it.......

peter

Alastair, you are a fine one to be throwing brickbats about abusing stimulants !! You are cetainly paranoid. Perhaps you would like to explain how Cameron stitched up the Guardian. The most likely explanation is that Labour has done such an appauling job that not even the Guardian could support them.

Steven Harris

Much as I loathe Cameron and everything the Tories continue to stand for, it's ironic that the former King of Spin is now accusing the boradcast media of Tory bias. The BBC is rightly proud of its attempts at neutrality and when it comes to easy rides I thought Paxman was easier on GB than he'd been to either Cameron or Clegg in his interviews.
On a side issue, why is it considered acceptable for newspapers to come out in favour of specific political parties yet every single party seems to border on hysteria when it comes to imagining that the BBC might have a bias?

wolba

AC - you're right the fight goes on. I was leafleting yesterday and the atmosphere is completely different to 12-18 months ago, was even offered 2 cups of tea and told to keep working hard by 2 punters.

Media people are totally isolated and don't understand the public mood, unlike most politicians who, contrary to the image are very accessible, at public meetings etc. Take the Guardian and Observer positions - I wonder how many of the journalists in those editorial meetings are reliant on tax credits, surestart etc - so blithely discounting all the achievements of the last 13 years.

Should the Tories win, it will be very interesting to see what these so called progressive papers are saying 3 years in - never let them forget the positions they took.

kris

precisely. Cameron's no 1997 Tony Blair or 2008 Barack Obama; he's a cheap imitation that cannot seal the deal.

He's not sealing because he will not cannot come up with specifics. Too bad Marr didn't go in for the kill.

Charlie

Resorting to this sort of scare-story must be a last resort. It certainly is not how Tony Blair won 3 elections.

Your "Its just a flesh-wound" blogs will make wonderful reading after the election.

Post a comment