7 replies to this topic

[Vortigern]

The News

This is the news that one of the Labour party's staunchest back-bench MPs, a Gordon Brown-appointed whip (for the sake of those of you who don't know, a whip is an MP who is tasked with ensuring the loyalty of the other party members) has called for a leadership contest at the annual party conference on Tuesday.

This is very bad news for Brown, because this has also brought to light that he has been bending the party rules: before a conference the leader must give out ballot papers for every standing member of the Labour party to vote for their favourite candidate. If one candidate receives more than 20% of the vote, a contest must be held. Brown has neglected to pass around any ballot papers whatsoever, and they have been requested by several MPs. It hardly speaks of confidence.

At this point I feel I ought to explain the last year of British politics to those of you who are not aware: Gordon Brown, having become Prime Minister in June 2007, was completely illegitimate in his rise to power. Tony Blair was the leader of the Labour Party at the last general election, and he stepped down. The tradition in that circumstance is to give his successor a few months to prove himself. Gordon Brown has now taken well over a year and shows no signs of or inclination towards holding a general election. This, in effect, puts him in no more a democratic position than Robert Mugabe, yet he is accepted by the international community with no questions asked. Since his coming to power, Britain has got steadily worse. The economy has slumped (Britain has actually suffered more than most Western nations), despite his claims of being a 'great economist' (his previous position, under the Blair administration, was Chancellor of the Exchequer, which put him in charge of all things financial). He has really put on a terrible show, and is roughly as unpopular as George W. Bush at the moment. Even his own party have run out of patience.

On another note, the official view of the Political Compass people, and several other independent analysts, puts Brown, in charge of Britain's traditionally socialist party, as an authoritarian right-winger. So:

1) He should not even be a member of the Labour party, let alone leading it.
2) He is an illegitimate Prime Minister and has given no sign of relinquishing power or even allowing the chance.
3) He has overseen Britain's worst year in over 3 decades.
4) His own party is now turning against him.

Doesn't look good, does it?

[Soul]

Gordon Brown is an asshat, I know someone in the UK who is being screwed big time cause of this guy.

[Vortigern]

Yes, we call those people 'the general British population'. I am among them, my dad is among them, my mum is among them, my entire family is among them. Gordon Brown is a curse on Britain, and I can't think what we've done to deserve him.

[Ash]

Been born in Britain. Sadly, that's all it takes and has taken since the days of Edward Heath.

It should be statute that there is an election held if a Prime Minister steps down. Shouldn't take years or even months.

Brown has absolutely no support from the public. The only thing he's done that's worth doing is kissing America's arse with slightly less fervence than his predecessor.

Regardless, I look forward to the next general election, which I believe will be at the maximum extent of the tenure between elections. Sadly, Brown's premiership is legitimate - Labour still has until June 3, 2010 before the next election must be held. However, yes. Get that wanker out of power asap...

[Soul]

I heard some people have tried and failed to assassinate him, is that true?

[Vortigern]

If it is true this is the first I've heard about it... Which means it's not, because the British secret service are terrible at keeping things quiet. Somebody would have found a reference to it in a top-secret document that some government official had left on a bus. This, sadly, happens all the time over here.

Caspa, you make several valid points. In the event of a civil war, do we really need to ask which side most people would take?

While Brown might technically be legitimate under the fine print of the law, he was not elected, except by his local constituency wherein he did not in fact campaign, and should have called an election within the first six months, at least. I think it should be statute that an inherited premiership should call an election after a maximum of six months. It's probably worth giving them a chance to prove themselves, at least. Brown has now used several chances, and failed at every turn. I'm still hopeful on the vote of no confidence, though.

[Puppeteer]

If it is true this is the first I've heard about it... Which means it's not, because the British secret service are terrible at keeping things quiet. Somebody would have found a reference to it in a top-secret document that some government official had left on a bus. This, sadly, happens all the time over here.

My god, that pisses me off. Why expose secret documents to the likes of the Daily Mail in the street, or leave it on a train?

[Calamity_Jones]

Get that wanker out of power asap...

Why? He has so much more history to make. He could be the first PM to oversee a civil war in centuries. He could be the first PM to actually get assasinated. Try not to think about that last one too much, you might end up blowing a load in your pants. Seriously though, I fully agree with Vorts comparisons to Zanzibars' finest ruler, Robert Mugabe. He furced himself upon us, he's drilling this country into the ground, he refueses to take any blame for it and he refuses to relinquish an ounce of power. I sure as hell hope this isn't the same democracy he and George Bush are forcing onto the Iraqis. I'm honestly starting to believe we'd be better of with Saddam in charge.

Man, it's good to dream...

edit: I don't advocate contract killings! Officially!

Edited by Calamity_Jones, 06 October 2008 - 09:14 AM.