Afternoon:
10°c
'We can't go on sleepwalking'
Janet Anderson, MP15 Sep 2008
Chapter Four of the Labour Party rule book lays down in respect of the leader and deputy leader of the party that "where there is no vacancy, nominations shall be sought each year prior to the annual session of party conference". Asking why this rule has not been observed this year is not to seek a "leadership election".
Many Labour MPs and party members are frustrated at their lack of a voice when the Government is clearly so unpopular with voters. In the words of one of my party officers, active in the party for over 50 years, "we have achieved so much and now we have thrown it all away".
Out on the doorstep in my constituency last week, there was no sense that the party is unpopular with voters.
The support for the Tories is soft. As the rumblings about Gordon Brown's leadership have continued, his supporters have repeatedly said that critics should "put up or shut up". Observing the party's rules about the annual requirement to renominate the leader and deputy leader would have met that charge.
What is clear is that we have to do something. We cannot go on "sleepwalking to oblivion", but we are - and we will continue to do so if we do nothing to address the reasons why we have been so far behind in the polls.
That means a root-and-branch review of our policies and how we communicate them to the voters. And if that requires a change of leadership, so be it.
Reader views (5)
I've been wondering how the position of deputy leadership of a political party is linked, if at all, to the position of Deputy leadership of the government? As far as I remember both the P.M and his Deputy swanned off last year and since then we've had various people standing in for the new P.M when necessary. Can we assume this Labour party “rule” doesn't apply because there is "no vacancy" for a deputy leader of the Labour party? This may reflect the fact that not only is there "no vacancy" for the position of Deputy P.M but his "Office" seems to have disappeared also.
Similarly, our former P.M apparently disappeared without any kind of proper electoral "by your leave" process leaving everyone else to sort out some kind of "orderly transition", probably at the expense of the public purse.
This really won't do, in my view. I think political Parties should provide for people to take over the responsibilities of those elected to government offices such as the P.M or deputy P.M., but only in grave or exceptional circumstances eg through ill-health or because of a vote of "no confidence" by M.P's in the House of commons.
Thus said; I think Mr.Brown is doing a very good job in very difficult circumstances. He is guarding the public purse, our time and energy from the burden of an unnecessary election and I for one, haven't yet had my money's worth from the last election.
- Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley, Bacup, UK, 15/09/2008 22:01
Report abuse
This squabbling means the nation has no government so it is no longer a party matter.
The nation cannot go on like this for another 20 months. So the only honourable thing to do is call an election NOW! Otherwise there's total paralysis in the middle of a major crisis
- Christina Speight, west london, 15/09/2008 16:45
Report abuse
"we have achieved so much and now we have thrown it all away"
Yes, you have achieved a lot - the polls stand testimony to your achievements.
"The support for the Tories is soft."
Well, let's have a general election then, so that you can get a better idea of how soft that support is.
"That means a root-and-branch review of our policies and how we communicate them to the voters."
It's not how you communicate with the voters that annoys us, but what you have to say.
"to address the reasons why we have been so far behind in the polls"
Does Ms Anderson know what these reasons are? Would not addressing them mean her losing her seat?
- Roderick, London, UK, 15/09/2008 15:33
Report abuse
Where's this lady's constituency? La la land? Narnia? She's either cracked or she's made this up.
- Cleggy, London, 15/09/2008 11:06
Report abuse
"support for the Tories is soft"?
Wishful thinking...
- Richard, birmingham, 15/09/2008 11:04
Report abuse
