Feel free to pay tribute tribute here to John Prescott who has announced he will not be standing at the next general election. He provided us with many hilarious headlines and politics would be dull without a few characters like him. He certainly had the gift of the gaffe.
I wonder if Prezza’s announcement is timed so a replacement can be selected in time for an autumn election. We are now beginning to see Gordon Brown’s true colours following his refusal to hold a referendum over the proposed new EU constitution. This excellent leading article from The Sunday Times is very succinct, and I wonder how this issue will influence Brown’s decision about an early election, it certainly marks the end of his political honeymoon:
So much for Gordon Brown’s promise to devolve power to the citizen. When it comes to European Union stitch-ups, it seems, Mr Brown remains the control freak of old. His assertion that a parliamentary vote on the proposed new EU constitution – and it is a constitution, Mr Brown – is all that is necessary, and that a referendum is unnecessary, is classic elite politics. We won’t ask the people because they’ll tell us what we don’t want to hear. A growing band of Labour MPs disagree.
It is striking that the two decisions that most solidified the former chancellor’s reputation for shrewd judgment showed that he understood the appropriate limits of political control. His handover of monetary policy to the Bank of England involved the government giving up a potentially damaging form of political interference in the economy. He followed that with an effective veto over Britain’s entry into the euro, demonstrating a sensible wariness of a further erosion of Britain’s powers of self-government.
So it is all the more striking that he has begun his premiership by ignoring the lessons of those two decisions and instead claiming that the treaty agreed in Brussels in June is an entirely separate beast from the earlier treaty voted down by the French and the Dutch (although Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, its architect, and a host of EU grandees protest that it is one and the same thing). And we all know why he is attempting to pass off this fiction as fact – because his party had a commitment to a vote on the old treaty and he would lose such a vote.
Ironically, of course, Mr Brown’s already high poll ratings would almost certainly climb even higher if he were to prove himself the champion of democracy and do the right thing: offer us a vote on our own constitution. He would show himself to be consistent, tough, forward thinking and, above all, in tune with his own people. What more could a prime minister on the verge of a general election want? So come on, Mr Brown: give us the referendum your party promised.
Update 31 August: It makes perfect sense if what Iain has heard is right.
Not sure Gordon is confident he can win
He’ll want to be PM for a little longer before he risks a general election.
[…] YouTube Could Prescott’s resignation signal an autumn election? » This Summary is from an article posted at Ellee Seymour – MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 [ pres] Feel free to pay tribute tribute here to John Prescott who has announced he will not be standing at the next general election … honeymoon: So much for Gordon Brown’s promise to devolve power to the citizen. When it comes … so a replacement can be selected in time for an autumn election. We are now beginning to see Gordon Summary Provided by Technorati.comView Original Article at Ellee Seymour – MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. » 10 Most Recent News Articles About Personal Tech […]
[…] Why the Brown bounce is deflating 28 08 2007 On his blog John Redwood gives some clear reasons why Brown’s poll rating is slipping and why Brown will not go for a snap poll. I agree with this analysis, and it does not bode well for the future of the Brown Government if it is entangled in so many messes already. Elsewhere, Ellee Seymour wonders whether Prescott’s announcement of his retirement signals an autumn general election, but we rather suspect that it is merely another Prescottian gaffe and because Brown was planning a snap poll but has now been well and truly scuppered by “events, dear boy”. […]
I rather suspect that it is merely another Prescottian gaffe and because Brown was planning a snap poll but has now been well and truly scuppered by “events, dear boy”. I blogged on the general election, economy and opinion polls last week, and here we are – Brown has been outmanoeuvred by a new set of less happy opinion polls for him.
I think Prescott’s resignation signals Prescott’s resignation.
I don’t think too much should be read into Prescott’s resignation. I don’t think Brown’s poll lead is built on enough foundation for him to risk going to the polls early. It would be a massive gamble that could so easily leave him with egg on his face. After waiting so long for his chance I don’t think he would take such a huge risk.
I remember a tale if JP and GB “plotting Blair’s demise” in the oyster bar at Loch Fyne at breakfast time. One had oysters and one had kippers (though I can’t remember who had which). I subsequently went there myself (it was very expensive) and there was the original of a newspaper cartoon depicting the event framed on the wall. It became known as “The OysterBar Summit” and there is an account of it here
Brown will want an election before anyone has had a chance to digest Prescotts memoirs.
Prezza entertained me only once and that was when he threw that punch at whatever election it was. Other than that, I think he has been a waste of space and tax payers’ money. How does his wife put up with him? End of the honeymoon for Brown – yes, I should think, especially after today’s announcement of no timetable for withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Maalie,I love Loch Fyne’s, we have one in Cambridge.
And dare Prescott write a no-holds-barred memoirs? Wouldn’t that be interesting?
here! here!
I’m with James on this. You’re reading too much into this I think.
So Cameron declares himself armed & ready for a Fall election
I really hope there is no election. the Tories are far to far behind to win at the moment. We need the Brown bounce to be long over.
There is so much trouble ahead in social and economic terms. let us see Broon try and steer the ship he built, rather than take it over as it is sinking.
No election Ellee. Nu Labouir ain’t got the cash. Besides they’d probably lose.
I reckon May 2009, same as the Euro elections
31 August Update: Iain may well be right, but the thing is that Labour at that point may not have they seen the Populus poll that has the Conservative Party has been forced to release (Lab 37%, Con 36%, LD 16%)? Yes – it is only one opinion poll – but it is a warning to Labour that the ICM Grauniad poll may not be so right. I have undertaken some analysis of the regional variations which shows Tory advance in the South and Midlands and Labour not really moving forward anywhere apart from Scotland. Brown must be a kamikaze if he’s going to go for a snap poll!
I apologise for the mangled syntax in the last post but it is rather late 🙂
For goodness sake what are you lot on !
Where on earth is the evidence yet that there has been the huge turn around to the Tories thats needed to decapitate Gordon and Co.
The Tories won under Margaret after the winter of discontent , your no where near that yet.
The b country is so enmeshed in the welfare state its forgotten what selfworth is about .
Asking it to vote Tory is like asking Turkeys to vote for Christmas.
Yes the economy is about to go bust ( thanks wee Gordon ) but until individuals jobs are on the line nothing will happen , and Gordon will go for it before that happens.
The Tories are a spent force , theres absolutely no evidence that they have fire in their bellies to win .
Instead we have the wife of the Leader proving how damned rich he is .
Very common touch .
Roll on the election at least you lot will stop navel gazing.
Something is brewing and if Brown calls an early election, he will win – unfortunately.
Georgegirl, I love your passion.
And Andrew, I fear you could well be right.