Another minister quits

[Kenny Macca Doo]

The Work And Pensions Secretary (sounds boring) James Purnell has resigned, and not only that, has said Brown should go. To help things a bit more he's sent an open letter to the papers to be published today (Friday). So that's 3 ministers this week, and the Chancellor's going to be re-shuffled probably. Do you think Brown's gonna be in the job much longer?

Purnell's resignation letter:-

Dear Gordon,

We both love the Labour Party. I have worked for it for 20 years and you for far longer. We know we owe it everything and it owes us nothing.

I owe it to our party to say what I believe no matter how hard that may be. I now believe your continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less likely.

That would be disastrous for our country. This moment calls for stronger regulation, an active state, better public services, an open democracy.

It calls for a government that measures itself by how it treats the poorest in society.

Those are our values, not David Cameron's.

We therefore owe it to our country to give it a real choice. We need to show that we are prepared to fight to be a credible government and have the courage to offer an alternative future.

I am therefore calling on you to stand aside to give our party a fighting chance of winning. As such I am resigning from government.

The party was here long before us, and we want it to be here long after we have gone. We must do the right thing by it.

I am not seeking the leadership, nor acting with anyone else. My actions are my own considered view, nothing more.

If the consensus is that you should continue, then I will support the government loyally from the backbenches. But I do believe that this question now needs to be put.

Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving.

Yours,

Rt Hon James Purnell MP

BBC Report

[Semprini]

I don't see brown holding on much longer. A good point made on Question Time last night - when this cabinet reshuffle comes round, he's running out of people to appoint.

[blondie]

Thats a very clever letter. Knowing that anyone with even the slightest bit of interest will read it, he's managed to remind the reader just what the Labour Party stand for, aside from all the scandal the expenses claims have created.

I think the main problem with having a general election now, (and this point was made on QT last night) is that there is such a deluge surrounding the Labour Party at the moment, that voters are turning from them in their droves, and as such an election will not be won on policies, but on lack of scandal.

[Largest of Als]

an election will not be won on policies, but on lack of scandal.

Thats usually what elections are won on...


Al

[blondie]

Thats usually what elections are won on...


Al

Yes, granted but I'm a bit of an idealist and like to think that during election time, the majority of people do actually take time to look at what policies their party of choice at least stand for. I fear that now, even sensible people will be swayed into going along with the latest headlines and the latest bit of scandal to rock the boat. Either that or there will be so much publicly written about the scandal or lack thereof, that there simply won't be room for policies to get the type space they need. Its a very tricky and delicate situation.

[triggerhappy]

And another one - John Hutton

[Prof]

I think the main problem with having a general election now, (and this point was made on QT last night) is that there is such a deluge surrounding the Labour Party at the moment, that voters are turning from them in their droves, and as such an election will not be won on policies, but on lack of scandal.

Realistically though, do you think the Conservatives really want a general election right now? I seriously doubt it.

They'll still make the noises towards it to appear aggressive but with the recession and the expenses issue still hot Cameron won't want to take a shot at the brass ring until the ship has been steadied somewhat. I'd guess next year at the earliest.

Tell you what though, I bet Tony Blair's pishing himself laughing at all this.

[PAPA LAZEROU]

excellent...another one shites it and quits. I hope these fucks will still be charged with fraud tho and not get off scot-free because they 'fell on their swords'.

I fucking hate politicians/liars................

[Kenny Macca Doo]

Realistically though, do you think the Conservatives really want a general election right now? I seriously doubt it.

They'll still make the noises towards it to appear aggressive but with the recession and the expenses issue still hot Cameron won't want to take a shot at the brass ring until the ship has been steadied somewhat. I'd guess next year at the earliest.

I figure it probably would be their best chance if the election was just now. By haemorraging ministers it looks like he's not in control at all, and he's supposed to be the one running the country? He can't even control his Cabinet.

If Cameron takes over he has a free pass for a while. Any problems weren't anything he caused, so he can legitimately go "HEY DAWG, I'm trying my best here, bear with me while I clean up this mess".

[triggerhappy]

Geoff Hoon gone now too.

[djtoast]

jeebus.

are we all going to be living in caves a year from now?

[Rio Ohki]

Possibly. I keep thinking I'll get back from Download to find the world has changed.

[XMachina]

jeebus.

are we all going to be living in caves a year from now?

Depends if housing's a devolved matter or not.

[ladysavage]

so does this mean Boris "splishy splashy" Johnson and Alan "you're fired" Sugar are the only ones left running the country? Fucksake, may as well just let the new big brother inmates run the show!

[triggerhappy]

Depends if housing's a devolved matter or not.

Well, Margaret Beckett (Housing Minister) has just resigned too...