Hazel Blears' resignation leaves Gordon Brown's premiership in crisis

[Sheilbh]

And the News of the World have a terrifying story, if true:

REAL story behind the reshuffle

By Ian Kirby

THE Downing Street make-up artist applied an extra thick layer of "pancake" on Gordon Brown's face as he waited to face the world at the end of the toughest 24 hours of his political life.

Meanwhile, ex-Europe Minister Caroline Flint branded the PM a "f****** b******" to aides as she stormed out of government.

Brown's exhaustion and the former Blair babe's rage summed up the chaos of the reshuffle.

Despite all claims to the contrary, there WAS a Cabinet plot to topple Brown. The real trouble started on Wednesday afternoon, when one of his staff called a friend of Pensions Secretary James Purnell to ask: "Would James like to go to Education?"

This call signalled that Schools Secretary Ed Balls-the man Blairites fear will wreck the government-was going to replace Alistair Darling as Chancellor . . . and the Labour Party would erupt into civil war.

On Thursday Purnell kept a mask on his emotions as he plotted a resignation he hoped would spark a revolution.

One of the first people he called was Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who also feared a move. Miliband even called in a favour from US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who telephoned Brown and pleaded with him not to dump his Foreign Secretary.

After Purnell resigned, Miliband pledged his support following persuasion by Peter Mandelson. But it was a deal that smashed Gordon Brown's plans for a wide-ranging reshuffle.
Bully

We can also reveal Flint's stinging attack on Gordon Brown was TONED DOWN after other ex-Cabinet Ministers tried to calm her. And Downing Street tried to keep her resignation secret from reporters quizzing the PM.

Flint stormed out of the government on Friday and accused Brown of using women Ministers as "window dressing." But words like "devious", "bully" and "sexist pig" were floated.

The final text was only sent out after Jacqui Smith and Hazel Blears pleaded with her to tone it down. But the effect was still electric.

She raged: "You have a two-tier government. Several of the women attending cabinet-myself included-have been treated by you as little more than female window dressing."

Inside Downing Street, aides had given reporters copies of the new Cabinet list. "Where's Flint?", we muttered. Number 10 had deliberately kept the development quiet.

But, seconds later, BlackBerries buzzed. "Why has Caroline Flint resigned and said you think women are window dressing?" demanded a reporter. Brown staggered back a step and muttered there were plenty of women in Cabinet.

But he saved his trump card for last. "Besides, I am delighted to announce we have a very strong candidate for Europe Minister, Glenys Kinnock," he beamed.

News that the ex-MEP, wife of Labour's disastrous leader Neil, was back showed Brown had run out friends.

"Are you telling us, you cannot find a single candidate to be Minister for Europe out of 350 MPs?" said one hack.

"Erm, yes" seemed to be the only answer from Downing Street. But Brown had survived . . . for now.

I mean that the Foreign Secretary's apparently getting the American Secretary of State to help him keep his job is pathetic.  It sounds roughly par for the course for Miliband but still

[HisMajestyBOB]

Britain really does make the best comedies.

[Neil]

Well, hopefully Flint manages to make herself so toxic that no PM will go near her, and she can languish on the backbenches until the Tories do her in.

[Sheilbh]

Oh and Gordon Brown had a dreadful D-Day.  His Obama obsession showed through when he referred to 'Obama beach'. 

When the time of his arrival was announced the Brit veterans groaned and, later on, they booed him.  Apparently they wanted the Queen.

[jimmy olsen]

Oh and Gordon Brown had a dreadful D-Day.  His Obama obsession showed through when he referred to 'Obama beach'. 

When the time of his arrival was announced the Brit veterans groaned and, later on, they booed him.  Apparently they wanted the Queen.

Damn, can't get much worse than that.

[Neil]

Well, they're right to want the Queen at their shindig.  Stuff like that is what the Queen is for.  That's the division of labour.  The PM makes decisions and the monarch goes to ceremonies.

[Sheilbh]

Unless the results are more catastrophic than expected tonight, then he's safe.  Though John Rentoul thinks there'll be another coup attempt at conference in the autumn.

Incidentally I think Charles Kennedy's points here are very good:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8087415.stm

[Richard Hakluyt]

There's also the fact that the Queen can represent the entire Commonwealth/Empire, whereas Brown is merely a British figure. Bit of a balls-up not having her there IMO.

[Ed Anger]

Ed Balls

*snicker*

[saskganesh]

Ed Balls

*snicker*

the Brits are great at names. we should preserve this colourful ethnicity and give them an island to rule somewhere.

[Palisadoes]

the Brits are great at names. we should preserve this colourful ethnicity and give them an island to rule somewhere.

Can we have Ireland back?

Glad to see Gordo get fucked again tonight! They lost in Wales for the first time ever! The BNP even got two seats (even though their vote count was apparently down??)!

[Neil]

So, when does Brown resign?

In other news, in Spain the PP has pulled ahead of the Socialists.  I guess the Socialists have problems when their terrorist buddies don't help them out.

[Neil]

Good for the BNP, by the way.

[Palisadoes]

So, when does Brown resign?

Sometime next week, hopefully! I doubt he will, mind, as he's power hungry and no other Labour politician wants to throw the boot in to kick him out and then stand and overwhelmingly lose the next general election. It would be political suicide. May as well let Brown take the hit.

In other news, in Spain the PP has pulled ahead of the Socialists.  I guess the Socialists have problems when their terrorist buddies don't help them out.

Yeah I heard a little about this. Something about ETA?

[Neil]

Yeah I heard a little about this. Something about ETA?

No, Al-Qaeda.