Is Brown facing a new year "coup"?

alexhilton Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:08:07 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

A mysterious yet feasible comment has appeared on Labourhome suggesting there has been a telephone conference of 17 MPs to discuss the future of Gordon Brown's leadership of the Labour Party.



The commenter says, "There is noise circulating this morning of a telephone conference that took place last night involving 17 MP's.  The rumour is that this discussion did not involve any of the 'usual suspects', but loyal back benchers and some members of the Government".

The suggestion is that a delegation willl be sent to ask Brown to step aside if polls don't recover by 8th January. Is this an unfair criticism of Brown or is it a matter of dying by the sword you live by? What kind or reception could we expect Gordon to give such a delegation?


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Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? | 13 comments (13 topical)

Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#1)

by JM on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:12:29 PM GMT

Firstly, the comment is talking about January 08 (i.e. 2008), not the January 8th.


Secondly, unless anyone else has heard this 'noise', I'm just as likely to assume that the poster called "0123456789" is a Tory Troll.


Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#2)

by alexhilton on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:27:50 PM GMT

Either way, it wouldn't be an issue if Gordon had allowed a Leadership contest in the first place. He would be in a much stronger position.

If this telephone conference did take place, I wouldn't be surprised if none of the participants had had the balls to nominate another candidate at the relevant time.


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Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#3)

by WillParbury on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 12:42:47 PM GMT

This is not April 1st Alex. I think this story is a load of tory troll rubbish, is most unhelpful to the government and should be binned.

The PLP knew Brown's strengths and weaknesses when they elected him unoppossed just a few months ago FFS. He hasn't changed that much in the mean time. I have no sympathy with anyone in the PLP who wants to change horses when the race has already begun.


 


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Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#4)

by swatantra on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 01:33:04 PM GMT

0-9. just testing.testing. mere speculation!


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Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#10)

by doctordunc on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 05:24:49 PM GMT

I agree that it's odd for the story not to appear anywhere else - but I have to say it doesn't sound like a Tory troll, in terms of the wording, etc.  I'm prepared to consider the possibility that there may be other sorts of trolls though!

I'm always dubious when people post anonymously suggesting some special insider knowledge that nobody else has; I mean - are ministers briefing openly?  There must be regular posters on here who would know that?


[ Parent ]

Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#5)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:26:33 PM GMT

Hmm interesting.


Could be feasible, but since we haven't heard anything more in the news, then it probably was a Tory troll.


My detective work leads me to this conclusion. The comment here was posted at 10.42AM today. On ConservativeHome in the hour before that, there was talk of Labour replacing Brown as leader, which leads me to believe that it's one of them messing about.


'Letters from a Tory' said at 9.42AM: "Gordon Brown must be getting more nervous that his MPs are talking behind closed doors about whether to get rid of him or not. If they are going to oust him, it has to be sooner rather than later."


'Helen' said at 10.44AM: "Is there a mechanism in the Labour Party whereby sitting Prime Ministers can be ousted?"




Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#6)

by nickc on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 02:43:41 PM GMT

I think this particular story is unlikely - have you ever tried to have a conference call with 16 other people? But there must be unease in the PLP - they would be mad not to be uneasy after the past few months. All the party members I know are uneasy as hell - the PLP must reflect that privately at least.


Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#7)

by swatantra on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 03:33:55 PM GMT

old yorkshire saying: 'ne'er be clout till may be out'. we just sit, wait and see.


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Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#8)

by Limony on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 03:42:02 PM GMT

Perhaps they were just comparing notes about what to get the Browns for Christmas. Ho ho ho.


Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#9)

by andycharlwood on Fri Dec 21, 2007 at 05:04:52 PM GMT

Honestly Alex, why on earth are you drawing attention to the totally unsubstantiated rumour, which if you think about it for even a moment, is far more likely to be a load of tosh from a troll than genuine insider gossip. Remember this site isn't a private discussion between mates, but something the whole world; daily mail 'journalists', tories, libdems etc. read. Get some judgement! 


Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#11)

by sunderkatwala on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 08:41:16 AM GMT


Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#12)

by sunderkatwala on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 08:46:57 AM GMT

My comment disappeared. This rumour is obviously total bollocks. Some Ministers .... in a 17 person conference call!! 012345678whatever is clearly simply stirring/trolling ... do they have any record of contributing substantively to any discussions here? The motive for either inventing this is easy to see ... and can see no other motive for reporting it.


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Re: Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? (#13)

by swatantra on Sun Dec 23, 2007 at 11:24:41 AM GMT

A coup is not very likely. What we need is stability and transparency at all costs till May.


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Is Brown facing a new year "coup"? | 13 comments (13 topical)