Personally I'd much perfer the Government to actually start making some fundamental policy decisions instead of being in permanent campaign mode.  It's all very well having a so-called 'big tent' but what's the end game?

Yep, I agree. I'm pleased that Brown continues to make Cameron look like a fool - but there does have to come a point when he stops trying to woo the right-wing and comes up with some solid policies.

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Certainly a cynical publicity to ploy by GB to devert attention from the tories.
I personnally feel exceptionally offended as I am put in a position that as a LP member I have to defend it.
Im sorry but I wont.
Brown has insulted many genuine LP activists with this kind of sh*t. Part of a long list of reasons why Labour support is declining.

The Party needs robust policy decisions to tackle the wealth divide, poverty and exploitation that exists in the UK.
This isnt the way to do it.

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Well it's driving real labour crazy as well my area is still dying because of this cow.

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Disgusting. Insulting.He just lost us thousands of votes  from Labour supporters. Who can blame them.....

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I thought it was a masterful stroke to show how we have overcome the old enemy and that the Tories no longer matter

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"Brown is a very tactical politician and most labour voters will forgive him if he can wipe the smug look of call me daves chops."

But were not told that under Gordon Brown their would be an end to headline chasing an end to spin?  It seems to me it's been increasing endless, this is just another example of it.  I agree it might be good short-term politics.  But the next election will be won if we have delievered value for money in the public services.  On alot of those key public service reform questions Brown's answer is to put things out to 'consultations'.  Is holding a year-long review into the NHS the sign of a reforming Government after 10 years in power?  Is holding citizen juries the sign of a conviction politican?

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Most Labour voters don't give a flying toss about the fine detail of which politician looks better/ more media-savy/ more shrewd than another on any given day. Such things interest a narrow political/ media crowd, who then imagine that voters think like them.

 

A lot of Labour voters, however, do give a flying toss about Thatcher and the millions of livelihoods she stole.  

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Put a bet, why should we vote for a party which thinks Thatcher is one of the great PM of our time, I remember what she did to us. and I mean working class people, something like labour is doing to us now.

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'Dunno what's happened to Gordon lately I thought he was more left of centre than this'

What made you think that?  All the use of PFI/PPP at the Treasury?  Spending £500million on lawyers/consultants to draw up contracts for the PPP deal on the Underground.  All the variouse assest sales at the Treasury?

Brown postioned himself a few degree's to the left of Blair over the last 14 years in order to make sure he was the successor, to make sure he got the support of the Unions and MPs.  That's why it was spun that he opposed sensible policy decisions such as tution fees and foundation hospitals etc.

The idea that Brown would hearld a socialist revoultion was always laughable.  The issue for me is when is Brown actually going to start making tough policy decisions, or is happy to continue in this 'permanent campaign mode'.  The worst mistake Labour made post 1997 was to carry on in election mode rather than get on with governing the country.  At the moment Brown seems to be spending more time on consultations/task forces rather than governing.  If he intends to hold a October election of course I stand corrected, but I doubt he has the guts to do that. 

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Me too. I was   more or less resigned to Gordon taking over but thought at least he would be better than Blair. Three months down the road I loathe him. You're right, it's a nightmare.....

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The Tory MP Rob Wilson has a piece on the ConservativeHome website arguing that Thatcher was used by Brown.  In the piece he also talks about her health.

'Was Thatcher used in an unsrupulous way by Brown?'
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/platform/2007/09/rob-wilson-mp-w.html

'PM denies exploiting Thatcher':
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6994778.stm

One car'nt help but agree with Rob Wilson's points.  Thou I guess the counter argument is that Team Thatcher knew they would cause problems for Cameron. 
One wonders if Sir John Major or Tony Blair will be offered similar treatment in the coming weeks?

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Fine, why not invite her round for a privite chat like Blair used to.  Why did Brown feel the need to leak that he was inviting her to the Daily Mail's political editor?  Why did Brown feel the need to pose outside Downing Street with her?  It was just a cheap stunt to overshadow Cameron's policy review.  Nobody has a issue with the current PM meeting former PM's, but did we really need the amatur dramatics of Thursday?  It was so-stage managed (whilst Thatcher was inside, a Brown advisor was running outside to give the lobby a running commentary).  It's pretty laughable.  Most of the British public would much prefer the Prime Minister to be 'getting on with the job' as Gordon Brown is so often fond of saying.

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Rifkind obviously not a fan of Maggie then.

Having a new portrait of her in Number 10 is going a bit far. The trouble with all this is that it's starting to look like a 'national consensus' where we all agree how great Thatcher was and how she was the best thing since sliced bread. The truth couldn't be further from that though.

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I quite liked Rifkind's finishing comment 

In the meantime Gordon Brown might like to invite Tony Benn as his next guest. After all, he is a conviction politician as well.

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