Gordon could stay and turn crisis to opportunity
TonyH Wed Jun 25, 2008 at 01:16:39 PM GMT 
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It’s been quite a year. The Party is plumbing the depths of public opinion, we’ve done very comparatively little since 2005, the press hate us, people are tired of the Government and we can’t even buy good publicity for a Prime Minister who appears to have created an immovable public image that nobody can understand or warm to.
Even though I’m one of the ones who thinks it’d be great to get rid of him (because I don’t really respect him), I’ve also always believed that there are few problems that can’t be solved and few situations that can’t be turned around. I’ve changed my mind about people before and am sure it’s possible for Gordon Brown.
Thinking about it, here are a few ways in which Gordon could begin to regain the public’s trust. However unlikely it is – it seems more likely than him resigning.
A lot of it has to do with dealing with the press.
Only attack policy
It should become the official policy of the Labour Party not to comment on non-stories in the press. They impress nobody and a higher ground is laying there waiting to be seized. Phillip Hammond was a jerk to attack Tom Harris regarding the “Miserable” non-story and Tony McNulty was an idiot to attack the Jeremy Hunt graffiti non-story.
It should become the official policy of the Labour Party not to comment on non-stories in the press. They impress nobody and a higher ground is laying there waiting to be seized. Phillip Hammond was a jerk to attack Tom Harris regarding the “Miserable” non-story and Tony McNulty was an idiot to attack the Jeremy Hunt graffiti non-story.
These quotes are a pointless, unwinnable game and we should be first to pick the ball up and say we’re not playing. We should only criticise policy, serious hypocrisy or a matter worthy of a MP or Minister’s time.
Press room to be shared with bloggers
The press conference given to the national media should be widened to include a significant portion of serious bloggers chosen by the thoughtfulness of their blogs. It wouldn’t matter if they were anti-government, as long as they were police vetted and were told that it’s a serious forum with serious questions.
The press conference given to the national media should be widened to include a significant portion of serious bloggers chosen by the thoughtfulness of their blogs. It wouldn’t matter if they were anti-government, as long as they were police vetted and were told that it’s a serious forum with serious questions.
If the whole lobby was a serious as the best journalists I’m sure it would improve the level of conversation and educate those watching. We’re losing on the personality politics so we should really switch over to discussion about realistic, achievable legislation and what’s best for the country.
Join Cameron Direct
Can you imagine how great it would be for Gordon Brown to share a serious, sober platform with David Cameron? He wouldn’t win every point but it would be great, for example, to ask Cameron if he really believes an institution like marriage can be successfully subsidised for £20 a week for those who don’t need it and didn’t ask for it?
Can you imagine how great it would be for Gordon Brown to share a serious, sober platform with David Cameron? He wouldn’t win every point but it would be great, for example, to ask Cameron if he really believes an institution like marriage can be successfully subsidised for £20 a week for those who don’t need it and didn’t ask for it?
He could ask him where his plan was for dealing with Northern Rock and when he offered it. He could also remind him the math behind the “stolen policy” of non-dom taxation was even far worse that what the Government eventually suggested.
If anyone fears Cameron would take him apart, then look at the polls as they are now and suggest it couldn’t be any worse. If Brown wants to be thought of as the man of substance and detail and Cameron really is the slick salesman – then a serious forum is precisely the place to get him!
There would have to be a rule that, in this one forum, protesters or those looking to hold up proceedings were banned. People should have the right to protest but the country is in a real need to engage politicians. Banning protests like Fathers for Justice or Greenpeace from this public forum seems appropriate to me since they’d be perfectly welcome to come and ask tough questions.
Don’t try and keep speed with the reckless pace of 24hr news
Almost everything should be announced to the House of Commons. No previews, leaks, dampening down expectations or hamming them up.
Almost everything should be announced to the House of Commons. No previews, leaks, dampening down expectations or hamming them up.
It does not work. Where politicians have bent over to get information to journalists from a White Paper, for example, they have not always reciprocated with a thoughtful consideration. The headlines will always screech, the TV “analysts” will always speculate without information – why try to satiate them at this pace?
On the Budget, the reverse happens. With very little lead time, the Treasury overloads the media with some 2,000 pages of press notices which bear almost no relation to the Chancellor’s speech, and the Government wonders why the press look down through these releases furiously for something to criticise them for!
Ministers should make announcements to the House first in order that the first iteration may be broadcast live (if it’s important). That should be what people hear first – then let them go and do the press and media interviews. It might even get more interest in the massive amount of work done in Parliament select committees, debates and hearings so that people don’t assume the Wednesday afternoon shouting match is the only event all week.
And finally… (while I run out of time) – Do Comic Relief Gordon!
If he did a skit where the mobile phone was wrapped in bubble wrap and someone coached him on the rictus smile before a Youtube video.
If he did a skit where the mobile phone was wrapped in bubble wrap and someone coached him on the rictus smile before a Youtube video.
Even I, who have fostered and nurtured a healthy loathing for the worst US President ever, have enjoyed some of his Correspondent’s Dinner speeches. It reminds me he's only human and my distaste dissipates for a short while.
Gordon Brown would benefit fro these things the most. People have said that there is a massive difference between his public image and his personal manner – he should show it every now and then.
With the exception of the last suggestion, what I’m saying is that way to win the personality politics game is not to play it. If the Prime Minister was seen to at least seriously try to raise the level of debate – he’d couldn’t fail to improve his, and the Government’s image.
To be honest, it could scarcely be any worst than now!
Gordon could stay and turn crisis to opportunity | 6 comments (6 topical)
Gordon could stay and turn crisis to opportunity | 6 comments (6 topical)
