Gordon Brown's supposedly make or break conference speech hasn't exactly set the heather on fire. It played well to conference, but anything short of Brown drowning a kitten in the midst of his speech would play well to that particular captive audience. Actually, they'd probably cheer him drowning a kitten if he said it was an SNP kitten.

But back in the real world Brown's speech was met with a collective yawn and was overshadowed within hours by the news of Ruth Kelly's resignation. According to the Labour Party, Ms Kelly wishes to spend more time with her family and her resignation was known in advance, but the real question is surely why she chose to allow news of her resignation to come out now. Who benefits by it? It's certainly not Gordon Brown.

According to reports on some of the Westminster political blogs, Ruth Kelly and David Miliband were romantically involved before they met their present spouses and remain very good friends. Kelly would certainly wish to give a boost to Miliband's shot at the leadership.

Meanwhile, there are persistent rumours on other political blogs that Hazel Botox Blears is going to resign next and start a cabinet rebellion. And one of the Guardian columnists has hinted at some 'startling' news that will break over the next week or so.
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/se...own.labourconference

Ferrets in a sack.

InfrequentAllele wrote:
And one of the Guardian columnists has hinted at some 'startling' news that will break over the next week or so.
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2008/se...own.labourconference

Ferrets in a sack.

Hmm, the Observer may be interesting this weekend.

TLJ wrote:
Hmm, the Observer may be interesting this weekend.

That would be a first.

Oooh I'm excited to see what the Sunday Post has to say

InfrequentAllele wrote:
Gordon Brown's supposedly make or break conference speech hasn't exactly set the heather on fire. It played well to conference, but anything short of Brown drowning a kitten in the midst of his speech would play well to that particular captive audience. Actually, they'd probably cheer him drowning a kitten if he said it was an SNP kitten.

Was it ever going to be anything else?

The most dangerous assassin aproaches with a smile on their face and full of praise. Gordon will only know his true fate when he feels Damascus steel slip between his floating ribs, and I suspect it will come from the one he least expects.

Aye but what about his missus............

I would!

Bigman wrote:
Aye but what about his missus............

I would!

Aw, Bigman...you've taken that too far...

Ms Kelly has an agenda, methinks...

Ruth Kelly did little yesterday to dampen down speculation about her unhappiness with Gordon Brown's premiership as she admitted political concerns contributed to her forthcoming departure, lauded David Miliband as a "star" and failed to rule out the possibility of a leadership challenge taking place.

Westminster's outgoing Transport Secretary also expressed her frustration at the way her decision had leaked out. While No 10 insists it had nothing to do with the leaking, suspicions are held that it feared Ms Kelly's decision was about to be announced along with resignations of at least two others in a bid to destabilise the Prime Minister.

The theory goes that by pre-empting it, Downing St was able to reduce the impact of Ms Kelly's resignation announcement and also disrupt any other planned departures. Illustrative of how jumpy the Westminster grapevine is, last night there were unsubstantiated rumours that another Cabinet minister was set to quit.
The Herald

Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee, Gordon...