Goodbye Gordon

[Gob]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out...

Brown to quit as Labour leader

Gordon Brown is to step down as Labour leader by September - as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.

His announcement came as he and the Conservatives woo the Lib Dems in a battle to run the country.

Mr Brown's presence was seen as harming Labour's chances of Lib Dem backing.

The Tories reacted by making a "final offer" to the Lib Dems of a referendum on changing the voting method to the Alternative Vote system.

Conservative sources have told the BBC that on Monday morning the Conservative and Liberal Democrat teams were discussing a stripped-down deal in which the Lib Dems would not topple the Tories in a confidence vote.

It is now understood the Lib Dems are seeking a full coalition with either Labour or the Conservatives. Liberal Democrat MPs are to meet at 2200BST to discuss the party's next move. There are no plans at the moment for Tory negotiators to resume their talks with the Lib Dems, the BBC understands.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Brown's resignation was an audacious bid by Mr Brown to keep Labour in power - and himself in power for a limited period - and Tory MPs would be furious.

In his statement, Mr Brown said Britain had a "parliamentary and not presidential system" and said there was a "progressive majority" of voters.

He said if the national interest could be best served by a coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour he would "discharge that duty to form that government".

But he added that no party had won an overall majority in the UK general election and, as Labour leader, he had to accept that as a judgement on him.

"I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election.

"I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference.

"I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate."

Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg had requested formal negotiations with Labour and it was "sensible and in the national interest" to respond positively to the request, Mr Brown said.

It emerged earlier that the Lib Dem negotiating team, who have held days of talks with the Conservatives, had also met senior Labour figures in private.

But it was understood that one of the stumbling blocks to any Labour-Lib Dem deal was Mr Brown himself.

Mr Clegg said he was "very grateful to David Cameron and his negotiation team" and they had had "very constructive talks" and made a "great deal of progress".

But he said they had not "reached a comprehensive partnership agreement for a full Parliament" so far and it was the "responsible thing to do" to open negotiations with the Labour Party on the same basis, while continuing talks with the Tories.

"Gordon Brown has taken a difficult personal decision in the national interest," he said.

"And I think without prejudice to the talks that will now happen between Labour and the Liberal Democrats, Gordon Brown's decision is an important element which could help ensure a smooth transition to the stable government that everyone deserves."

The Lib Dems have long campaigned for a change to the voting system - something which the Conservatives have strongly opposed.

But speaking after a meeting of Conservative MPs, following Mr Brown's statement, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said they were prepared to "go the extra mile" on electoral reform - and offer a referendum on switching to AV in return for a coalition government.

He said the Lib Dems had to choose whether to back them or a government that would not be stable - because it would have to rely on the votes of other minor parties - and would have an "unelected prime minister" for the second time in a row.


He also said the Labour offer was for a switch to the AV system, without a referendum, which he believed was undemocratic. The BBC understands, from Lib Dem sources, that the Labour offer is legislation to introduce AV, followed by a referendum on proportional representation.

Under AV no candidate is elected without at least 50% of the vote, after second preferences are taken into account, but it is not considered full proportional representation.

Meanwhile BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said he understood some Cabinet members were sceptical about the idea of a "progressive alliance" with the Lib Dems and were concerned it would look bad.

And he said Mr Brown would be asking Cabinet ministers not to launch immediate leadership campaigns, for fear it would look undignified.

John Mann, the first Labour MP to call for him to go after the election result, said Mr Brown had made a "wise and brave" decision.

Cabinet minister Douglas Alexander told Sky News Mr Brown had decided to step down last week but was "very keen to ensure that he meets his constitutional obligations which is to ensure that a government is formed".

And the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it was "inevitable" Mr Brown would have to go and he had "done the right thing".

But Conservative MP Nigel Evans told the BBC: "The fact he's going in September, I think the country passed its verdict. Gordon, they want you to go now."

Labour backbencher Graham Stringer said he did not believe a coalition with the Lib Dems would work and could damage the party: "I don't think it makes sense in the arithmetic - the numbers don't add up."

The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.

Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28.

If Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces, they would still not have an overall majority.

With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 328, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/u ... 672859.stm

An unelected PM, he was crap...

[Sean]

Every time I hear his name I hear a certain Stranglers song in my head where it stays for hours...

[Gob]

Gordon Brown
texture like sun
Lays me down
with my mind
he runs throughout the night
No need to fight
Never a frown with Gordon Brown

Every time just like the last
On his ship tied to the mast
To distant lands
Takes both my hands
Never a frown with Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown
finer temptress
Through the ages
he's heading West

From far away
Stays for a day
Never a frown with Gordon Brown

Never a frown
With Gordon Brown
Never a frown
With Gordon Brown

[The Hen]

Never a frown with that ol' misery chops.

Shit. I know being a leader is hard work, but could he have broken into a smile once or twice?

[Crackpot]

I guess Stewart had it right

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-a ... 10-downing

[Sue U]

Every time I hear his name I hear a certain Stranglers song in my head where it stays for hours...

Hanging Around?

I Feel Like A Wog?

Something Better Change?

Down in the Sewer?

Peaches?



So many on so many different levels -- doesn't have to be the pretty ditty about smack, though that certainly works too.

[Daisy]

Well that's that then.

Nick Clegg has been farting around like a kid in a sweetshop when he's been told he can only have one.
Gordon fell on his sword and announced he was resigning as leader of the Labour Party to try and salvage a coalition with the LD's.
David Cameron's smug twatty face will be beaming out from the sun newspaper tomorrow, hardly realising that all he's ended up with is a toothless lion.

And how many left leaning Lib Dems will cross the floor over the coming weeks and months.

it's in the Labour party's best interest to stay out of govt for a bit, elect a new leader (with any luck it will be Dave Milliband) and be ready for a scratch election in less than 12 months by which time the population will be so sick of the stifled hobbled horse of a coalition they'll head back to voting for New New Labour once again.

[thestoat]

it's in the Labour party's best interest to stay out of govt for a bit

That's a good point. I am surprised anyone wanted the job - the UK really has no paddle, but we're firmly up the creek. I heard one pundit saying Cameron should take the UK cap in hand to the IMF. That way he could pin the troubles firmly at Brown's door and any measures he then takes could be blamed on Brown. The last Labour lot bankrupted us (we had to go cap in hand to the IMF then too) and they could easily spin it to say "every time in the last 25 years that we have had Labour we've been bankrupted".

[Gob]

Whatever austerity measures Cameron has to take will be blamed on Brown, with some justification, Labour have been in power for 13 years.

I wonder what they will do about returning the UK gold reserves?

[thestoat]

I wonder what they will do about returning the UK gold reserves?

Can't we just invade somewhere and nick their gold? It worked in the 1700's

[Gob]

I thought that's what we were doing in Iraq?

[thestoat]

Good point

[Gob]

He's harder to get rid of than a wasp...

Brown to remain as backbench MP

The former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed he will not be standing down as an MP in an address to college students in his home constituency.

Mr Brown and wife Sarah were making their first public appearance since leaving Downing Street.

He told the students at Adam Smith College in Kirkcaldy, Fife, that he intended to sit on the backbenches.

Mr Brown resigned as both prime minister and Labour Party leader on Tuesday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8681018.stm

[rubato]

He did the right thing responding to the financial crisis.

If that turns out to be his One Big Moment he can be proud of his career.


yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

Do you think so? I thought his selling of the UK's gold at the bottom of the market, was financial suicide. Though it worked for me, as It means interest rates in the UK will be slow to rise.