tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post1498518998843483678..comments2024-03-27T09:14:27.496+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: Leadership Challenge No. 2,497Philhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-33853872995481567052010-01-08T09:40:34.878+00:002010-01-08T09:40:34.878+00:00Tell me about it, Simon. I almost feel sorry for t...Tell me about it, Simon. I almost feel sorry for the guy.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-23991177724786708282010-01-07T09:52:31.024+00:002010-01-07T09:52:31.024+00:00While the difference between Blairites and Brownit...While the difference between Blairites and Brownites may be wafer thin, there is one significant difference in the Brown is a pragmatic statesman who is not averse to social-democratic policies per se, while the Blairites are neo-liberal ideologues.<br /><br />I know it's General Election season when I find myself defending Brown this much...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17961828826925034002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-26196068042380710932010-01-07T09:51:35.300+00:002010-01-07T09:51:35.300+00:00Perhaps I should have said there was a tendency in...Perhaps I should have said there was a tendency in the polls indicating a narrowing of support. There is certainly a degree of volatility in the numbers - showing narrowing one week, widening the next. This is indicative the feelings "out there" - a diffused dissatisfaction with Labour's performance over the last 12 years but no real enthusiasm for the Tories either. In many ways it's a perfect storm for a left alternative - had one been in place and built a profile over a decade's worth of hard graft. Instead we've pissed the opportunity up the wall.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-89644899514824613802010-01-06T22:47:15.931+00:002010-01-06T22:47:15.931+00:00Interesting comments, though I'm not convinced...Interesting comments, though I'm not convinced it's true that polls consistently show a narrowing of the Tories' lead. The polls have varied, but overall there's a slight difference compared to a few months back. It's still, however, as good as inevitable the Tories will win a majority - I'll be amazed if this doesn't happen. <br /><br />I don't think there's any meaningful distinction to be made between the 'Brownites' and the 'Blairites' like Hoon and Hewitt. I don't see them as any more odious than Brown and current Cabinet members. Also, I really can't see any of this helping Brown - it just makes all of them look bad and feeds cynicism.luna17https://www.blogger.com/profile/03754650933188634442noreply@blogger.com