The Wilted Rose

A man of honour and with a lifetime of political experience, Frank Field, has been attacked by a minnow, Ed Balls who was only elected in 2005 (they used to attack Mrs Dunwoody too (off the record), remember, for she did not kowtow to the ‘leadership’, spoke her mind and stood up for her constituents).  Nick Robinson describes how Balls has ‘taken up the gauntlet’, as Balls accuses Mr Field of “settling old scores”, and impugning his fellow Labour MP’s integrity.  Such unparliamentary language is often used outside the Chamber, often in off-microphone briefings, but rarely between members of the same political party.

The fact that ‘So What?’ Balls has the gall to attack Mr Field, who was a superb Welfare Secretary until stuck-in-the-past Brown forced him out because the proposed reforms were too radical.  Hundreds of thousands would probably not be stuck in welfare if New Labour had acted on Mr Field’s agenda, and the Government would be credited with a remarkable achievement.  As it is, the Brown/Balls Axis can take credit for the 10p tax band abolition and the mess the current economy is in.

Balls also criticises Darling’s pre-budget report, but the hapless Chancellor is a victim of his predecessor’s dodgy policies.  In addition, Balls concedes that the Crewe & Nantwich by-election is lost … and then backpedals (slapped down no doubt by his boss) … What a comedy act.  The Brown/Balls Axis could be this century’s Laurel & Hardy, if governing this country were not so serious.

This weekend has seen unprecedented attacks on a sitting Prime Minister.  Well, unprecedented since that backstabber Heseltine - what was he doing on Question Time anyway? - and his Europhile buddies launched a Brutus-like attack akin that on Julius Caesar.  Brutus didn’t obtain the caesarship but Octavian - Caesar Augustus.  (You can tell I’ve been reading Boris’s brilliant The Dream of Rome on the bus).

In the case of the ousting of Margaret Thatcher, it was all about ambition and moving Britain in a closer direction with Europe.  Thankfully, both objectives backfired and we do not have the euro or a never had Heseltine premiership. 

Alas, we had Major and thus Blair.  Worse still, the wilderness years for Conservatives led to Brown - and he is the biggest threat to the country, the economy, and society (social breakdown just gets worse; e.g. the latest senseless murder in London, this time committed with a glass tray from a bakery rather than a knife or gun).

There is no such ambition or other ulterior motive for Labour, just political survival, because Brown (or the gutter tabloid press) has eliminated any competition.  Just imagine how different the country (and the Labour Party) would be under a Byers prime ministership - the North Tyneside MP would have been a far more competent and respected leader.  But Brown had to have the crown, and one dreads who his successor might be: Milipede, Balls, goodness knows?

Cherie Blair, John Prescott and Lord Levy have all attacked Brown in their memoirs but they have little credibility left.  Frank Field is one of few Labour MPs left who has the guts to speak out - and good on him - saying what point is there being a Labour MP any more? For the good of the country, Brown must be ousted.

One Labour MP who would have been appalled by the current Labour shambles is alas no longer alive to see this mess.  The Government even tried to stop her re-election as Chair of the Transport Committee, but Labour MPs sensibly rebelled. 

It is time that they rebelled again and vote down the Budget and replace the Prime Minister with someone who actually commands some respect and support from Labour voters (55% of who wish to see him gone ).  It is ironic and tragic that the site of the next electoral battle which may seal Brown’s fate is the late Mrs Dunwoody’s former constituency of Crewe & Nantwich.