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Today, a left wing lady journalist Mary Riddell who apparently writes for the Guardian and the New Statesman wrote a piece in the Telegraph in praise of Gordon Brown. It was not truth to tell a display of journalistic skill but I say that not because of the content rather because it failed to persuade me that the “Son of the Manse” was just having a rough patch and that he will come through it all wonderfully in the end. Whilst this loyally reflects the “Getting on with the job of Government” slogan that No.10 likes to fall back on at each blow of “Outrageous Fortune” it all rather flies in the face of reason and regardless of one’s personal political preferences.

The problem is that the “story” has moved on and Brown’s credibility has been severely damaged in the process and he is starting to become a figure of fun, today the acting Lib Dem leader Vincent Cable said Mr Brown had gone “from Stalin to Mr Bean” in a matter of weeks. You can oppose the Government of the day and argue fiercely for different policies, believe with a passion that the incumbent PM is a monster even, but the Office of Prime Minister carries with it awesome powers, no incumbent will survive long once they have lost respect and are seen as a bit of a joke.

The Parallel a Tory

John Major when he took over from Maggie was obviously a Senior front bench Tory, by then but, he had not been instrumental with her in constructing a “Thatcher Vision” before they came to power as Brown did with Blair and New Labour. The consequence and against all the odds, Major was able to win his own mandate albeit with a small majority. In comparison, Brown will never be able to do this, he is trapped by his own past and all the talk of “His Vision” is meaningless, we have had this for over 10 years already as no domestic policy was passed without his ownership and approval during that time.

Brown had a window of opportunity which was to announce a General Election at the Labour Party Conference, right then he would have been unstoppable although his majority may well have been reduced beyond just the 20 seats attributable to boundary changes. But Brown lacked the courage and as Winston said: “There is a tide in the affairs of men…” and his moment passed forever. Whilst the Press will bang on about scandals such as Donations, Armed Forces Funding, The EU Constitution, Northern Rock, Child Benefit Data, ID Cards, Internment without Trial, the Devolution mess and on and on, none of these issues will finish him or New Labour off, they are just things the next Government will have to clean up after them.

The Labour Brand is ‘Fried’

The key factor is that quite simply the electorate as a whole are just totally bored with the Labour Party, new or old. The view has already formed that Labour has had its turn and run out of ideas so time for a fresh start. These “calamities” afflicting the Government are a parallel for the “Injury and Fitness” problems Steve McClaren faced as the England Manager. In reality it is the players that failed to qualify for Euro 2008, they just weren’t good enough but if you are going to make a fresh start, change the Manager, the chap at the top. Britain too needs change and a fresh start and Gordon Brown doesn’t look or sound right, he is far too dour, introverted and lacks the ability to lift and inspire people. We want a speech from Henry V not from the “Scottish Play”, the Woods of Dunsinane are fast approaching this usurper to the Blair Throne.