Not the right time for a change of leadership

Sep 22 2008 by Jim Hancock, Liverpool Daily Post

BLAIRITE lick-spittles was the unflattering description handed out at the weekend to those Labour MPs who asked for leadership nomination forms.

The comment came at a meeting of left-wing activists, who, while no great fans of Gordon Brown, saw no point in changing the leader when it’s the underlying economic problems that are worrying voters.

This attack from the left, and the determination of most of the Labour Party to portray unity at the Manchester conference, has put the likes of Peter Kilfoyle (Walton), George Howarth (Knowsley North and Sefton East) and Frank Field (Birkenhead) on the back foot.

The request for nomination forms is seen by supporters of the Prime Minister as crossing the political Rubicon from grumbling dissent to outright rebellion.

Our three rebels have got form when it comes to scepticism about Brown’s Premiership.

Peter Kilfoyle was one of the few Labour MPs who didn’t jump on the Brown bandwagon last year and nominate him for Prime Minister.

Frank Field apologised after asserting that Brown was unhappy as PM and prone to rages. But the Birkenhead MP was the leader of the revolt against Brown’s biggest mistake, the abolition of the 10p tax rate.

George Howarth was one of the first to be fingered as a rebel back in July, when he was forced to deny that he was canvassing support for a change of leader.

So there is an element of predictability in the actions of the Merseyside Three. Things would be more serious if ministers like Jane Kennedy (Wavertree) or thoughtful backbenchers like Ben Chapman (Wirral South) were to join them. But there is little sign, at the moment, of the dozen or so backbench rebels increasing their number. They may have got the message that conference week isn’t the right time to make a move.

Jane Kennedy has much to worry about if the Lib-Dems are to be believed. Last week, in Bournemouth, I was having my ear bent with talk of the Northern Strategy. With Labour’s opinion poll rating down to 24% in one recent poll, the Lib-Dems sense an opportunity.

Wavertree is the party’s top target in the North West. But a weekend poll which predicted a Labour meltdown indicated Jane Kennedy would survive. The probable explanation is the rise in "wasted" Tory votes thwarting the Lib-Dems’ ambitions.

It was a significant conference for the Lib-Dems. In my opinion, they have moved decisively to the right with their promise of tax cuts.

The Bournemouth conference had a surreal quality.

The delegates sat outside in the calm, sunny weather but, as soon as they turned the TV on, there was news of yet another bank collapse as the financial world was thrown into turmoil.

It is against that background that the Chancellor speaks today. Although the Lib-Dems have the impressive Vince Cable in their ranks, it’s Alistair Darling that actually has to grapple with these huge problems.