A prediction
Sep. 25th, 2008 09:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
John Cruddas to join the Cabinet in next week's reshuffle, in a significant role. You saw it here first1. A year ago, it would have been unthinkable -- a Bateman cartoon made flesh. But with the current financio-political situation, the time could just be right for a gesture that reaches out to Labour's base, adds some support to the contention that they are actually concered about ordinary people's welfare, etc. I'm not sure I would expect any other prominent left-wingers to be brought in -- but Alan Johnson might get promoted I guess, as he must surely be the heir presumptive now that David Milliband appears to have shot his bolt?
1 Unless you saw it somewhere else first. Please don't tell me that this theory has already been all over the papers.
1 Unless you saw it somewhere else first. Please don't tell me that this theory has already been all over the papers.
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Subversive Caption Guy thinks he could be the next Prime Minister!
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Date: 2008-09-26 07:37 am (UTC)We love you Subversive Caption GUy!
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Date: 2008-09-25 09:30 pm (UTC)small black holes in the economy might happen, and another risk is strange
mattermillibands, but the latter are thought to be incredibly unlikely.Actually, my attempt at a conceipt has run away with me. Clearly they will wait till next year's party conference before doing something, /deciding whether they will or not, and in these volatile times, who knows where we will be by then. About the time the LHC may be up to speed.
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Date: 2008-09-26 07:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-26 08:40 am (UTC)I mean even without inadvertently inviting comparisons between himself and Heseltine, the man positively exudes oiliness. The sort of person who makes you subconsciously wipe your palm on your trouser leg after shaking his hand.
He seems to be trying as hard as he can to position himself optimally for a leadership bid, without actually being seen holding the knife himself, but there are clearly Labour MPs who would line up behind him, though I have no idea how many. I'm not even sure what proportion of the parliamentary Labour party are actually vaguely Socialist anymore, compared to the pseudo-thatcherites that Blair left us.
Still... Cruddas you reckon? I'll watch with interest.
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Date: 2008-09-26 09:05 am (UTC)I think Milliband or anyone will find it difficult to convincingly present themselves as a sharp change from Blair / Brownism while continuing to serve those policies in the Cabinet. Having been fooled once by expecting Brown to break with Blairism once he got in, but that then not happening, I don't think the party will buy it again. Milliband's attempts to subtly position himself will only heighten the creepy impression that you identify.
Of course, if the economic gloom persists and Brown can appear to be acting decisively, he might start making up opinion-poll ground on the Tories and keep the job himself. It's an ill wind, etc...