mr brown wont step down the AA grumpy column
Posted: Sun May 31, 2009 10:04 am
hello and welcome to the gardens of grumpy towers on this glorious sunday afternoon.
with the elections just around the corner i decided to stay with the political theme for a few days .
DEFIANT Gordon Brown today insisted he won't stand down as PM - even if his Cabinet told him to.
The under fire leader said he would refuse to move aside even if senior Labour figures said it would help the party stay in power.
Instead Mr Brown said his focus was on tackling the recession and pushing through a programme of constitutional reform.
A poll today put Labour in THIRD PLACE behind the Tories and the Lib Dems for the first time in 22 years.
And Foreign Secretary David Miliband also publically called for a "new approach to politics" today.
The party is expecting a hammering at this week's local and European elections - sparking speculation about a possible leadership challenge.
But asked if he would stand aside if Cabinet members said it would help Labour's chances at a General Election, Mr Brown replied: "No, because I am dealing with the issues at hand. I am dealing with the economy every day."
Having already set out his plans for constitutional reform, the PM added: "I am dealing with the issues, and I am also dealing... with these constitutional issues.
"I am leading a debate on that but it has got to be thought through. It cannot be gimmicks.
"It's got to be serious, it has got to be ordered, and it has got to done in a calm way."
Another poll has suggested that Labour could finish behind the UK Independence Party in Thursday's Euro poll as it bears the brunt of public fury over MPs' expenses.
Asked whether his party was facing slaughter at the ballot box, Mr Brown replied: "Let's look at what's happening around us.
"We have got an economic crisis. We are dealing with this.
"I believe that when people see the action that we have taken and the results that have come from it, people will see that this is a Government that has acted faster than other governments and has taken action that is necessary."
He acknowledged that voters were angry about seeing public money "wasted" on their MPs during a time of recession but urged them not to support parties who were intent on withdrawing from Europe.
"Our economic recovery depends on being part of Europe," the PM said.
"I will not hesitate from putting forward the strong economic message we have.
"It has been drowned out in the last few weeks because of what's happened in Parliament.
"We have got to correct what's happened in Parliament, but I believe that when it comes to the next year people will look at what we have managed to achieve in getting out of what has been one of the worst world recessions we have seen."
He added: "Things go up and down.
"I would say that we have had good periods and we have had difficult periods but we are going through the most difficult economic circumstances the country has faced."
Mr Brown was also asked whether he would carry out a Cabinet reshuffle if Labour suffered at the local and Euro elections.
He said it was not for television stations to predict the outcome of elections and insisted he had the experience to help Britain through the economic downturn.
"I think people will want to make their own votes and not be told by you what the results are going to be," the Prime Minister said.
"And I think the important thing is this: people are voting on how we are doing on the economy and trying to get through this.
"I accept that people have still got to see some of the results of what we have done.
"And people are voting on a party and a leader that is determined to clean up this system, and they are voting on a leader who has got the experience, who has taken people through economic difficulties before."
Brown insists: I won't step down | The Sun |News
AAG
so there you have it gordon brown leader of the labour party at the helm of the titanic refuses to step down.
this means we have to put up with another year of misery before we can get rid of this bumbling fool.
he clings to the door of number 10 as politically his carrer sinks around him.
we know gordon wants to stay in to see his constitutaional changes take place
before the next incoming government changes them back again.
the message is clear GO NOW GORDON the people are saying it the tabloids are saying it and even in the corridors of power theyre saying it
so why wont you listen??
with the elections just around the corner i decided to stay with the political theme for a few days .
DEFIANT Gordon Brown today insisted he won't stand down as PM - even if his Cabinet told him to.
The under fire leader said he would refuse to move aside even if senior Labour figures said it would help the party stay in power.
Instead Mr Brown said his focus was on tackling the recession and pushing through a programme of constitutional reform.
A poll today put Labour in THIRD PLACE behind the Tories and the Lib Dems for the first time in 22 years.
And Foreign Secretary David Miliband also publically called for a "new approach to politics" today.
The party is expecting a hammering at this week's local and European elections - sparking speculation about a possible leadership challenge.
But asked if he would stand aside if Cabinet members said it would help Labour's chances at a General Election, Mr Brown replied: "No, because I am dealing with the issues at hand. I am dealing with the economy every day."
Having already set out his plans for constitutional reform, the PM added: "I am dealing with the issues, and I am also dealing... with these constitutional issues.
"I am leading a debate on that but it has got to be thought through. It cannot be gimmicks.
"It's got to be serious, it has got to be ordered, and it has got to done in a calm way."
Another poll has suggested that Labour could finish behind the UK Independence Party in Thursday's Euro poll as it bears the brunt of public fury over MPs' expenses.
Asked whether his party was facing slaughter at the ballot box, Mr Brown replied: "Let's look at what's happening around us.
"We have got an economic crisis. We are dealing with this.
"I believe that when people see the action that we have taken and the results that have come from it, people will see that this is a Government that has acted faster than other governments and has taken action that is necessary."
He acknowledged that voters were angry about seeing public money "wasted" on their MPs during a time of recession but urged them not to support parties who were intent on withdrawing from Europe.
"Our economic recovery depends on being part of Europe," the PM said.
"I will not hesitate from putting forward the strong economic message we have.
"It has been drowned out in the last few weeks because of what's happened in Parliament.
"We have got to correct what's happened in Parliament, but I believe that when it comes to the next year people will look at what we have managed to achieve in getting out of what has been one of the worst world recessions we have seen."
He added: "Things go up and down.
"I would say that we have had good periods and we have had difficult periods but we are going through the most difficult economic circumstances the country has faced."
Mr Brown was also asked whether he would carry out a Cabinet reshuffle if Labour suffered at the local and Euro elections.
He said it was not for television stations to predict the outcome of elections and insisted he had the experience to help Britain through the economic downturn.
"I think people will want to make their own votes and not be told by you what the results are going to be," the Prime Minister said.
"And I think the important thing is this: people are voting on how we are doing on the economy and trying to get through this.
"I accept that people have still got to see some of the results of what we have done.
"And people are voting on a party and a leader that is determined to clean up this system, and they are voting on a leader who has got the experience, who has taken people through economic difficulties before."
Brown insists: I won't step down | The Sun |News
AAG
so there you have it gordon brown leader of the labour party at the helm of the titanic refuses to step down.
this means we have to put up with another year of misery before we can get rid of this bumbling fool.
he clings to the door of number 10 as politically his carrer sinks around him.
we know gordon wants to stay in to see his constitutaional changes take place
before the next incoming government changes them back again.
the message is clear GO NOW GORDON the people are saying it the tabloids are saying it and even in the corridors of power theyre saying it
so why wont you listen??
