I think he's wasting his civil servants' time if rumour is correct. Constitutionally, he just needs the support of a majority in parliament. Trouble is Labour's constitution would be just as important in this scenario. If Labour has selected a leader, then the party expects those MPs to be loyal to the elected leader, not some has-been. In my experience the MPs will desert Blair in hours rather than days and 'persuade' the elected party leader to be PM. They know who they have to be loyal to in the long- term.
Yes, what anonymous said. As long as the House of Commons is okay with it, then Blair can be PM for as long as he likes. However it'll be a bit like Sir Bobby at Newcastle or Strachan at Southampton, if you say you're going at the end of the season, the vultures start circling overhead.
Look for Blair announcing his resignation in around January 2009, having outlasted Thatcher as the longest serving PM of the modern era. The election would be leisurely, the winner appointed PM in April, nice bounce in the opinion polls, tested out in the county council elections and euro elections, if they go well a snap election in September 2009, if not, then May 2010.
Yep, still have it, trouble is that my trips up to London are pretty infrequent. However how are you fixed on Friday 4th February to collect the money off me?
6 comments:
I think he's wasting his civil servants' time if rumour is correct. Constitutionally, he just needs the support of a majority in parliament. Trouble is Labour's constitution would be just as important in this scenario. If Labour has selected a leader, then the party expects those MPs to be loyal to the elected leader, not some has-been. In my experience the MPs will desert Blair in hours rather than days and 'persuade' the elected party leader to be PM. They know who they have to be loyal to in the long- term.
Yes, what anonymous said. As long as the House of Commons is okay with it, then Blair can be PM for as long as he likes. However it'll be a bit like Sir Bobby at Newcastle or Strachan at Southampton, if you say you're going at the end of the season, the vultures start circling overhead.
Look for Blair announcing his resignation in around January 2009, having outlasted Thatcher as the longest serving PM of the modern era. The election would be leisurely, the winner appointed PM in April, nice bounce in the opinion polls, tested out in the county council elections and euro elections, if they go well a snap election in September 2009, if not, then May 2010.
Hope your new crystal ball is better than the one you used to predict Blunkett surviving. Looking forward to collecting my £50 from you...
Yep, still have it, trouble is that my trips up to London are pretty infrequent. However how are you fixed on Friday 4th February to collect the money off me?
I think we can meet up!
Okay, email me with which hostelry you want to meet up at lunchtime on the 4th.