Gordon Brown

[naomi24]

It looks as though Gordon Brown will succeed Tony Blair. Does anyone relish the thought, and if so, why?

[Kromovaracun]

True, but it's not the only time it's happened - Callaghan, for example, got his premiership in the same way in '76.

Also I'd say a lot of the Labour voters in '05 knew full well that the economy (and most domestic affairs) would continue to be effectively run by Brown (though to be fair I suppose that's still not quite the premiership).

[kwicky]

As I said previously the majority of the spiel from politicians is rhetoric. They may change the policies at the edges and change priorities but the status quo continues. Partly this is the fault of the electors. Too right wing such as the BNP or UKIP will only register protest votes. Too left wing and the press will vilify them and make them unelectable. The people with wealth will threaten to leave the country and skilled worker will emigrate. Its like a balancing act but even Thatcher got here comeuppance when stretching her right wing financial ideas too far..

[Kromovaracun]

What 'status quo' do you mean? The econominc 'status quo'? That's stayed the same because it works...

The political 'status quo'? I can understand this appearing to be the same, though this is mostly due to the legacy of Mrs. Thatcher (which has proved one of the most enduring in British politics). Thus, to see this changing you have to go back a bit - Attlee, for example changed the political 'status quo', as did Wilson.

Nothing lasts forever, however.

[nuoyg]

I don't trust that dude any more that idiot features blair!