As the Crewe byelection approaches its boiling point on Thursday, tales are mounting of fear and loathing on the campaign trail - and that's just between MPs from the same party.
On the Labour side, known Blairites are getting no thanks from the beleaguered Brown faction for putting their shoulders to the wheel.
Alan Milburn and Steve Byers, the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of the old religion, were busy canvassing in the constituency yesterday.
But only so they can criticize with authority once the seat is lost, according to paranoid Brownies. Rumours are even circulating that Milburn or Charles Clarke may be preparing to challenge Brown as party leader.
Meanwhile Labour Deputy Leader Harriet Harman has cancelled her visit to the battleground today. Is it because she is too posh? She is a graduate of St Paul's School for Girls, Britain's top private school for women.
Labour's top hat toting "Tory Toff" attack campaign may have backfired but there are limits, according to a tale against himself told by Grandee Nicholas Soames.
Churchill's grandson, Lord's son, friend of Prince Charles, Eton and the 11th Hussars - Soames put himself at the disposal of the Tory campaign on Monday.
As David Cameron was about to set off on a walkabout, Soames enthusiastically volunteered: "Shall I come too?"
Dave and his team looked up and down Soames' impressive frame: "Er...No thank you, Nick!"
Trevor
The hour arrived...get rid of the man.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 23 May 2008 10:44:19
Well, it's Thursday tomorrow.
The hour is nigh, the die is cast.
And I see that Prudence has declined to go to Crewe and Nantwich.
That's true to form - "Cometh the hour, hideth the man" !
Bring it on !
Posted by: Trevor 21 May 2008 20:24:00
TJ
The tragedy is that the Morning Mike and the Simpson Mail really believe this stuff. I used to live a few doors away from a man who thought that purple was the colour of the devil - it was an obession and he was fined on several occasions for damage to other's property. His obsession was absolutely real to him and he could speak calmly and with conviction about it. He was scary to me when I was a teenager.
The twins are not even calm - that is very scary.
Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 21 May 2008 10:59:53
Well I admit it! I was completly wrong regarding Mike Simpson, he wasn't having a laugh at other peoples expense.
Still one mistake in 82 years isn't too bad, I'll just try and not make a habit of it!
Posted by: T.J. from Ireland 21 May 2008 09:45:25
Victor
Do I detect you are on to these Labour "die hards". Gone are the days on here where they can rely on the support of the likes of Effie. It is every man for himself for Labour. LOL
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 17:44:04
Elizabeth
It will also be the same cold tripe served up by the Morning Mike saying how great Brown was and how he roundly defeated Cameron - not Cameron of course but 12 other brilliant names for him, witty, fresh and original.
The Simpson Mail will then congratulate him and Craig will congratulate both of them on their wit and sagacity. Perhaps Rae might even congratulate her/his house-mate, Craig.
Crewe and Nantwich will confirm that they are right as it will be a great triumph for Brown and Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody-Blah-Blah since she was not beaten by more than a couple of thousand votes.
Posted by: Victor, NW Kent 20 May 2008 17:27:26
Mike Simpson
You are delusional..."in my heart I miss Effie"...LOL.
It will be the same old response from Gordon Brown at PMQ's...no response, as he never answers the questions, probably because he doesn't know the answers, curtain up let the show begin!
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 15:48:57
Well its nice to see that in Labours UK the Labour candidate can afford a house within the same price range as the Tory candidate, equality at last.
Posted by: Bruce Hulmes 20 May 2008 15:34:22
Mike Simpson
Update:
Bookies have a book open on Gordon Brown chances of being replaced, must be something in my theory after all about Harriet Harman! Roll on Thursday...night of the long knives.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 15:23:58
Ha, ha, ha , Mike Simpson, keep up the good work squire, as you always brighten up my day with your ever more delusional and devoid of reality postings.
Exactly as to what message is the "Tories soft on yobs" National Front nostalgia poster of a fist punching through a wall with apparent black blood dripping from it saying to the electorate of Crewe about your beloved party?
As for Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey who is the daughter of an MP and a Dr, who's grandparents include a Baroness and the General Secretary of Labour it is a bit rich ( pun intended ) to accuse Mr Timpson of being "an upper class snob", is it not.
I'm glad to see the amateurish and childish "class warfare" attacks have blown up in their faces, as unlike you Mike, the vast majority of people couldn't care less as long as a person is good and competant at what they do and they will then be judged accordingly.
I wonder if there is any truth to the rumours circulating that Milburn may challenge Brown at the weekend should there be a disaster on Thursday?, that would certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Posted by: Dave, Wirral 20 May 2008 15:11:33
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 14:17:30
My dearest Violet Elizabeth, I am sure you miss Effie in your heart of hearts - after all she blogged from the heart in true gutsy style, I really wish she would return to this blog; she is sadly missed from it. Seeing that you ask, I am looking forward to tomorrow's PMQs and I hope Adam is doing the show later on Sky News.
If Gordon "Battler" Brown is true to form, he will spell out how big a chancer and opportunist the Leader of the Opposition is, one David "Charlatan" Cameron. I am very much looking forward to battle commencing!
Posted by: Mike Simpson 20 May 2008 15:08:23
Adam,
Maybe Mr. Soames turning up wearing his Hussars uniform convinced David that his joining them was not such a good idea!
Posted by: Merv. Beszant, Dubai 20 May 2008 15:07:31
So much going on forgot PMQ cameron and clegg has to be careful for thurs, Brown has nothing to lose
Posted by: neither/niether 20 May 2008 14:31:38
Mike Simpson
I haven't been called "Violet" since her majesty left the blog for greener pastures!
Many a true word spoken in jest...watch what will happen to Brown if Labour lose the Crewe bye-election.
The Labour troops will be baying for his blood, it will be "anybody but Gordon". Then the fun will begin as the "wannabes" scrap over the top job.
Looking forward to PMQ's tomorrow Mike?
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 14:17:30
Deep south
Don't think it will be a true reflection of the popularity of either the conservatives or liberals. It is a safe opportunity in letting the voters heard that they are very angry with the present goverment.
The test is if whoever wins can hold onto it at a general election.
the people of Crew know a midterm election will not change the goverment.
As a tory I hope they do win, but am under no illilusion that it will become true blue.
Labour know that as well, and have 2 years to regain the seat.
Whoever is the winning party will have to convince that they will be best for their needs in the future, and less along party lines.
It will give the Tories should they win, the chance they would never had dreamed of, and a foot in the door.
Blair oldies will be after Brown, not the cons or Libs, should they lose.
At the next election I believe one of the old failed one's will be leading Labour as they will have nothing to lose.
God help us all!!
Posted by: neither/niether 20 May 2008 13:40:39
"JC, Deep South 20 May 2008 12:45:34" - I totally agree with all that; it is a buck-pass just waiting to happen.
Gordon Brown said that the council election defeats had nothing to do with him (all the americans' fault instead apparently), so a single by-election will obviously get passed off as someone else's fault too.
It'll be interesting to see how it pans out though; if it's really bad then it might kick the backbenchers into actually electing a leader instead of accepting a coup, but I won't hold my breath on that front; labour MPs have absolutely no backbone.
Not sure who I'd prefer as leader; Charles Clarke or Gordon Brown; Clarke would lock up the whole country in prison for dissent, Brown will wreck the economy so badly that everybody's on welfare. What a choice that'd be.
Posted by: Steve, London 20 May 2008 13:13:08
It beggars belief that in the same month as it is made public knowledge that our ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair has just bought another bargain house, a snip at £4million (this takes his total number of houses to 6, I think), that anyone in New Labour could or would accuse anyone of any other political persuasion of being a Toff.
The New Labour guy running this by-election on the party's behalf is a Government Whip a role meant to guide and maintain order within the ranks. If Mr McCabe is this out of touch with the real world and so dis-dainful of the public's perception of such matters, then the voters of Crewe & Nantwich should disown him and his party on thursday.
A footnote; my guess is the Conservative candidate for Crewe & Nantwich does not feel the need to own 6 houses and even although the family business is shoes probably has less of these than Mr McCabe.
Posted by: Robert, Scotland 20 May 2008 13:10:43
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 12:06:14
That's nonsense Violet-Elizabeth, but entirely predictable from you.
I think that the Labour campaign has been rather gutsy and apt, painting the Tory candidate as an upper-class snob, who has frankly no idea of what the vast majority of people in Crewe & Nantwich want and aspire to. Tory MP's are well known to line their pockets at public expense, whilst doing very little work. The constituency of Crewe & Nantwich deserve a hard-working MP, and only one candidate fits the bill - Tamsin Dunwoody.
Regardless of the outcome on Thursday, Crewe & Nantwich will be a Labour seat come the general election albeit that the Tories may benefit from a temporary protest vote in the interim. If the Lib Dems in the constituency vote for the NuCONS they will be relegating their party to 3rd place oblivion.
Posted by: Mike Simpson 20 May 2008 13:07:20
I wouldn't be surprised if Labour's whole negative campaign has been orchestrated so they have an excuse for losing the by-election & so by taking the heat of Brown when they do.
Cue the usual Labour suspects lining up for interviews on Friday morning - "Well, mistakes were made with the campaign which obviously didn't go down well with the electorate and they've shown us what they think. What's that? No, I don't think they were telling us they have a problem with Gordon Brown..."
Steve McCabe is the guy behind the campaign. If I were he, I'd be preparing myself to take the wrap for Labour losing Crewe & Nantwich. One thing is for certain, Gordon Brown won't be standing up and taking responsibility, he'll be looking to pass the buck as quickly as possible.
Posted by: JC, Deep South 20 May 2008 12:45:34
Harriet Harman was probably too busy to pop into Crewe, she is more than likely collecting names for her campaign for the leadership of the party, won't be long now Gordon before someone mounts an attack from the rear, beware the "Ides of May"
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 12:06:14
Milburn & Byers...sounds like a music hall turn. Did the show the flag and sing the Labour party anthem to reassure the people of Crewe and Nantwich that they are the same old Labour party of the people, tax,tax and more tax.
Posted by: Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 20 May 2008 10:58:41
Saw this on Guido a few days ago - No wonder Harman & Co are running away from that style of campaigning. How much money does Bottler have in the bank?
"The Labour Party's efforts in Crewe and Nantwich to paint the local candidate as a "Tory Toff" required them to dress up a couple of Young Socialists in top hats and parade them around as fake toffs in an Andy Coulson style gimmick. Seems all of a bit of a waste of time when not far away they have a real Toff of their own they could have used.
Step forward Mark Fisher, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent, the Eton and Oxbridge educated son of a Tory MP is a gent to his finger-tips."
Posted by: E Welshman 20 May 2008 10:58:27
Im with [Shed Seven-Going For Gold]
Posted by: Khalid 20 May 2008 10:57:09