John Rentoul
John Rentoul is chief political commentator for The Independent on Sunday, and visiting fellow at Queen Mary, University of London, where he teaches contemporary history. Previously he was chief leader writer for The Independent. He has written a biography of Tony Blair, whom he admired more at the end of his time in office than he did at the beginning.
You can contact John in the comments area or email him at j.rentoul@independent.co.uk
You can contact John in the comments area or email him at j.rentoul@independent.co.uk
A significant opinion poll of Labour Party members by YouGov for Channel 4 News. Before the internet, these were difficult polls to do. I know because at BBC On The Record we carried out one with Gallup on the Labour leadership question in 1994. I have no idea how representative YouGov's sample of 809 is, but it's the best information we have.
The headline news, of course, is that 47 per cent want Gordon Brown to step down before the general election, as against 46 per cent that want him to lead them into that election. Those are not good figures for the Prime Minister, as party members, even in these fluid times, tend to loyalty.
Most entertaining, however, is the finding that 53 per cent believe that the party would be in a better position "if Tony Blair were still leader"; 19 per cent say "worse" and 23 per cent say it would make "no difference".
As Blair said yesterday, when I went to see him speak at a Policy Network conference on climate change at the London School of Economics, and he came to the rostrum to warm applause:
The headline news, of course, is that 47 per cent want Gordon Brown to step down before the general election, as against 46 per cent that want him to lead them into that election. Those are not good figures for the Prime Minister, as party members, even in these fluid times, tend to loyalty.
Most entertaining, however, is the finding that 53 per cent believe that the party would be in a better position "if Tony Blair were still leader"; 19 per cent say "worse" and 23 per cent say it would make "no difference".
As Blair said yesterday, when I went to see him speak at a Policy Network conference on climate change at the London School of Economics, and he came to the rostrum to warm applause:
"Very kind indeed. You obviously don't remember me."
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ron_broxted : Rent boy. [+0] - kassto : (no subject) [+0]
- rhysjaggar : They want to keep their seats and access to power....... [+0]
- c_a_r_e : poor old Gordon [+0]
- zansal : Blair at the LSE? [+0]
- famulla : Which half the winner or the losers [+0]
- famulla : Half of Labour members want Tony Blair back. I guess they are like me. I always make mistake when I [+0]
- famulla : TONY took us all to war. Deny this? We are therefore broke, insolvent, no money. Deny that? Do we wa [+0]
- famulla : Blair 'Urges PM To Hold Secret Iraq Inquiry' Sir John Major: It Was A Very Silly Decision [+0]
- famulla : This Bercow good man. Tony bad burrow.??? [+0]
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Comments
Would he have done so if Cameron had been around in 2001, not 2005? I don't know. Quite possibly.
I wonder if BLAIR would wish to be back now. He had his VC-style riding of the wave. And got out at the top.
Mr Brown bought at the top of the market and now it's all falling in around him. Bad luck.
I guess Mr Blair might come back as he might feel that 'things can only get better.....'
But he might find that people don't need him in the Labour party any more, because they think they can now get what he offered from the Tories.
Whether they can or not I don't know, as we never hear anything substantial from ANY politician.
But I don't think it would be a gimme for Blair to just walk back in and do the same again.........
if he had his eyebrows shaped and spent a couple of days in the BB house, everyone would love him
Must be these Labour people want him back want him back to throw rotten tomatoes at him.
Can't think of any other reason.
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla
I guess they are like me. I always make mistake when I spell Tony Blaire and Dell Carnegie says to a man his name is most important. Even the dogs like good names. Nevertheless, will Tony Blaire come after a very long holiday in the Red Sea and the breeze of the Mediterranean? Even St. Peters is playing games with Windows and doors
Bill Gates goes to purgatory.
St. Peter says, "Now Bill, you have done some good things, and you have done some bad things. Now I am going to let you decide where you want to go".
First, St. Peter shows Bill an image of Hell with beautiful women running on beaches. Then, St Peter shows Bill an image of Heaven with robed angels playing harps on clouds.
Bill chooses Hell.
About a week later, St. Peter checks in on Bill in Hell and finds him being whipped by demons.
Bill says to St. Peter, "What happened to all the beautiful women and the beaches?"
St. Peter replies, "That was just the screen saver."
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
Speaker To Restore Trust.
How many do we need? I read ten stand. How many are still sitting and will come to the speaker’s mike?
Ten candidates are standing for election as Speaker of the House
Tony Blair has reportedly urged Gordon Brown to hold the Iraq War inquiry in secret. According to reports, the former Prime Minister who took Britain into the conflict warned that the long-awaited hearings would become a "show trial" if they were held in public.
Blair 'Urges PM To Hold Secret Iraq Inquiry' Sir John Major: It Was A Very Silly Decision The attack was led by former premier Sir John Major and the head of the last official inquiry on the war, Lord Butler of Brockwell, who accused ministers of putting the Government's political interest ahead of the national interest.
Okay read this and let me know if you are proud to be British?
The cartoonMonday, June 22, 2009, depicts the ills of the leader led to the speakers’ podium, naked. Is this British? The Great Britain?
I thank you.
Firozali A.Mulla
Mr Bercow enjoys popularity on the Labour benches
But he also has that other, possibly more risky, task of persuading all sides he really is independent and non-partisan.
This Bercow good man. Tony bad burrow.
Tell me who are the whistleblowers?
Lo behold I feel better already
I thank you
Firozali A Mulla