Night of the Long Knives (part the second)

Well folks, it only seems a moment ago that Chucky K. was lying bleeding on the floor of the Senate (or "Cowley Street" as it is sometimes known) muttering the words et tu Ming? as his political lifeblood drained away.

The tables having turned less than two years later, it is now Campbell who's been knifed, earning him a cold blast of schadenfreude from Chucky and engendering much speculation in the media and the blogosphere about how this rapid removal came to pass.

The general consensus (even allowing for Estelle Morris Syndrome, where everybody suddenly remembers how they thought the unfortunate casualty was a jolly good chap after the point of departure) seems to be that whilst Kennedy had it coming, Ming was a slightly more complicated one.

Kennedy had been given plenty of opportunities to mend his ways, but the party finally decided they couldn't cope with him turning up to any more events, er, "tired and emotional" in January 2006; it would appear by contrast that Ming was a victim of pained indifference.

Ming's departure, by all accounts, was down to lack of enthusiasm amongst his Parliamentary colleagues. Rather than sending leaflets for the Betty Ford Clinic in the internal mail, the main protagonists who Campbell sounded out over the weekend were more "meh, whatever" than actively baying for blood.

Peter Riddell in the Times argues that Ming's position was only assured as long as the prospect of a November poll remained an option. As soon as Chickengate came to pass and the Gord announced that he wanted another 329874923 years to outline his "vision," Campbell's days were numbered.

The first to nail his trousers to the mast was LibDem peer Lord Taverne (77) who broke cover yesterday afternoon on the World at One to say that Ming (66) was too old and should stand down. This followed Simon Hughes announcing on Saturday that Campbell "must do better" and deputy leader Vince Cable saying yesterday that his future was "under discussion." Seems that it was less of a knifing that an invitation that the lost leader fall upon his sword.

As the LibDem poll ratings slumped to a pisspoor 11 percent, Ming did the noble thing and resigned yesterday evening. "A brutal but bloodless coup," reckoned the Times, reporting on speculation that one-time contender for the leadership Chris Huhne had precipitated events by being in "open revolt" agin Campbell. There was even talk of some sort of web campaign initiated by opponents of Ming that would allow activists to oust him in a manner similar to that used to get rid of Gray Davis (the former Governor of California) according to the Times.

Like all bad sexual experiences, the aftermath appears to be messier than the ultimate act. LibDem MP Mike Hancock colourfully described those whose whisperings started the ball rolling as "a shower of shits," and there's speculation ahoy with regard to the successor. Whilst Nick Clegg is the frontrunner, it's expected that Huhne, and Steve Webb will have a bash and even talk of Chucky K: The Return and...Vince Cable! Presumably he's up for a re-enactment of the Night of the Long Knives (2006 edition) in which Ming the Merciless whooped the ass and then stole the crown from his predecessor. Ah, the eternal return, eh?

Still, the LibDems have some sort of drawn out process for deciding on their next commander-in-chief which means we won't know who it is until 17th December - over two months away. Plenty of time for things to get nastier still.

In the meantime, this from a LibDem insider (via Iain Dale) is an interesting read on the current situation...so sit tight coz here we go again!

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 16 Oct 2007 11:13 AM. Permalink