Something's come along and it's burst Ming's bubble

In spite of protestations from Ed Davy, it looks like Ming's time is up. The Telegraph are reporting that he's been asked to go quietly into that good night or face a leadership challenge within weeks. The Independent, meanwhile, claim it's not as bad as all that; he's been given six months to get his act together before action is taken, although the Observer reckon he's only got until Christmas.

Rumbles of discontent aren't the exclusive preserve of Cowley Street, however. A selection of former Blairites are circling like vultures around the battered body of the Gord, still recovering from his week from hell. The names of these Furies are not exactly unfamiliar. Step forward Stephen Byers, Charles Clarke, and Alan Milburn - all desperate to impart pearls of wisdom to their new commander-in-chief. Cheers boys, we're sure your advice will be appreciated.

Martin Ivens in the Sunday Times has a good article on life in the Brown bunker and the somewhat stifling atmosphere contained therein, and apparently even the Tonemeister himself has been weighing in with an opinion on how his successor is doing.

If this weren't bad enough, according to the News of the Screws, Cherie Blair will use her new book to blame Brown for her husband's heart problems, and how she suffered a miscarriage in 2002 when relations between the former Prime Minister and his Chancellor were at an all time low. Nasty.

In other news, the Telegraph reports that around 40 Labour MPs are about to challenge the Gord on a referendum on the EU Treaty - enough to make his 69 seat majority look somewhat perilous on the issue. And the swingeing cuts at the Beeb are not going to cut into the salaries of the Corporation's biggest stars.

That's a relief, eh? After all, who wants decent programming and intelligent comment at the expense of Graham Norton and John Humphrys' caviar allowance?

Written by Lloyd Shepherd on 14 Oct 2007 10:54 AM. Permalink