Brown openly challenged to quit as Milburn and Byers named in alleged plot (From The Northern Echo)
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Brown openly challenged to quit as Milburn and Byers named in alleged plot
10:50pm Thursday 4th June 2009 in
PRIME MINISTER Gordon Brown was put under further pressure to step down tonight as Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell dramatically announced he was quitting the Cabinet.
In a resignation letter, Mr Purnell called on Mr Brown to step aside for the good of the Labour Party, saying his continued leadership makes a Conservative victory more, not less, likely.
Meanwhile, former Cabinet ministers Alan Milburn and Stephen Byers have been accused of plotting to force Gordon Brown relinquish the top job.
The extraordinary allegation was made by Labour Chief Whip - and minister for the North-East - Nick Brown as part of an effort to "smoke out" rebel MPs.
Mr Milburn, who is MP for Darlington, and Mr Byers, who is the MP for Tyneside North, were named by Mr Brown in an interview according to The Guardian.
According to him the plot centres on a group of MPs calling themselves the Blearistas - a reference to Local Government secretary Hazel Blears who quit yesterday.
He named his two fellow North-East MPs, who both served under Tony Blair, as the ringleaders.
For the full story see The Northern Echo tomorrow.
Comments(41)
George BA
says...
7:33pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Well you don't speak for me.
The world is in the grip of the worst depression since the 30's, It was Margaret Thatcher who brought in the current expenses fiasco in westminster, allowed a man to work 100 hours a week as a security man for £2 per hour.
It was Labour who have raised aspirations, raised pensions, introduced pensioner credits and working tax credits. Increased spending expotentionally on health and education.
It is people like you who have benefitted and outgrew your needs of Labour that now blame them for your own greed. Aand now want to look at a new regime headed by the likes of Cameron who will pander to your whims in speach after speach, and then will through you back into the pots of have's and have not.
I too am disgruntled with Labour, but unlike you I remember the good they have done, and how my standard of life has improved since they came to power.
It was Brown who gave you your wealth and your aspirations, now like an animal attacks a lame dog you and many others are only too ready to have your piece of flesh.
I dont want to have to go back to working for £2 per hour.
Steve Day
says...
8:21pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Steve Day
says...
8:24pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Steve Day
says...
8:32pm Thu 4 Jun 09
It was Labour who have raised aspirations,(Raised Taxes and unemplyement you mean) raised pensions(no they raided the pension schemes for 5 Billion pounds leaving thousands of pensioners destitute), introduced pensioner credits (yes the pensioners needed credits and benefits after Labour stole their pensions) and working tax credits( after doubling council tax, and taking away the mortgage tax relief and married persons tax relief and doubling councikl tax). Increased spending expotentionally on health and education.(on managers in the NHS my wife has now got nearly 3 times as many bosses as she used to have, and the wonderful city acadamies are nearly all failing badly)
The only people who have benefitted from the Labour govt are the MPS fiddling their expenses, they spin doctors spouting lies, their party workers and their trade union masters, most of us are much worse off
BrianJC
says...
10:01pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Lets not forget 0.5% interest rate that is crippling pensioners who have saved for their retirement.
Nu Labour and Brown good riddance.
PettyComplainer
says...
10:10pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Even Steve's alternate-reality statements about labour 'doubling council tax' and robbing pensioners go unchallenged in this environment!
Steve you are without doubt easily startled, so I'll say just two things to your inaccurate tirade - SureStart and Minimum Wage.
(Bet you never even heard of SureStart!)
How can anyone from the north, especially if they lived through the miners' strike era, even think about voting tory? Class traitors.
BrianJC
says...
10:16pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Merry xmas,
BrianJC
says...
10:19pm Thu 4 Jun 09
What a shambles.
BrianJC
says...
10:31pm Thu 4 Jun 09
55 to 50 in favour of Brown gone by Monday.
How say you Petty C.
George BA
says...
10:55pm Thu 4 Jun 09
doubled council tax,Council raise Council Tax!
doubled the cost of petrol,OPEC had a big say! stole our pensions,What abour companies that raid them or even close them, or use them to hide huge profits?
took away our mortgage tax relief,OK if you can afford a big house!
stole our married persons tax allowance.So What?
He is just about to add yet another tax increase to fuel duty.
Now lets us not forget how the Labour party blaimed the global reccession of the 1980s onto the Tories but suddenly blaim this current one on global events.Labour didnt have 19% interest rates, remember black Wednesday
New Labour has crippled our economy, You cannot prove that!
left the nation with the largest public debt ever, Have they?
let our jobs go to India and Eastern Europe,Have they? I think companies and consumer pressure for cheap prices do that.
let millions of immigrants come to the UK and take our few remaining jobs.Are these the jobs that went to eastern europe and India, make your mind up
If we had remained with old labour you would not have even got £2 an hour as you would have been permenantly on strike.Strike that Maggie destroyed communities for a priciple and left a whole industry devastated.
Brown like Blair before him has completely, which comic have ytou read that, have a look at the facts!
Start an illegal war causing the deaths of over 600,000 innocent Iraqis, thats 100% New Liebour. Can you remember the Falklands and the Belgrano. The only difference is that now we get to know what is going on, we didnt under the Maggie years.
PettyComplainer
says...
11:01pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Imagine a general election where tories get in. An untried team of non-entities inheriting 157 billion pounds of borrowing. What do you think tories will do when faced with a budget and an overspend like that?
Do you think a culture of cutting services would affect:
a) the wealthy, or,
b) the other 95% of us?
Your hatred clouds your judgement and you have no principles.
That's what I think.
Steve Day
says...
11:06pm Thu 4 Jun 09
If you want a party that will shaft the working class, betray the nation and jump ship as soon as it get tough then New Labour is the party for you.
Heck if Labour got any lower they would be trade unionists.:o)
Steve Day
says...
11:15pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Todays labour has raided pensions, doubled taxes, destroyed the banks
caused a reccession
start an ilegal war.
OLD Labour was the party thast gave us
3 day weeks
Powercuts
Walk outs
weekly strikes,
flying pickets
food shortages, rubbish uncollected in the streets
the dead left unburied, militant tendancy, riots,Crippled buses and railways, British steel, British rail the newspaper printers, the coal miners all out on average once a month.
Thats what OLD labour gave us, and New labour is no better.
How can taxing the working man to death benefit him? Our young can no longer afford houses, if they could they cant get mortgages, the council houses are full of migrants. They cant get tax relief of any sort they cant afford fuel for their cars.
Good riddence to Labour I say , ANY other party will be better.
PettyComplainer
says...
11:15pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Steve Day
says...
11:15pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Todays labour has raided pensions, doubled taxes, destroyed the banks
caused a reccession
start an ilegal war.
OLD Labour was the party thast gave us
3 day weeks
Powercuts
Walk outs
weekly strikes,
flying pickets
food shortages, rubbish uncollected in the streets
the dead left unburied, militant tendancy, riots,Crippled buses and railways, British steel, British rail the newspaper printers, the coal miners all out on average once a month.
Thats what OLD labour gave us, and New labour is no better.
How can taxing the working man to death benefit him? Our young can no longer afford houses, if they could they cant get mortgages, the council houses are full of migrants. They cant get tax relief of any sort they cant afford fuel for their cars.
Good riddence to Labour I say , ANY other party will be better.
Steve Day
says...
11:17pm Thu 4 Jun 09
PettyComplainer wrote:PC you simply can not avoid the solid undeniable facts behind petty immature trolling, you sound like a labour MP caught with his fingers in the till.
Unaffected by reality or education, Mr Day continued...
BrianJC
says...
11:36pm Thu 4 Jun 09
Paul J
says...
12:38am Fri 5 Jun 09
That's what I think.
Oh and George BA too.
George BA
says...
12:38am Fri 5 Jun 09
Think harder, It took the tories in the 1980s to sort out the complete mess that old labour created in the 70s.
Todays labour has raided pensions, doubled taxes, destroyed the banks
caused a reccession
start an ilegal war.
OLD Labour was the party thast gave us
3 day weeks
Powercuts
Walk outs
weekly strikes,
flying pickets
food shortages, rubbish uncollected in the streets
the dead left unburied, militant tendancy, riots,Crippled buses and railways, British steel, British rail
I SAY,
After 12 years of Labour 18 years of the tories, who are you trying to kid Grandad!
Lest we forget it was Maggie, that destroyed the Steel Industry, ask Consett?
It was Maggie that destroyed the Railways, ask Shildon?
It was Maggie that destroyed Buses, by deregulating them. Ask anyone?
It was Maggie who encouraged people in 1988 to opt out of works pension schemes. 'Ask the Independent'
Flying Pickets are a pop group to most people today, lighting strikes, but not in the same place twice,walk outs, something we do with the kids.
Tell us about the War grandad, it has more relevance than the rubbish you utter.
Your post just show how little thought through your arguments are.
It was the Tories that ruined the manufacturing industries of this country, destroyed communities and Maggie taught us all it was OK to be led by greed and look after yourself and forget about others.
We are talking about today Granddad not 30 or 40 years ago, or has time passed you by.
I rather be a socialist and broke and help others when I can, rather than a self centred, biggot with an unrealistic inability to tell fact from fiction right wing tory supporter. Just ripe pickings for the BNP or are they not right wing enough?
George BA
says...
12:49am Fri 5 Jun 09
Paul J wrote:
Petty Complainer is a crank. That's what I think. Oh and George BA too.
Thanks, never been called a part of an engine before, when you get out of primary school maybe you will be able to string more words together to form sentences.
Most people post comments on what they think about the points raised by the main story and the responses others make.
But this is in the grown up world.
Paul J
says...
1:00am Fri 5 Jun 09
Still think you and Petty Complainer are engine parts mind.
George BA
says...
2:49am Fri 5 Jun 09
Paul J wrote::-)
Well that's me told isn't it? Still think you and Petty Complainer are engine parts mind.
BrianJC
says...
8:22am Fri 5 Jun 09
Gordon and Labours baby.
Funny how they can award themselves massive bonuses for failing us.
Reward for failure eh!
Hypocrites the lot of them.
BrianJC
says...
3:56pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Can anyone tell me who they are talking about?
Because
It's NOT pensioners.
It's NOT victims of Labour's crime wave.
It's NOT business and the self employed.
It's NOT the MRSA ridden NHS in near collapse.
It's NOT taxpayers.
It's NOT motorists.
It's NOT the hard working & responsible.
It's NOT private pension contributors.
It's NOT proud British patriots.
It's NOT those in Labour's dumbed down education.
It's NOT those who HATE government intrusion & control.
It's NOT the unemployed.
It's NOT those wanting the return of UK democracy.
It's NOT those who want PROPER border controls.
It's NOT those who've been betrayed by EU policy.
It's NOT the kids who'll be paying for Gordon's debt.
It's NOT those SUBMERGED in Labour's bureaucracy.
It's NOT our under funded / under-equipped armed forces.
It's NOT those persecuted by Labour's PC laws.
It's NOT middle / coping class income levels.
It's NOT UK fishermen.
It's NOT the future of UK electricity generation.
It's NOT HIPs burdened home sellers.
It's NOT soon-to-be licensed landlords.
It's NOT the nation's gold reserves.
So they raised aspirations Eh!!!!
PettyComplainer
says...
4:18pm Fri 5 Jun 09
What about the incoherently risible "persecuted by Labour's PC laws"? That's got everything! It's vague, angry, emotive and empty - perfect tory rant-fodder, in fact.
This is the media puppetry that I keeep banging on about - simple individuals cannot discern truth from fiction when they read it 'in the papers' and actually regurgitate it when prodded.
You've eaten a whole decade of Daily Mail for breakfast it sounds like, Brian - and you're so wrong on so many issues...where to start?
For example MRSA - I happen to know someone very high in the NHS infection control team nationally. Oddly enough, she said it was visitors to hospital - not Tony Blair - who spread MRSA!
But since there's really no point arguing with tramps outside an offie, I won't.
Good post, apart from all the words!
BrianJC
says...
4:36pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Hutton History
Straw Apologises for Justice System MESS but keeps his job.
Darlin, you now the one that can't fill in his tax return keeps his position.
Miliband move me Gordon and I'm out of here.
Sugar I wan't to be a Lord Gordon or your "Fired"
Just gets better.
By the way whats an offie I'm not as bright as you?
cj-dog
says...
4:42pm Fri 5 Jun 09
For the last few weeks he has tried to imply he is the only rational voice of reason while everyone suggesting everyone else is a Tory or media fodder.
What is this 'other 95% of us' ...YOU(and New Labour) ARE IN THE MINORITY!
It is YOU who is full of hatred ...and YOU HAVE NO JUDGEMENT!!
Are you implying Gordon Brown and New Labour are going to cure cancer? ...ITS IN YOU COMMENTS!!!
Even a chimpanzee wouldn't make such a stupid claim.
Unaffected by reality or education ...YOU CERTAINLY ARE!!!!
I suspect many of the people on here are from the North and lived here during the miners strike ...are you suggesting they are 'class traitors' if they don't vote Labour? ...your rantings are 25 years out of date and like New Labour ...WELL PASSED THEIR SELL-BY DATE!!
Don't forget to switch the light off as you and Labour leave the room.
I think you will be able to manage that simple task if George BA because he says he is a GROWN UP?!
BrianJC
says...
4:51pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Whats Tony Blair got to do with it. Your losing me.
BrianJC
says...
5:09pm Fri 5 Jun 09
tax, tax, tax
1,600 new PC laws per year
smoking ban (mind I do agree with this one)
tax on pensions
school fees
no EU referendum
anti-car policies
45 day detention
ID Cards
DNA database
spy cameras
fuel taxes
climate change
CO2 taxes
enviro 'crimes' units
fox hunting ban
planning laws (control over private property)
NOT listening
The Labour Party has nothing to do with Socialism as it has systematically destroyed the working (blue and white collar) classes. Labour has impoverished them with huge national and local taxation, criminalised them with 1,600 new PC laws a year of trivia and ultra-pettiness, spyed on them with a camera on nearly every street and attacked their freedoms to move (car and plane), drink, smoke and now eat what they want.
PettyComplainer
says...
5:11pm Fri 5 Jun 09
If you can't understand what I wrote, that's your hard luck. Really. Your ranting is a mish-mash of deliberately misunderstood, misinterpreted and delusory inanities, delivered with finesse, as per usual.
No I'm not suggesting some people are class traitors, I'm actually saying it. You are a class traitor. You think rich tories are better than you.
Something to do with this inferiority complex that runs through your posts.
Brian, you blame labour when it rains and, for some idiots, tony b represents labour. Clearer now?
Don't worry about it, I don't.
Another great band name - "proud British patriots" (but you'd have to be a skinhead ska band to get away with it!)
BrianJC
says...
5:17pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Here's me thinking Gordon is the man.
BrianJC
says...
5:24pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Because I'm a skinhead and idiot (you words)
You still have not answered my question.
What's an offie.
Dean M
says...
9:54pm Fri 5 Jun 09
Northerners voting Tory are 'Class Traitors'? Doesn't come much better than this. Although I'm sure that working class idol Tony Bliar would agree. You know the one, the public school educated, rich lawyer, married to a top barrister and judge, living in a multi-million pound mansion. Typical working class bloke, man. He even had a pint in a pub once, in Sedgefield with that other working class socialist, George Bush. I bet they had a good chat about how hard a time they had as kids....
An untried Tory team taking on £157 billion of debt? That'll be the biggest ever public debt the country has ever had then? Left to us by a well-tried Labour government!
Labour keep going on about the minimum wage after all these years because it's the only positive thing they've done - not much for 12 years in power. And even then, a few hundred thousand people who benefited are far outnumbered by the millions of ordinary, hard-working people that have been fleeced by all the tax increases mentioned by Steve Day above. Not sure he mentioned national insurance tax increases - add that one to the long list.
You couldn't make up some of the ridiculous socialist rubbish posted on here.
I notice many of our problems are still blamed on Maggie (she left 20 years ago!) by the reds. How long have we had a Labour government again....1997....ove
r 12 years? Take responsibility for the mess, socialists - you're finished. Thank God for that (or Maggie - same thing).
Dean M
says...
10:18pm Fri 5 Jun 09
cj-dog
says...
3:08am Sat 6 Jun 09
I read your comments with amusement.
You fail to recognise that I, as I have said before, use content-analysis when reading these comments ...its goes with my profession.
I do actually understand precisely what you write and therein lies the basis of my comments.
Your inability to accept criticism and to attempt to transpose your own fragilities onto those who disagree with you reinforces the notion that you mimic your idols.
Such hero-worship is normally only associated with juveniles who fawn at the feet of facile pin-ups.
Do you have Gordon's poster on your bedroom wall?
Is Mandelson bringing you out in a heat rash?
Your defence of the indefensible and continuous purile vilification of opinions that challenge your own underpins my assertion that you are 'untouched by reality or education' ...your own words.
It appears that your phrase has gone over your own head ...which highlights my point precisely.
Back to the forum ...its good to see that not all labour MPs are prepared to follow the leader ...like media sheep or chimpanzees, and speak up regardless of the consequences to their immediate careers.
I notice Gordon is refusing to go and has given Mandelson more power.
Darling is still in place so we are all safe?!?
Such a Triumvirate is initially the favoured basis of power of soviet/communist states that develop into totalitarianism.
I wonder if they will ask Mr. Putin to help out ...Georgia style.
I'm very wary of grey men who want to hang onto power and save us ...by denying us a General Election.
Petty C ...discuss?
BrianJC
says...
8:51am Sat 6 Jun 09
Back to expenses.
Gordon submits £30 claim for hiring bagpiper according to the telegraph.
How well I remember the song:
Thing's can only get better!!!
D Ream.
Steve Day
says...
11:21am Sat 6 Jun 09
Steve Day
says...
11:32am Sat 6 Jun 09
(Bet you never even heard of SureStart!)
How can anyone from the north, especially if they lived through the miners' strike era, even think about voting tory? Class traitors.
1 Sure start a benefit scvheme paid for by hasrd working tax payers to help the idle and feckless get out of bed
2 Who wants to exist on a minimum wage when they could try working harder and studying and getting out of a menial job, Or perhaps they could adopt the normal socialist method of going on strike every five minutes to get inflated wage rises without producing anything of value.
3 The the miners wrecked their own jobs with the help of the trade unions, they get ever more greedy and tried to blackmail the country.
Class traitor? Socialists and lefties dont have any class, it disappeared along with their morals and decency decades ago. The left does NOT represent the honest decent hard working people of the north, they have morals and scrupes something completely absent from New Labour.
Do have a nice day.
Steve Day
says...
4:22pm Sat 6 Jun 09
Class traitor, very droll,the working class people are far removed from the labour party voting class.
cj-dog
says...
8:12pm Sat 6 Jun 09
They seem to be the only ones who have a vested interest to keep labour in power.
I'm from the north east, from mining stock, work and put myself through university at my own expense.
I never vote labour because anyone who has aspirations to improve their lot is branded a tory and a class traitor.
Labour promotes mediocrity because they want you to vote for them without thinking about the consequences.
Betty C implies that we all know nothing and have to be fed by the tory media.
Pure socialist drivel from someone who is out of touch with the voting public.
I think thursdays elections spoke volumes!
Did you here the collective public voice Potty C.
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JS2 says...
4:05pm Thu 4 Jun 09