Gordon Brown coronation thread

[Greeby]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/ <----------- live video available here

[Greeby]

1. President Tony just showed up

About the only room in the entire country that will actually cheer him :eyes:

[LeftishBrit]

2. Harriet Harman was elected Deputy Leader

At least it wasn't Hazel Blears, the Poodle's Poodle!

[1932]

3. Why use the phrase "coronation"?

[Greeby]

4. Because the genuine left-wing alternative couldn't get the votes

To be nominated

[LeftishBrit]

5. Because Brown has managed to become PM without the need for a leadership contest, let alone election

[1932]

6. So, he's the person his party wants to lead it?

[mrfrapp]

8. Maybe, maybe not

The MPs failed to offer an alternative candidate so the party members never got a chance to vote on it. Needless to say, it's a crap system.

[1932]

9. Maybe the MPs believe he's the best person for the job.

And they're all elected by their constituents, so, if people disagree...

It's hardly fair to call this a coronation especially when you compare what labour stands for to what the tories stand for.

[LeftishBrit]

10. I don't think any UK DU-er supports the Tories!!!

And we're prepared to give Brown some benefit of the doubt.

We are just a bit fed up with the way that the Labour leadership has gone to the right. Yes, the MPs could have done more to come up with a viable candidate against Brown (to be honest, the candidate who tried to stand was well-meaning but very inexperienced); but a large part of the problem was the way that Blair took control of his party - almost any alternative candidate would have been inexperienced, because Blair did not allow too much disagreement in his cabinet.

I support term limits for Prime Ministers, and a somewhat more representative electoral system. Whether complete PR is the solution, I'm not sure, but certainly the present system tends to give the winning party a disproportionately large majority.

[T_i_B]

12. He was elected unopposed

A couple of lefties tried to stand, but neither could get enough nominations to get onto the ballot paper.

Gordon Brown would have won whoever in the Labour party stood against him, but all the same, an actual contest for the top job might well have done Labour some good.

[enlightenment]

7. My sympathies . . .

I think you all may have gone from the frying pan straight into the fire. :(

Good Luck.

[T_i_B]

11. Sheffield U****d Avatar?

Oh dear. Not a good choice. (mind you, neither is Bryan Robson!)