Team Brian GB
09-27-2006, 01:48 AM
Teflon Tony made his last speech as Prime Minister at the Annual Labour Party Conference today, and made thinly veiled comments marking that the leadership for the party and ultimately the Country is about to begin, so who by this time next year be Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Gordon Brown- Chancellor of the Exchequer (Secretary of the Treasury)
Considered the second most powerful office in British Politics. It has long been known that big Gord has been up for the top job for years. In fact he pulled out of the Labour leadership race in 1994 after he struck a deal with Blair that Blair would lead the party, Brown would get the treasury (should they win office) and after ten years Blair would hand over the reigns, but obviously he didn't. Ever since, benhind closed doors Downing Street and the Treasury have been in civil war about the future of the Party. Labour's only major success whilst in office is the strength of the economy- thanks to Gordon Brown. He was seen as next to guaranteed to take over the party leadership- though recently his odds have plummetted, but is still seen as strong favourite. It should be noted he has the charisma of a dead cat.
Alan Johnson- Secretary of Education
Has risen from political obscurity, to the a-list of British politicians in a matter of months- it is said he is a supporter of Brown in the cabinet, but it is well documented that he will take a shot at continuing his metoric rise (Margaret Thatcher rose in a similar way) He is currently sitting as second favourite.
Margaret Beckett- Foreign Secretary
The most senior woman in Westminster since Thatcher- Beckett got a huge promotion from environment secretary to the Foreign Office early this year. She is seen as real and honest and even noble, certainly the only woman who would have a chance and would certainly rank as a dark horse, it would be huge if she did, but it is a strong possibility.
Peter Hain- Northern Ireland and Wales Secretary
The most high-profile Englishman in the running (Brown, Johnson and Reid are Scottish) and there is a string feeling here at the moment about not wanting a Scottish PM in charge of England. Hain is a cabinet veteran and has a strong reputation- which is a rarity.
John Prescott- Deputy Prime Minister
Not a hope in hell. He is Britain's answer to Dick Cheney in many more ways than one.
John Reid- Home Secretary
Moved down Whitehall from Education in April, and on taking over famously said "The home office is not fit for purpose" he is perhaps directly the most powerful man in Britain. He has authority over the Police, the Courts and the Immigration Service amongst other things. And it is perceived that only six months into the job he is turning the place around quickly, and is gaining very strong respect up and down the Country. Though his strong Scottish accent and past as a member of the British Communist Party will put people off.
David Milliband- Secretary of Environment
Part of the next generation in politics, is seen as the Party's young star. It is tipped that he will one day lead the Party but not after this leadership contest.
Jack Straw- Leader of the House of Commons
Was drastically and shocking demoted from Foreign Secretary in June- this is believed to be due to American Pressure after it was noted in Washington that at all costs he is against war with Iran, and that his constitunency is 40% muslim, meaning there was a fear in DC that he would have to cater for them. He is extremely well respected after serving as Home and then Foreign Secretary for eight years- extremely experienced and highly qualified. Had it not been for his demotion he would definately have been a front runner.
John McDonnell- Backbench Labour MP
The first person to announce his candiditure back in July. McDonnell has no government or cabinet experience and sits on the backbenches of the House of Commons. He is strictly "old" Labour- before the Blair revolution, the Party was much further left and always had slightly socialist beliefs, on which he wants the party to return to. He really has next to no chance of winning, but you never do know.
Alan Milburn- Backbench Labour MP
Former transport and health secretary, now backbencher was and remains a staunch Blair ally and a vocal critic of Brown. Again he has little chance of landing the job, but he may heavily influence support away from Brown to another candidate.
We don't as of yet know when the leadership elections shall take place, but what will happen is that all the candidates that step forward (say six)will go into a ballot cast to all members of the Labour Party (which number 250,000) the person with the least votes will drop out of the race, then the following week another ballot will take place between the remaining five, same rules apply into they get a new leader. The last time a leadership race was sparked in an incumbent party was when Thatcher was ousted in 1990- and the ensuing race caused great damage to the party and government as the major candidates all forgot about their Government jobs and essentially went AWOL. When a new leader does get elected, as head of the Labour Party they will automatically become Prime Minister. There has been a call for a general election to happen shortly after- though the chance of such a happening is minimal, and it is likely that the eventual PM will stay in office into the end of the Government's five year entitlement (up to May 2010)
Gordon Brown- Chancellor of the Exchequer (Secretary of the Treasury)
Considered the second most powerful office in British Politics. It has long been known that big Gord has been up for the top job for years. In fact he pulled out of the Labour leadership race in 1994 after he struck a deal with Blair that Blair would lead the party, Brown would get the treasury (should they win office) and after ten years Blair would hand over the reigns, but obviously he didn't. Ever since, benhind closed doors Downing Street and the Treasury have been in civil war about the future of the Party. Labour's only major success whilst in office is the strength of the economy- thanks to Gordon Brown. He was seen as next to guaranteed to take over the party leadership- though recently his odds have plummetted, but is still seen as strong favourite. It should be noted he has the charisma of a dead cat.
Alan Johnson- Secretary of Education
Has risen from political obscurity, to the a-list of British politicians in a matter of months- it is said he is a supporter of Brown in the cabinet, but it is well documented that he will take a shot at continuing his metoric rise (Margaret Thatcher rose in a similar way) He is currently sitting as second favourite.
Margaret Beckett- Foreign Secretary
The most senior woman in Westminster since Thatcher- Beckett got a huge promotion from environment secretary to the Foreign Office early this year. She is seen as real and honest and even noble, certainly the only woman who would have a chance and would certainly rank as a dark horse, it would be huge if she did, but it is a strong possibility.
Peter Hain- Northern Ireland and Wales Secretary
The most high-profile Englishman in the running (Brown, Johnson and Reid are Scottish) and there is a string feeling here at the moment about not wanting a Scottish PM in charge of England. Hain is a cabinet veteran and has a strong reputation- which is a rarity.
John Prescott- Deputy Prime Minister
Not a hope in hell. He is Britain's answer to Dick Cheney in many more ways than one.
John Reid- Home Secretary
Moved down Whitehall from Education in April, and on taking over famously said "The home office is not fit for purpose" he is perhaps directly the most powerful man in Britain. He has authority over the Police, the Courts and the Immigration Service amongst other things. And it is perceived that only six months into the job he is turning the place around quickly, and is gaining very strong respect up and down the Country. Though his strong Scottish accent and past as a member of the British Communist Party will put people off.
David Milliband- Secretary of Environment
Part of the next generation in politics, is seen as the Party's young star. It is tipped that he will one day lead the Party but not after this leadership contest.
Jack Straw- Leader of the House of Commons
Was drastically and shocking demoted from Foreign Secretary in June- this is believed to be due to American Pressure after it was noted in Washington that at all costs he is against war with Iran, and that his constitunency is 40% muslim, meaning there was a fear in DC that he would have to cater for them. He is extremely well respected after serving as Home and then Foreign Secretary for eight years- extremely experienced and highly qualified. Had it not been for his demotion he would definately have been a front runner.
John McDonnell- Backbench Labour MP
The first person to announce his candiditure back in July. McDonnell has no government or cabinet experience and sits on the backbenches of the House of Commons. He is strictly "old" Labour- before the Blair revolution, the Party was much further left and always had slightly socialist beliefs, on which he wants the party to return to. He really has next to no chance of winning, but you never do know.
Alan Milburn- Backbench Labour MP
Former transport and health secretary, now backbencher was and remains a staunch Blair ally and a vocal critic of Brown. Again he has little chance of landing the job, but he may heavily influence support away from Brown to another candidate.
We don't as of yet know when the leadership elections shall take place, but what will happen is that all the candidates that step forward (say six)will go into a ballot cast to all members of the Labour Party (which number 250,000) the person with the least votes will drop out of the race, then the following week another ballot will take place between the remaining five, same rules apply into they get a new leader. The last time a leadership race was sparked in an incumbent party was when Thatcher was ousted in 1990- and the ensuing race caused great damage to the party and government as the major candidates all forgot about their Government jobs and essentially went AWOL. When a new leader does get elected, as head of the Labour Party they will automatically become Prime Minister. There has been a call for a general election to happen shortly after- though the chance of such a happening is minimal, and it is likely that the eventual PM will stay in office into the end of the Government's five year entitlement (up to May 2010)