Gordon Brown orders 80 ministers to join surge

Anthony Butcher · 17-05-2008, 10:54 AM

Crewe and Nantwich by-election: Gordon Brown orders 80 ministers to join surge - Telegraph

Quote:

Gordon Brown has ordered his entire Government to Crewe and Nantwich this weekend in a last-minute campaigning "surge" aimed at averting a disastrous by-election defeat next week.

About 80 ministers, whips and parliamentary aides have been told to visit the Cheshire seat amid growing signs that the Conservatives will overturn Labour's 7,000-vote majority there on Thursday.
"It's all hands to the pump – they've all been told they have to be there unless they have a good excuse," said a senior source. "We need everyone we can get."
Following this month's disastrous local election results and a string of rows with his party, Mr Brown's fragile political authority could be badly hurt by a by-election loss.
The Labour surge comes after David Cameron flooded the seat with Tory MPs and shadow cabinet members. The Conservative leader has visited Crewe three times so far, and will return next week.
Cabinet ministers including Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, Geoff Hoon, the chief whip, and James Purnell, the Culture Secretary, have all visited Crewe in recent days and been used as the focus for Labour campaign events.
But more junior ministers and MPs will be ordered to "roll up their sleeves" and start knocking on doors.
The instruction from No 10 has irked some ministers, who believe Labour is almost certain to lose the Crewe fight.
"Apparently I'm supposed to give up a chance to see my kids to try to save face for Gordon. It's ridiculous – it's lost and we're not going to change that now," said one minister. Another said: "If it's that important, why's he not going himself? Because he knows it's pointless."
Parliamentary tradition holds that prime ministers do not campaign in by-elections.
Tony Blair broke the convention in the 1997 Uxbridge by-election, which Labour lost to the Tories. Sources say Mr Brown is determined not to follow his example.
Gwyneth Dunwoody held Crewe and Nantwich by 7,078 votes in 2005. Following her death last month, her daughter, Tamsin, a former Welsh Assembly member, is fighting to keep the seat for Labour.
The Tories are fielding Edward Timpson, a barrister and part of the family that founded the Timpson shoe chain. Labour has focused on what the party says is Mr Timpson's privileged background, depicting him as a "Tory Toff" who can't relate to ordinary voters. As part of the campaign, Labour activists wearing tailcoats and top hats have shadowed Mr Timpson.
The campaign has drawn accusations that Labour is fighting a class war and even some Labour MPs are uncomfortable with the tactics.
Despite the "surge", senior Labour sources are privately talking about the campaign as a damage limitation effort. One said: "The important thing for us now is that we make sure the Tories don't get the walkover they probably thought they'd have a few weeks ago."

steve fowler · 17-05-2008, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anthony Butcher

Crewe and Nantwich by-election: Gordon Brown orders 80 ministers to join surge - Telegraph

Does he really think it will help?, he is finished!!.

Alex McKee · 19-05-2008, 11:05 PM

Nice. So a skeleton government for the weekend just to save Labour from losing face. Really just want we need.

Westcountryman · 19-05-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex McKee

Nice. So a skeleton government for the weekend just to save Labour from losing face. Really just want we need.

The Labour government has been about saving the Labour Party rather than governing the Country for some time. You can't tell me Northern Rock was nationalised in the interests of the Country as opposed to securing precious votes for the Labour Party in the Labour heartland that is the North East.

mkpdavies · 22-05-2008, 08:08 PM

Who's up for going there and giving them a rousing welcome?

19-05-2008, 11:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alex McKee Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Gloucester Posts: 6,665	Nice. So a skeleton government for the weekend just to save Labour from losing face. Really just want we need. __________________ Anything I post on this web forum is my personal opinion only. Users on Ignore list: None.

22-05-2008, 08:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,604	Who's up for going there and giving them a rousing welcome? __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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