tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post1761193103900639017..comments2023-11-03T15:48:35.688+00:00Comments on Paul Linford: Has Milburn's time now come?Paul Linfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-8704175231368784802008-05-21T22:36:00.000+01:002008-05-21T22:36:00.000+01:00Neither Brown, Milburn nor anyone else can deal wi...Neither Brown, Milburn nor anyone else can deal with the basic problem. <BR/><BR/>For virtually all of Labour's existence class was <I>the</I> source of political cleavage in England, although religion continued to matter in Scotland and Wales. Traditionally, Labour showed a Livingstonian dexterity in appealing to Catholics in the former and nonconformists in the latter.<BR/><BR/>But it is Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-25767612103359021482008-05-20T22:01:00.000+01:002008-05-20T22:01:00.000+01:00The problem with the economy is not just about cir...The problem with the economy is not just about circumstances beyond Brown's control, Paul. The bigger issue is that it is circumstances outside the experience of many of the politicians and their policy advisors.<BR/><BR/>I have it on good authority that the team in Downing Street is 'frayed and frazzled' by economic conditions they have never lived through before, and seriously worried about a MorrisOxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11952846056079111473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-72769936352079921712008-05-20T21:45:00.000+01:002008-05-20T21:45:00.000+01:00JustinI agree with you up to a point. Milburn is ...Justin<BR/><BR/>I agree with you up to a point. Milburn is a political lightweight compared with Gordon, but then again so is David Cameron and he's currently 20 points ahead of Gordon in the polls. <BR/><BR/>My point is that being an undoubted political heavyweight or "big clunking fist" seems to be doing Gordon - and more importantly the Labour Party - a fat lot of good right now. Maybe the Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-47434011503748653442008-05-20T17:35:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:35:00.000+01:00Well thank you very much, Paul. I don't know wheth...Well thank you very much, Paul. I don't know whether to laugh till I'm sick or lie awake in terror at this idea. <BR/><BR/>Milburn is a political lightweight. High-handed, bouffanted and never met a principle he couldn't jettison for the sake of his career. <BR/><BR/>In that sense I suppose he would be the perfect New Labour leader but surely you haven't forgotten the utterly amateurish general Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-76374501258641010132008-05-20T17:33:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:33:00.000+01:00I agree with you. I admire Alan Milburn and as yo...I agree with you. I admire Alan Milburn and as you say he is able to "think outside the box". Much of his thinking is in accord with what many of us want - he was an excellent Health Secretary and would have achieved more in this role without Gordon Brown blocking many reforms. He is innovative and for a politician seems to be more in touch with the public.<BR/><BR/>He is also a likeable man Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12845739.post-10305334183368716072008-05-20T17:18:00.000+01:002008-05-20T17:18:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Paul Linfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01977920120772282561noreply@blogger.com