Cook says Brown could soon be PM

[RogueTrooper]

Ex-Cabinet minister Robin Cook says Gordon Brown will take over from Tony Blair "sooner rather than later"

Writing in the Evening Standard, the former minister said Blair allies had initially been confident Mr Brown could be ousted after the election.

Mr Cook said Mr Blair would struggle with difficult policies like tuition fees as he had "lost the authority to sweep Labour MPs behind him".

He said during the current campaign, Labour staff had realised "they cannot get enough of the Brown magic".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4436567.stm

Anybody see Labour's election strategy unfolding? ;)

[Anarcho-Socialist]

1. Assuming Labour win the election and keep an overall majority...

...a new premiership under Gordon Brown would be needed to keep Labour competitive for a potential fourth election victory. The British voters don't like long-serving Prime Ministers and it'd be the best thing for Labour if they offered a new PM, otherwise the public may be seduced by a new Tory agenda in the search for someone new.

[RogueTrooper]

2. very true

I do believe that this is Blair's last election ( and Brown's first as leader ). Whether Blair goes as quickly as Cookie is insinuating? Not so sure about that.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. It's so ironic that the Tories used to say

"Vote for Blair, get Brown" when Labour have realised that's their best bet now. As Newsnight pointed out last night, they've hardly let Blair out on his own without Brown to help improve his image.

[non sociopath skin]

4. If Gordon does become PM, I hope he brings Cookie back from the cold.

I respect the guy a lot and would be interested to see how he'd perform with an a less ethically-challenged leadership.

The Skin

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. I'd like that, but I've heard they don't get along at all

So I think that Brown would only do that if he felt he had to, because the 'anti-war' faction of Labour was big enough to be needed to get votes through. If Labour get a large majority, he may think he can do without Cook.

[D-Notice]

6. Hopefully he'd become Home Secretary

we need one who doesn't try to be more extreme than Blunkett/Clarke

[mr blur]

7. I thought I heard Bliar say today

that he will serve his full term? Hmmm.

[sweetheart]

8. The sooner, the better

Brown is the heir appearant. He is the man, and tony is the lackey.

Rt. Hon. Brown will be the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.