UK: [PM] Gordon Brown has lost it, say ministers

The Telegraph ^ | 4/30/2009 | Andrew Pierce, Andrew Porter and James Kirkup

[bruinbirdman]

Labour is heading for an election defeat as heavy as that suffered by John Major because Gordon Brown has lost control of the parliamentary party, two senior Cabinet ministers have privately warned.

The Prime Minister was forced to surrender in his battle to reform MPs’ expenses yesterday after backbenchers threatened to defy his authority for the second time in two days.

The retreat was announced to avert another humiliating loss in the Commons, only 24 hours after the Government was defeated over the right of Gurkhas to live in Britain.

After another day of whips’ desperate bargaining with Labour MPs had failed to produce sufficient support for the Prime Minister, it was left to Harriet Harman, the Leader of the Commons, to announce that reform of the second homes allowance would be left to an independent inquiry.

The turmoil of the past week, following the damage to the Prime Minister over the emails smearing senior Tories, has produced “meltdown” in the parliamentary party according to one minister. Even Mr Brown’s usually loyal Cabinet colleagues are losing patience.

One minister close to Mr Brown told The Daily Telegraph: “We can still turn this round, but Gordon is not listening. He is lashing out and reacting to headlines. It’s all so reminiscent of the last months of John Major.

“If we don’t get our act together — and that means Gordon needs some better advice — we could go down to a defeat every bit as big as, if not bigger than, the Tories in 1997.”

Another Cabinet minister said: “Gordon is looking for someone to blame for the Gurkhas but he refused to see that we were in trouble and did not see it coming. Instead we had the spectacle of the Prime Minister, insisting at the dispatch box at 12.15,

[bruinbirdman]

Where's the Labour vote of no confidence?

[krb]

after the Government was defeated over the right of Gurkhas to live in Britain

What's going on with this issue? I thought the Gurkhas were The Good Guys?

[farlander]

What was the Gurkha’s thing, anyone know ?

[Fabozz]

So I guess Brown’ll have time to watch those DVDs after all.

[skinkinthegrass]

Hey! Ivan, What your "take" on this?

[skinkinthegrass]

The retreat was announced to avert another humiliating loss in the Commons, only 24 hours after the Government was defeated over the right of Gurkhas to live in Britain.
in the article.

Nepalese Warriors, Wanting to live in UK after retiring from the British Army.

"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." - P. J. O'Rourke
“The problem with socialism is that you eventually, run out of other people’s money.” - Margaret Thatcher
"There are two sets of rules. One set for the rulers and another for the rest of us." —Richard Yancey, former IRS tax collector

[GeronL]

The Gurkhas fought for Britain in war. But they have to step aside for the Moose Limbs?

[GeronL]

I haven’t heard from Ivan in years!

[skinkinthegrass]

MI, was the first Irish / British (in that part of Europe :), I could think of.
...I hope MI, is alive.

[SAJ]

Especially in ''Crash'' Gordon's case, one can never lose what one never had.

The ''It'' guy, he ain't.

[bruinbirdman]

Find Mad Ivan here, he runs the forum:

http://www.wideawakes.net/community/

yitbos

[GeronL]

see 11

[GeronL]

thanks

[kaehurowing]

It’s a campaign to allow retired Gurkha veterans the right to settle in the UK. You can read about it here:

http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/

There have been past controversies over the fact that Gurkhas were paid much less than other British troops. I don’t know whether that has been resolved.

[Vet_6780]

It is clear from Question Time that Cameron smells blood and the rest of the sharks are closing in for the kill.

[bethybabes69]

The Gurkhas got support from the Conservative Party, with tthe motion brought by The Liberal Democrats to allow ALL Gurkhas to settle in Britain.

This doesn't give them legality to stay, but puts immense Political pressure for Brown and his close ZANULabour comrades to make this happen.

The Gurkhas are staying, I'd bet my house on it, when Brown passes the legislation, it'll be another nail in this vile, ZANULsbour coffin (if there's room for any more metaphorical nails in that thing)

FWIW, we Brits are proud of all our Soldiers, wherever their cultural roots are, if they stand up and fight for Britain and our historical values, they get everything that our Country can offer back in repayment.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-n . . . "

[Winniesboy]

What's going on with this issue? I thought the Gurkhas were The Good Guys?

It's rather a complicated story - but the essentials are that until recently only Gurkhas who ended their service after 1997 had the right to settle in the UK, the reason being that before that date the Gurkha regiment was always based abroad. A court ruling found this restiction illegal a year or two back, and the campaigners on the issue have been waiting for the government to come up with revised rules. These were published recently, and were widely rubbished as a fudge. Although the right to settle was extended, it was still highly qualified. What's now happened is that these new rules have been voted down in Parliament, to general delight.

[Prodigal Son]

Although the right to settle was extended, it was still highly qualified.

And also... What was especially ugly about it: One of the qualifications was 20 years of service. Which an enlisted Gurkha could never meet because they were restricted to 15 years of service. This meant only officers could settle in the UK.

The whole thing just stank. I mean, you consider, Scotland was basically overrun with Poles after they got their EU status. And all the other member states of the EU can come here and live too- with their spouses/families. (it's how I came to be here btw). This means Germans- who were the enemy of the UK not too long ago had more right to live here than Gurkhas who have fought bravely and died for the UK.

That's just not right in anybody's book of decency.

It wasn't just a right v left issue. The ones that got together to defeat this were from both sides of the aisle. You rarely see that sort of cooperation- which should tell you something.

Gordon Brown is always touted as a smart fella but he was just plain stupid on this issue.

[Winniesboy]

Good to see you posting again, if you don’t mind me saying so.

[Prodigal Son]

Aww shucks. I’m blushing. I doubt many other people are going to share that sentiment, but thanks.