Reid vs Brown?

InFront

Nobody knows exactly when Tony Blair will name as his departure from Number Ten, and it would probably be foolish to predict such a move as imminent. However, his resignation is inevitable (2007 seems like the most logical time for that), and it looks like the leadership battle is about to get a lot more interesting.

Earlier on in the year, few would have doubted but that Sir Gordon Brown was a 'shoo in' to succeed Blair when he resigns.
At the beginning of the Summer we saw John Reid moving to the Home Office and suggestions that Gordon Brown would not go unchallenged, and now with the spotlight focusing on those next in command, Reid really seems to be outshining his Scottish colleague in the cabinet, and you might say that he seems to have made a break in the race to leadership.

Personally, I think I'd prefer Brown as PM. He seems to have a great grasp on environmental issues and social policy as well as an unrivalled experience of the economy. I like the uncomplicated common sense of his personality and irrefutable logic, as we saw over issues such as freeing up the Bank of England. He also seems to be interested in putting the current Labour philosophy under review and getting back in touch with the traditional Labour voter.
John Reid, widely perceived as a Blairite, would seem by default to challenge that opinion, and has surely earned a lot of political Brownie points in the past few days and weeks. His central role in the terror scare has also (well, almost) preserved us from the usual Prescottisms, surely an achievment in itself?:p Could he fore-seeably beat Brown in a leadership race?


Who do you think the party would be better to choose as their next leader, Brown or Reid, or are there any other noteworthy possible challengers? David Milliband might be one, but not this time round I suspect.
And what implications do you think such a decision would have for the Labour party, and if successful in getting back into government, the likely course of British politics under that administration?

flogen

I was just thinking the same thing when I saw Reid on TV a minute ago; would he take a stab at the leadership...?

I've no doubt that he, like many, will put the feelers out to see what kind of support Brown has when Blair does announce his step-down and I guess it will all depend on what kind of dissent there is and so on.
I'm sure many would advise Reid not to do it though as a leadership battle along the old Brown/Blair faultline would probably do more harm than good...

Reid certainly has gotten a lot of limelight recently though, apparently the story about Prescott calling Bush's policies "crap" was leaked just to try and take some of that away from him; it hasn't worked.

murphaph

Brown is proper old skool labour-a real throwback to its socialist origins. I don't think Reid is like that and may be less 'threatening' to the english 'new' labour voters. I actually can't see Labour voting for Brown unless they want to lose the next election. He's just to dour and depressing. Reid is a bit more upbeat but honestly, as Scotland moves away from the union and the issue of Scottish MPs voting on issues which don't affect Scotland, while English, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can't vote on Scottish only issues gets more 'air time' I can't see any scottish party leader becoming PM. The union is changing.

mike65

Reid was certainly old school once (member of the Communist Party), but then we all change a bit over 30 years. His unfortunate brief dalliance with Radovan Karadžić might be used against him and there was the cannabis discovery a few years ago. Plus his temper, actually Reid may not PM material!

Mike.