Bludgeoning Brown May Be A Bottler

For a long time now I have thought there was a strong possibility that Mr Brown would ‘cut and run’ this Autumn. Despite it being against his perceived cautious nature, my belief was that the economy was not likely to get better over the next two years and, in view of the fact that his hands are all over the current credit/debt crisis (both public and private), Mr Brown would understand the climate for electoral success would get no better than now. Yesterday’s speech, however, has given me cause to think again. Might he bottle it, ‘do a Callaghan’, and wait for the Spring?

The hype surrounding the possible announcement of an election date had lead most political anoraks (such as myself) to tune in yesterday afternoon expecting a rip-roaring speech designed to inspire the few Socialists left on this island, whilst reassuring the great majority of centre-right leaning voters this country still sensibly possesses. Mr Brown did not deliver. Indeed his performance was more soporific than stimulating. We were beaten into submission by a series of new ‘policy’ announcements – removing licenses from shops selling alcohol to minors (already possible), expelling immigrants who break the law (already possible). A further drone reminded us of the importance he personally attached to tertiary education for all, irrespective of means, without mentioning the implementation of tuition fees by his own Party. Remarkable. And finally, he hardly managed to mention Iraq or Afghanistan. How come British military commitments abroad are not worthy of more consideration? He apparently managed to mention the words Britain and British 71 times in his speech. What about British lives and British military casualties, Mr Brown?

So, on reflection, if this was a speech prefacing an election battle then Mr Brown is no Napoleon. The ‘ovation’ from his troops was relatively short and had the air of ‘thank God he’s finished’ about it. As someone who always thought he would ‘go early’, yesterday’s speech came as a pleasant surprise. I now suspect that Brown is a bottler.