TELEGRAPH BLOGS:
Gordon Brown slaps down a diminished David Miliband >>> By Iain Martin | September 23, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Gordon Brown Dismisses 'Novice' Challengers in Labour Conference Speech: Gordon Brown dismissed rivals David Cameron and David Miliband as he warned that this is “no time for a novice” to be running the country. >>> By Andrew Porter, Political Editor | September 24, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Labour Conference Analysis: Gordon Brown Shuts Door on Diminished David Miliband: David Miliband and Gordon Brown both had straightforward aims ahead of this week’s Labour conference in Manchester.
Mr Brown’s was simple: to still be leader and see off any rebel insurgency.
Mr Miliband, privately at least, must have wanted to end the week having established himself as the main credible alternative to the Prime Minister.
While Mr Brown succeeded, Mr Miliband failed, and failed badly.
The low point in a lacklustre speech on Monday came when he appeared to try a Barack Obama trick to fire up the Labour audience by employing a technique known as “call and response.”
He said: “You know, the truth is these Tories are beatable.” He attempted to try and energise the delegates and in the style of an evangelical preacher added: “Let’s say it with conviction; they are beatable. Beatable.”
The response to his rallying call was silence.
When the Foreign Secretary finished his 22 minute address, one supporter of the Prime Minister was heard to mutter: “Only two people will think that is a good speech, his spin doctor and Gordon Brown.”
That caustic wit was all the more devastating because the observation was spot on. Mr Brown must have been delighted when he saw yesterday morning’s newspapers panning the Foreign Secretary’s efforts accompanied by photographs of Mr Miliband looking anything but a Prime Minister-in-waiting. >>> By Andrew Porter, Political Editor | September 24, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Gordon Brown's Conference Speech Won Labour Over, Yet They're Doomed if He Stays >>> By Simon Heffer
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>
