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What now for Labour?

Key Labour figures are still rallying round Gordon Brown as talk of a fresh leadership challenge persists. What now for the party?

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson says the government must focus on policy and the public should not be distracted.

However, former lord chancellor Lord Falconer has called for a leadership debate.

Mr Brown insists he is "focused on the task in hand", despite "a painful defeat" in last week’s local elections.

Can Gordon Brown remain as party leader? Can the reshuffle rejuvenate the Labour party? How does this affect other political parties?

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Published: Thursday, 4 June, 2009, 21:19 GMT 22:19 UK

All comments as they come in

Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:28 GMT 12:28 UK

Gordon Brown is a tough man in a very tough position.

he is not solely responsible for either the financial crisis, or the expenses row, so why are people hounding at him and not seeing the bigger picture?

The expenses system existed before Gordon Brown and before Labour cam in to power

And the financial crisis, although it may not have been initiated by the media, it was certainly stirred up and blown out of proportion by them, becoming a self fulfilling prophecy

Simon Attwood

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:27 GMT 12:27 UK

Resign, call an election, and we might be able to salvage this country from the pit that labour has brought it into! Ewan, Glasgow

Sadly, this comment reflects the real problem with this country - the people living in it. Take some responsibility and stop blaming your own problems on others eh?

The really sad thing is that people like Ewan in Glasgow will be saying exactly the same thing in 10 years time about the (shudder) Tory Government. People have short memories...

[luskentyre], Wick, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:25 GMT 12:25 UK

Now there should be a challenge for the Labour leadership as the recent track record speaks for itself. It's no good Mr. Brown waiting to contest the next General Election, as it would take a magnifying glass to find a spec of red on the British map after the results.

Dean

Johnson at no 10, Balls at no 11 and Robert Green in goal, is my prescription.

[StrangerBird]

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:23 GMT 12:23 UK

election at the end of the year or maybe early next year so before the latest possible date of may/june 2010.
until then mr brown should focus on the economy and locking us in to Europe before some anti party get voted in and we all lose out.

for the election mr brown should step down as he is not a vote winner, or labour could fold as a party but thats just me.

i recommend to all partys that you take some time to listen to the electorate no one has ever asked my opinion!

Richard, cornwall, UK

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:23 GMT 12:23 UK

The recent resignations by cabinet ministers; some of whom only a few days ago were praising and supporting the PM; tells the nation that New Labour is in its last death throws as a government. As for the PM; he must be removed for the sake of the party or they will all sink with him into the annuls of history as a "has been" party......we all hope. They just don't get it; they have failed as a party; their revolutionary policies in general have been a total and utter disaster for the nation.

Jim young

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:19 GMT 12:19 UK

How can Labour with a meagre 16% of the vote continue to govern the country? Even the Tories don't have a mandate with around 28%. It is clearly time for a change in the electoral system. Voting should take place on a weekend and should be mandatory - at the risk of a fine. Single Transferable Vote is used in some elections but not Nationally, Why? Because the main parties knew that they would get stung big time. Now Labour has perhaps they will see the merits of Proportional Representation.

Tremaine, Oxton, Wirral

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:18 GMT 12:18 UK

The crucial thing for all of us is to get the economy back on track. Gordon Brown is successfully doing this, and I can't think of anyone else among politicians of all parties who could do it any better. Time to stop fighting and get on with the job.

Kate's Comment, Cardiff

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:18 GMT 12:18 UK

The only man for the job for Labour is the Rt Hon Tony Blair,
I think the whole country would forgive him his misgivings which look trivial compared to the catalogue of disasters in the last 12 months,
otherwise as a Labour voter they have no chance of my vote,
the only other credible candidate would have to had just landed on a spacecraft to sway me and the only other man of substance and moral standing is Dennis Skinner and he has no hope of being selected.
My advise: Step up or step down.

Adrian Robinson

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:16 GMT 12:16 UK

So the Libdems want to bring in PR, well I have a news flash for you, it was PR that has now allowed the likes of the BNP to gain an MEP seat.

PR is a well intended idea but in practice we end up with an un-desirable effect.

I also note that it would appear that the majority of the BNP votes appear to have come from Labour votes. What does that say.

Libdem slogan should now be:

Libdem = PR = BNP

JWR, London

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:15 GMT 12:15 UK

Let us remember the 2 key causes of this deservedly distastrous set of results for Labour.

Namely, that this country is experiencing:
Tony Blair's political legacy, and
Gordon Brown's economic legacy

When will Labour ever learn from their previous governments?

Tax and spend, spin, and trying to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator just don't work as policies, and probably never will in the UK.

[adrianm], near Nottingham, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK

Labour just don't get it and nor do many others who are dissapointed by the relative success of UKIP and in particular the BNP.
To dismiss those voting for these parties as 'protest voters' or ignorant/unintelligent, is simply missing the very genuine issues over immigration and feelings of being disenfranchised by the main parties.
Ask yourself the question, is there a limit to the immigration we can sustain? If yes, what is that limit, It may just be a difference where we draw the line.

Nick Wessex, Salisbury Wessex

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK

Laters Taters!!

Babber Dabber, Poole, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK

House prices up

FTSE is up

pound is up

uk consumer optimisim up


so what is the problem ?

mike levonoski, norfolk

You forgot........

Gordon Brown, up everyone's nose

The Labour Party, time to give up.

[Richkw], Canterbury, United Kingdom

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:10 GMT 12:10 UK

Gordon,
Don't make the same mistake that John Major made and hold off until the last possible moment before calling an election - face it and accept that the writing is on the wall. People have simply lost faith in the political process, so a reshuffle will simply not be enough.

Chris, Lytham St Annes

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Added: Monday, 8 June, 2009, 11:10 GMT 12:10 UK

4th Prize in next years final of Britains got Talent (actually, it will probably be X X X from the voters before then).

david taylor, Southend, United Kingdom

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