Weakness, back downs and rolling over.

The announcement earlier this morning, by the government about their compensation package for the scrapping of the 10% tax break, is one of the most humilating episodes in recent times. Gordon Brown's leadership credentials are in tatters, he has no credibility left.

This whole row of the budget was his making, and his alone. It was gordon that scrapped the 10p rate in his last budget as Chancellor. It was Gordon that stood firm and said that there would be no change in policy. It was Gordon who had to plead with the PLP not to vote against the Finance Bill. It was Gordon that was forced to announce a compensation package to help the people that HIS budget would have left worse off.

The last week has shown that he is truely weak. When faced with a vote that he would have lost he backed down, he capitulated, and now looks vulnerable. Tony Blair never faced anything of this nature, because he wasn't a stubborn old "clunking fist" that didn't listen.

But it does stop there his leadership example of capitulation to try and avoid losing vote is followed by his subordinates. Gordon promised compensation to prevent a vote going against him, and Ken Livingstone this week handed a compensation package with little compensation to Metronet employees to prevent a tube strike costing him votes. The trend is there, and that is how Labour is governing under Brown's leadership.

What does worry me is that this show of weakness could be repeated yet again, this time in Europe. Remember those red lines in the Lisbon Treaty? Well, he said he would not back down over those, but then he also said he would not back down on the scrapping of the 10% tax rate.

However, it was Brown's PMQ's performance that was really telling. He tried to come out on the attack and make a back track sound like leadership. But David Cameron tore him to shreads, with Brown only being able to respond with claims of successes, all of which where in Blair's era. Gordon accused of not sticking to the central issues, but this is a major issue. Whether you support the government, or not, the one thing you want from a PM is strong leadership. I didn't like Blair, but even I will admit that he controlled a tight ship, Gordon's ship leak more than the Titanic.

So for now, the rebels have been bought off, but does anybody make out of that? Well, no. Yet again the only way the people affected by the tax increases will be able to see any money will be to beg for the money back through tax credits! What is it with this government and tax credits. they make the system so bueraucratic that the people affected don't apply, or by some technicality, get less than they deserve. How demeaning, instead of lower paid people instantly getting the money in their pay packets they will now have to go cap in hand, and beg for the money back.

Party of the people, my arse.

Is Labour's support in meltdown?

Opinion polls are always volatile, and in the main unreliable. But recent polls conducted over the weekend, have been a real eye opening of public opinion, and it isn't good new for Labour. Now, when the Times' poll put the tories 16 points ahead of Labour, to be honest, I thought that this sort of result would just be a one off. Although, it was very pleasing to read. But over the last two days these results have been backed up by a whole string of polls.

The Guardian was the next paper to follow suit by putting the tories 13 ahead. Now this could just be a reaction to the budget, which screwed the vast majority of people, but then again it could be the first real signs of a sea change that we haven't seen for nearly 14 years.

But it isn't only national polls that see Labour doing badly. In Scotland the SNP are currently 8 points ahead in the polls, and in London Boris is 12 points ahead of Ken. Up and down this country Labour is doing badly, but with almost an arrogant disregard this government does not seem to care.

When the polls were bad for the tories, David Cameron knew that he had to change things, make his policies likeable, and more importantly people like him. After all, they will not vote for someone or a policy that they hate. But, the government don't appear to care. They simply forge ahead with policies that no one likes or wants, id cards, referendum et al.

Why? Its because the government thinks it knows best, only they can save the country, and everyone else is useless or will damage the security of the nation. At least, that is their spin, which is now seen as just pure smoke screen.

The polls are not a pretty sight along the length and breadth of this country, if your're a Labour supporter. But the wilful disregard that the government has for public opinion is the cause of that. Labour does not listen, despite promises from Gordon Brown that he would. We all knew he wouldn't as he never listened to anybody while he was Chancellor.

The outlook for Labour as a whole isn't good. If an election was held tomorrow we would see a landslide victory, more against Labour than a win for the tories, if I'm honest.

Same old diversion by Gordon

I was lucky enough to sneak in PMQ's during my lunch break today, and found myself looking on at the desperation of Gordon Brown over the Lisbon Treaty issue. In his responses to questions by David Cameron, all Brown could do was throw up old arguements about Maastrict, and accuse the tories of changing their position.

But this is a typical Labour fallacy, if any position has changed it's Labour's. Back in 1992, the Tories, voted for the ratification of the Maastrict treaty, Labour voted against it. Their position was the Europe was bad, and we shouldn't be part of it. However fast forward fifteen and a bit years, and now they are not only voting for an even greater inculsion into to the EU, but won't give the electorate a say. The Tories still say involvement in Europe is a good thing, but are against even further intergration.

So when you look at the two standpoints the Tories position has not changed a great deal, but Labour has gone from not wanting to be part of Europe to all in. A massive shift in policy. So for Gordon to use this arguement is just seen as the diversionary tactic to try and deflect attention away from the break in his manifesto pledge to give the country a referendum.

It also shows Gordon's total disregard for the will of the people. Nearly nine in ten people want a referendum of this treaty, and the majority of other European leaders openly admitting that the Lisbon Treaty is the EU constitution in all but name, his position becomes a little more precarious. Because he bottled an early election he will only have, at the very most, two years before he has to face the electorate, and this will be very fresh in people's memories. The PM has tried the spin of saying how different the treaty is, and hasn't been believed, he has even tried to thrown up arguements from fifteen years ago, but these just highlight the difference in his own party's position. But his biggest failing is that disregard for the electorate, and that he knows best and will get his way. I'm starting to see why some in his own party called him "stalin".

Although, whilst i'm on the subject of the treaty vote, the implosion of the Lib Dems is shocking, their front bench is fighting itself, resignations have already begun, and the individual that issued the now infamous "calamity Clegg" briefing note must have the smuggest of grins on their face. But as i've said before, their position will only do one thing, and that is gift a win for Gordon Brown.

Gordon feels the backlash.

This may seem a bit of an odd way to start a post, but all will become clear. You know when you walk in half way through a coonversation it always seems as though the two parties that were having that conversation were talking complete filth? Well, that how I felt (ish) when I got home from work to switch on the debate on the Queen's speech.

To my confusion I managed to switch on my TV to see David Cameron answering questions from Labour backbenchers. Then there was a lot of David telling the Labour benches about what he would do. This did not help my confusion, because for a short moment it was though I was in a parallel universe where there had been an election and the tories were in power, and answering questions about their Queen's speech.

Seriously though, it was all quite bizarre. Camerons looked fresh, and on a mission, and Brown bored the pants off me. It was a little unnerving though the amount of times that he said he would gladly give way on subjects, admittedly trying to draw David Cameron out, but Tony Blair to my knowledge never did it, he carried on harder and harder, grinding down the opposition to a point where, and let's be honest, the tories were not a credible opposition.

But Brown today just did not do that. The majority of his speech is old policy, and old ideas. there was no new, and if this is his vision then this country will now face paralysis over he next few years.

However, the biggest surprise was to come, and it came in the form of Vince Cable! As the acting leader of the Lib Dems, stood I thought "here we go", obviously thinking this will be as boring as Ming, but it wasn't. In fact I was shocked at just how direct he was at criticising Brown. He was straight to the point in attcking the repetitivenes of the policies, and how this proved that we now had a tired Prime Minsiter with no new ideas.

When you consider the fact the Lib Dems were contemplatung being in a coalition goverment with Labour, if the election had been held with a hung parliament the result, the attack on Brown seems all the more bizarre.

Overall, this can't go down as a good day for Gordon Brown, and if an acting leader can score points off you, then you know things are badly wrong.

All his own making.

In what can only be described at a hopeless attempt by Labour to destroy and panic the tories with election fever, the opposite appears to have been the result of the speculation. However, the conference season provided the nation with a massive opportunity to see the policies that each stand for. This more than anything else has shown up the energy of the parties. It was obvious from day one that the government wanted to create a swirl to try and upstage and throw the tory party conference off balance. In fact, it had the opposite effect.

With speculation rife, it turned what could potentially have been a normal run of the mill conference into a call to arms. It focused the party, brought it back to together, and gave the nation an opportunity to see some of the policies that the conservatives would be putting forward. I for one am pleased at the way the conference went, as there was a buzz that you didn't see from either of the other two. The Lib Dem conference bored me senseless, and most of the delegates by the looks of the tv coverage, and as for the rehash that was the Labour one, the less said about that the better.

At the Labour party conference all we were given were excuses and admissions of failure, and how their new policies would rectify the nations problems. This would have been all well and good, for an opposition, but when you've been in power for ten years it was as close to an apology that we will see.

So, what next, will Gordon go through with it? He has caused all of this speculation, and made some very sorry attempts at spin thoughout the whole of the conference season. The disgraceful headline grab attempt during the week, with his trip to Iraq, and subsequent announcement of a troop withdrawal which will see no extra troops coming home, has been shown up by just about every type of media. Gordon really cannot do spin like Tony Blair could. At least Blair would have made it believeable, a con yes but believeable.

As the PM meets his advisors this weekend there will only be one question on his mind, yes or no for a snap election. You can bet your bottom dollar that he had hoped that the speculation, and poll lead last weekend, would derail the tory party conference, create in-fighting, and turn a snap election into a walkover. But let us not get carried away. Although the polls are looking quite rosy for the tories at the moment, at lot of this will undoubtedly be down the conference bounce.

For me the real test will be over the next couple of weeks, at PMQ's. The momentum is with the tories, and its there for Cameron to capitalise on, and if he can pull up the government at every turn, he'll be able to show just how much of their policies are actually spin, and worse than that an admission of failure.

So its with a bit of glee, and a wry smile that I have that Gordon Brown has found himself in this position. He created the election fever, and it appears to have blown up in his face. Whatever his decision, he loses face. If he calls it, it looks at though David Cameron bullied him into it, and if he doesn't he looks like a bottler. Not a very good image for a PM to have.

Personally I don't think he will call an election. The polls, even with the bounce factor taken out are too close to call. However, if he does the party is ready, the grassroots are primed and waiting for the call. You just have to see my inbox for proof of that.

How times change

I never thought I would see this day. Labour has always depicted the Tories as the party that will destroy the NHS. So why is that a Tory leader is being cheered by doctors, and a Labour Health Secretary is booed?

Cameron's Schooldays

It must be a slow news day today, especially if the old chesnut of David Cameron's schooldays has been dragged up again.

In fact it's such a non-story that I don't why i'm even......................

Blair's hapless show at PMQ's

As all of the news network were tied up with the Birmingham investigation, I was unable to have my usual catch up with PMQ's on the Sky news Active, until I read the dead tree press this morning

For me, I think that this was one of the most telling PMQ's for over a decade! When was the last time that the Leader of an opposition party able to call for the resignation of a Prime Minister, and not be laughed out of the commons.

Tony Blair has no authority at all over his cabinet. The way that whole Gay adoption row was handled is a perfect example. In 1997 would any of his cabinet dared to question his decision. No, of course they wouldn't. But now that they smell blood, a few threaten to resign, and Blair has to back down to the mob

So when David Cameron stated at the despatch box that "It is in the national interest for him to go now", he was spot on. No matter which party is in power, the country will be paralysed if the PM cannot control their own cabinet

But the ridicule didn't stop there with even the SNP leader making a "handcuffed wrists" gesture as the PM respond to his question.

How true could that joke become.

David Cameron and the Home Office

David Cameron's latest "webcast" about the problems concerning the Home Office.

Tories in strongest position for 14 years.

The opening paragraph from a report in today's Guardian, has made the festive season start a little early for me.

It states that: "David Cameron has led his party to its strongest sustained position in 14 years according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today, which shows the Conservatives have extended their lead over Labour to eight points at the end of the new Tory leader's first year in office".

Roll on the snap election, that this country deserves!!!

What do you want from the NHS?

The Speaker steps in

In what is probably the most remarkable PMQ's i've seen for a long time, as David Cameron went head to head...with the speaker!

Commons Speaker Michael Martin, at first, sparked uproar at prime minister's questions by stopping David Cameron asking Tony Blair who he wanted as "his successor". However, in an almost unprecedented move, the Speaker told the Tory leader he could not ask about the Labour leadership.

But in an equally unheard of move David Cameron responded by saying "Mr Speaker are you honestly saying we cannot ask the prime minister of the country..." before being interrupted again.

By now the commons was in uproar, with the speaker threatening to suspend the sitting.

This is not the first time the Mr Martin has protected Mr Blair from awkward questions, and I dare say it won't be the last either.

Blair tries to upstage Cameron

In a blatant attempt to upstage David Cameron, Blair was up to his old tricks again as he chose the precise moment that David finished his speech to make an announcement about Northern Ireland.

Call me an old cynic, but this was so obvious that it wasn't funny.

Cameron sets out the path of the New Direction.

Well, conference season is now at an end, and I know I may seem biased but David Cameron's speech was by far the best of the leader's speeches.

While Ming bumbled on, and Tony spelt out his retirement plans, David did something completely different he looked to the future. After watching his perfomance I was left feeling very positive about this "New Direction". The prominence of making public services work by getting the frontline service deliverers to be the policy makers, the promise to make doctors and nurses decide what is best for the patients, is what people want, and the New direction has recognised that.

However, the political commentators didn't like it, there was nothing for them to criticise. The decision to hold firm and not make any policy decisions now, three or four years before an election is proving to be a right one.

Setting out the priorites, the areas he wants to look at and improve, will strike a chord with many people. His heartfelt points about the NHS really made me think, how can I trust a politician to run something when they don't use it themself. David Cameron does, and he needs it to be safe in his hands, as he leaves his family in the NHS's hands on a regular basis. Family friendly policies, the call for people to take responsiblilty for their own lives and communities, and the bit I liked the most, making every person who is or becomes a British citizen feel British.

Overall, I was left at the end wanting more, and I should be as it was his first speech, there is at least three more conferences to go before an election.

Tax cuts pledges now would be folly

Sometimes I wonder why members of my party seem intent on destroying a good thing. The reports of grassroot dissention over the lack of tax cut pledges is a perfect example.

Yesterday, in his opening conference address, David Cameron spelt out quite clearly that he wouldn't make any promises that he couldn't keep, and that any tax cut would have to be fully funded, and above scrutiny by Labour. But that does not seem to be good enough for some members.

However, David is spot on. After all, we are still three years away from the next election. If David Cameron makes a tax promise now, he may well not be able to keep that when the election comes around, because who knows how much more damage Gordon Brown (and his successor at number 11, if he wins the leadership race) can do. It is perfectly acceptable, and prudent, to say yes we will lower taxes if the economy lets us, but to commit to specific cuts now would be folly.

The leading men calling for tax cut commitments, are John Redwood and Lord Tebbit. Yesterday's men. Sorry but they are, especially John Redwood who, and lets be truthful about this, set the wheels in motion with his leadership challenge against John Major, destroying the party's credibility, and allowing Blair to railroad the next three elections.

So, lets have a reality check please. We are three years away from an election, although I have a sneaky suspicion that Gordon will string it out to four, and ANY policy now, would be either obsolete by then, destroyed by Labour's spin doctors, or even pinched and sold as a Labour idea if it's any good.

David Cameron and his team are right not to make promises that may not be able to keep in three or four years time. The electorate has had to suffer enough broken promises under Labour.

WebCameron is uploaded

Well done to David Cameron for showing that he is in touch with modern technology, by starting his own blog WebCameron.

It's a great idea, and he should be commended for taking such a bold step forward.