The question of whether Brown makes Balls Chancellor is still generally regarded as the key to what happens next. But it is worth pointing out that there is a huge danger to Brown in backing down now that he has gone so far: talking about Darling’s tenure at the Treasury in the past tense and refusing to confirm that he’ll keep him in post. If Brown fails to follow through, it will be clear that this is because he could not command the support of his Cabinet if he did make the appointment. Churchill’s comment about Suez springs to mind, ‘I wouldn’t have dared start but I certainly wouldn’t have dared stop.’
A display of weakness from Brown in the current circumstances would be provocative. But equally sending Balls to the Treasury, could be enough to tip some waverers into the rebel camp as well as triggering Darling’s resignation and possibly that of a couple of other Cabinet member: Remember Darling knows where the economic bodies are buried, the state of the books when he took on the job from Brown.
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