As I wrote a couple of days ago, Brown’s close involvement in the Glenrothes by-election is a high risk strategy – after all, he’ll be regarded as even more reponsible should Labour be defeated. But the strategy may just have bought him more time in his role. Recently, the story was that the leadership challenges would kick off at the Labour conference in September. But the latest – as reported in today’s Times – is that Labour MPs are prepared to sheath their knives until after the by-election, which will most likely be in October or November. The thinking is that Brown should be given an opportunity to prove himself, and to implement his economic recovery package.
Two thoughts:
1) If the story’s true, then Brown will probably need a political miracle to avoid a leadership challenge in November. At the moment, the smart money’s on the SNP winning in Glenrothes. And a couple of months is hardly enough time judge the effects of a policy package on the economy.
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