James Forsyth James Forsyth

Labour’s cycle of deceit?

James Forsyth reviews the week in politics

issue 16 January 2010

James Forsyth reviews the week in politics

There is something wonderfully self-perpetuating about mutiny in politics. Any attempt to depose a leader, successful or otherwise, triggers a cycle of rebellion. The danger for Labour after last week is being sucked into this cycle where treason begets treason. Indeed, the conspirators against Brown cite his actions as justification for their own. As Barry Sheerman put it, when challenged about whether he was betraying his leader, ‘I don’t need anyone who undermined the previous Prime Minister and who was utterly disloyal telling me that I am disloyal.’

When a leader has broken the bonds of party loyalty, he struggles to demand loyalty himself. Iain Duncan Smith, a Maastricht rebel, could never rely on the fealty of his party. Equally, Brown does not have the moral authority to call for loyalty because he was known for anything but when he was Chancellor. The two men most tipped to be his successor, Ed Balls and David Miliband, will also have trouble on this front.

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