James Forsyth James Forsyth

The Blairite plates are shifting

There have been few harsher—or more prescient—critics of Gordon Brown than John Rentoul. Today, Rentoul again predicts that Brown will be forced out by the Cabinet before the next election but what is new is who Rentoul thinks is coming up fast, James Purnell.

Rentoul writes:

“That the opinion polls are so tilted against the Government on the basis of Cameron’s offer of fresh faces and an easy manner rather than policy substance ought to give courage to Brown’s enemies – those are the ones on the bench next to him. I suspect that Brown will be forced out by a self-interested Cabinet rebellion by this time next year. David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, would probably beat Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, in a leadership election.

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