WI: Gordon Brown stands aside in 2007?

[Comisario]

Let us say that Gordon Brown's retinal tears come to his attention in 2007, prior to the Labour leadership election, and he decides to stand aside from the competition due to ill health.

This would open the challenge up to new contenders and allow those who stood aside in 2007 to come forward. Just about everyone you could think of, from Alan Milburn to Jack Straw, was touted as a possible candidate IOTL. Many refused due to "loyalty to Brown". In this case, there would be no issue of loyalty.

Who do you all think would come forward, win the leadership and become Prime Minister?

From then on, how do you think the 2007-2010 period would go for British politics and, more specifically, the possible leader you pick?

 

[Comisario]

Bumping because I really want to hear people's ideas.

 

[tallthinkev]

Others could be Alan Johnson, Michael Meacher, Glenda Jackson, Charles Clark, Alan Milburn and David Miliband. Of those only Johnson could really win it, IMO. Meacher and Jackson are too left wing. Clark has no personality (or just too ugly). Milburn, who? And Miliband too young. As for you could win it would be between Straw and Johnson. Neither would be PM, as people were fed up with Labour

 

[Comisario]

Others could be Alan Johnson, Michael Meacher, Glenda Jackson, Charles Clark, Alan Milburn and David Miliband. Of those only Johnson could really win it, IMO. Meacher and Jackson are too left wing. Clark has no personality (or just too ugly). Milburn, who? And Miliband too young. As for you could win it would be between Straw and Johnson. Neither would be PM, as people were fed up with Labour

Alan Milburn - was constantly talked about as Tony Blair's preferred successor, but resigned his cabinet post to "spend more time with family". He could have always made a comeback with Blair's endorsement.

Anybody who won would have become PM - the leadership election also decides the Prime Minister, as there are three more years expected until the next general election.

 

[Colin]

Might there not be some delicate manoeuvring to get Tony Blair to stay on given that the main impetus to him stepping down came from the continued pressure from the Brown camp.

 

[Comisario]

Might there not be some delicate manoeuvring to get Tony Blair to stay on given that the main impetus to him stepping down came from the continued pressure from the Brown camp.

Well, he had already confirmed that he would step down "within a year" back in September 2006. I don't know if he would risk rescinding that once Brown is unable to contend, as it may imply that Brown was the problem all along. The Brownites of the party would be looking to knife Blair pretty quickly after that, and they'd win it in a much bloodier contest.