Brown hints election defeat on his mind
May 4th, 2010 - 8:57 pm ICT by IANS
London, May 4 (DPA) Prime Minister Gordon Brown indicated Tuesday that he is thinking about life beyond politics should his ruling Labour Party fair badly in Britain’s general election this week.
He would take “full responsibility” for whatever happened May 6, Brown told TV channel GMTV. “If I couldn’t make a difference any more, I would go off and do something else,” he said.
The remark came amid heightened speculation that Brown could come under pressure to step down as Labour leader in the event of a hung parliament, a situation where neither Labour, nor the Conservatives, would have an overall majority of parliamentary seats.
Labour could then find itself in the situation of having to discuss a power-sharing arrangement with the Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems), whose support has surged in this election.
Reports have suggested that, in view of Brown’s personal unpopularity, he could be forced to make way for a new party leader in order to facilitate talks with the Lib Dems.
At present, Labour is running third after the Lib Dems in the opinion polls, but hopes to improve its position to regain second place. If that fails and the result is a disaster for Labour, Brown could decide - or be forced to decide - to quit.
Flanked by his wife, Sarah, he said he could imagine doing some charity work. “I don’t want to do business or anything else - I just want to do something good,” he said.
With just two days left until polling day, leading Labour figures have openly urged voters to consider switching their support to the Lib-Dems in tactical voting designed to “keep out the Conservatives”.
The Conservatives, under David Cameron, are leading the polls, but Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, the undisputed star of this election, has left it open which side he would support if it should come to talks about an alliance or coalition government.
The Liberals are in second place after the Conservatives, having increased their popularity rating from around 22 percent to between 28 and 29 percent, following Clegg’s highly-rated performance in TV election debates between the three leaders.
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- Liberal Democrats can win May 6 polls: Clegg - Apr 28, 2010
- Lib Dem-Labour deal likely only if Brown steps down - May 09, 2010
- Lib Dem support sinks to lowest level since origin: Poll - Jan 05, 2011
- Lib Dems may lose half of their voters in next election: Poll - Dec 12, 2010
- Brown offers to go if government is formed with Liberals - May 11, 2010
- Britain to switch to Conservative rule as Brown quits - May 12, 2010
- Labour, Liberal Democrats work feverishly to seal deal (Lead) - May 11, 2010
- Treachery, cry Tories after Clegg and Brown talk - May 11, 2010
- David Cameron Takes Office as New British PM - May 12, 2010
- Buckingham Palace connived to keep 'Brown at Number 10 to seal Tory-Leb Dem coalition' - Nov 14, 2010
- Brit PM Brown resigns in a dramatic move - May 11, 2010
- British election leaves all options open (Roundup) - May 07, 2010
- Brit Govt's support dramatically down, claims Guardian Poll - Dec 27, 2010
Tags: coalition government, conservatives, david cameron, election defeat, election reports, gordon brown, hung parliament, labour leader, labour party, lib dems, liberal democrats, liberals, opinion polls, parliamentary seats, party leader, polling day, prime minister gordon brown, tv channel, undisputed star, wife sarah
