Gordon Brown's Last Stand

Gordon Brown is beginning to resemble all those characters from history that made a last valiant stand but it all came to nought. Tonight he has been in Manchester sounding forth on Labour's achievements. One side of A4 would do it. I'm not convinced by his rhetoric. But his self-deluding economic giant status that he ascribes to himself is one thing that we can either take or dismiss. It's when he becomes some kind of maverick preacher that I rush for the smelling salts.

Charles II once said that Presbyterianism was not a suitable religion for a gentleman. Listening to Gordon Brown just now I tend to sympathise with the late king's comment. Well, Gordon's version of it. His moral compass seems to be in its very own electrical field currently. He judges the Conservatives in a very nasty way. He says, with extra shoulder heaving, that they "pass by on the other side". The suggestion that the Labour Party under Gordon Brown is some kind of jamboree for good samaritans is laughable. What he said tonight kind of drives a coach and horses through the New Testament. For one thing, he is leaving political debate behind and getting dangerously close to judging souls. "Thou shalt not bear false witness"? Was this ever raised in the manse? Maybe its OK these days in the Labour Party.

Gordon Brown sneers at the concerns of committed Christians who hold to a traditional understanding of the Faith. He may have jettisoned doctrine he finds incompatible with melding a secular society into shape, but others haven't. Democracy is all about hearing the opposing view with respect and dignity. I get the distinct impression that many in the Labour Party are just political bullies. Pity!

Oh, and speaking of respect, I hear George Galloway is taking Labour to the cleaners for alleged postal ballot frauds. It would be far better if Gordon took time to dig out the motes in Labour's eyes before trying to suggest others had beams in theirs.