Sun Shine or Brown Out Out? OUT?
It’s well known that the financial standing of the British Parliamentary Labour Party is not good. In fact, if the UNITE trade union decided to withdraw their financial support tomorrow, Labour as we know it would implode.
The decision of the Sun (at the behest of its owner) to back the Tories, is if you will forgive the pun “a bolt from the Blue.” Timing was perfect, delivered immediately after the make or break Tuesday Brown Speech and the conference hall then quickly cleared of so called media commentators.
In itself, suggesting game over for Brown and the Labour Party.
The suggested combined date of May 6th for both Local Government and the General Election can be put down to money or the lack of it. Simply Labour does not have the cleared funds to mount two campaigns in any one financial year. Current debt interest alone is around several millions.
Wednesday sees a morning speech from Andy Burnham, Health Secretary and a debate on Citizenship. Looking at the monitors, the Brighton conference hall at 9:30 am has an assembled audience of just a couple of hundred and hopefully the lady with her knitting will make an appearance.
You have to feel sorry for todays’ speakers, the hall will remain virtually empty and rather than return home fired up to fight the upcoming election, many heated debates will be going on around kitchen tables over the next few weeks as to the merits of the whole family supporting the parliamentary ambitions of one of their family members, and the direct and indirect financial costs involved in such an adventure.
At each stage of the selection process, candidates are expected to fork out for media training and several other educational tools to prepare them for their future career in parliament. And of course, the hapless candidate has to pay for the services offered with little or no opportunity to refuse. That is on top of the £500 non refundable entry fee.
At the end of the day can Labour shoe-in the hopefuls into Labour held seats? Well not now. So on a personal financial basis, is it really worth the cost and the disruption to family life for the opportunity of standing next to the Monster Raving Loony candidate? But there again the Labour hopeful will be in good company, as both will probably have lost their deposits!
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For Publication CREDITLINE: Julian Bray MCIPR NUJ
julianbray@aol.com Tel: 0044 (0)1733 345581
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