Rallying the troops
- 14 May 08, 09:15 AM
Yesterday Gordon Brown's loyal lieutenant finally agreed surrender terms at the end of the long and bloody "war of Gordon's ear"*. The prime minister only listened to those warning him about the millions of losers from scrapping the 10p tax rate when faced by imminent defeat.
Today Labour's general will try to rally his dispirited troops with tales of the next battles they will fight together. Whether it's housing or health, welfare or immigration, the battle cry which will ring around the land is "We are on your side! Fairness for all!"
Those in the ranks contemplating mutiny - and, believe me, many are - may be forgiven for wondering why their leader ignored those slogans for week after week and month after month in the battle of 10p which he fought and lost so spectacularly, leaving the casualties to wonder what on earth the point of it all had been.
* For the historians among you, you might have spotted that this is a reference to the War of Jenkins's Ear.
