Media Blogs

What kind of assassination attempt leaves the ‘victim’ healthier than before?

The latest polls suggest the bungled plot to oust Gordon Brown last week has not damaged the government as much as some commentators including me would have guessed.

In fact, Labour have moved up a point.

Why? Well, the very fact the coup was so badly handled, and quickly quashed, has strengthened Mr Brown’s position.

The entire cabinet eventually rallied behind him, making any further ‘assassination’ attempts impossible before the next election.

Secondly, the price of this support appears to have been a significant change in Labour’s economic line going in to the new year.

Chancellor Alistair Darling has been allowed to speak openly, for the first time, of the need for the biggest spending cuts in 20 years.

Previously Mr Brown and key allies, including Ed Balls, had wanted to present the electorate with a choice between ‘Tory cuts’ and ‘Labour investment’.

Rebels have long grumbled that such a position was simply not credible, given the size of the national debt. Some felt it was outright dishonesty.

A fair number will feel the turmoil of last week was worth it to extract such a concession from the prime minister.