Gordon's 'Hand of History' Moment

Gordon's 'Hand of History' Moment

Iain Dale 3:20 PM

Gordon Brown has sent out an email today to all Labour Party members. Here's what it says...

Today, at our Cabinet Meeting held in the West Midlands, I am setting out to my Cabinet colleagues the current challenges as I see them and my response to them. I also wanted to write to you personally as a Labour Party member to share the following with you.

For 10 years we've benefited from unprecedented growth, a rapidly expanding economy and rising living standards. But the global credit crunch is forcing people across the country to change how they live their lives. Our world has changed. 

While David Cameron's Conservatives may be willing to let people fend for themselves - I will not let this happen. I will not turn my back on those who need help. The quest to ensure that power, wealth, and opportunity are in the hands of the many, not the few, is fundamental to our purpose. This is why the Labour Party exists.

People want a government that is always on their side - but at their side only when they need it. They want a government that is empowering, not overpowering.

This is not about rhetoric. It's about fairness and unfairness. It's about providing support to those who played by the rules but are struggling with rising prices. It's about making sure that a fair chance is provided to all.

I will not pretend that there is a quick fix. It requires leadership, squaring up to hard truths, being open with the British people about the choices we face, and making tough decisions on priorities for public spending.

I know that there are people who feel that modern Britain has been unfair to them. Some of them are right. But there is nothing that is bad about Britain that cannot be overcome by what is good about Britain.

In the coming weeks, I will set out how I - and our party, and our government, and our country - must rise to conquer those challenges an d ensure fairness for all.

Fairness is my purpose, my pride, my principle.

And my promise to you.

Gordon

Is there a single person reading this that believes Gordon Brown wrote a word of that. If he did, he has forgotten basic rules of style and grammar. There's no vision, nor a single policy proposal. And when he says it's not about rhetoric and then follows this statement with...

Fairness is my purpose, my pride, my principle.

And my promise to you.

...you really have to wonder. It's almost a "This is not a time for soundbytes, but I feel the hand of history on my shoulder" moment.