[reece(:]

Gordon Brown is returning to front-line politics to help Labour push power out of Westminster closer to the British people.

The former Prime Minister will advise Keir Starmer on his plans to devolve more responsibility to towns and communities across the UK.

The Labour heavyweight, a staunch defender of the Union, has come on board to help boost the party’s fortunes in Scotland ahead of next May’s elections.

His appointment come ahead of Labour launching a constitutional commission early next year to draw up plans to devolve “power, wealth and opportunity”.

The Government has promised a “levelling up” agenda across the regions of the UK but has had little to say on transferring real power to local areas.

In a major speech Sir Keir will say that the already urgent case for more devolution has had “rocket boosters” put under it by the pandemic.

“A national crisis on this scale should have been the time for central government to work with and empower local communities to bring the country together,” he will say.

“But too often the UK Government’s approach has been to pit council against council, town against town, city against city, mayor against mayor.

“It’s no surprise that the many local leaders I’ve spoken to have felt distanced and ignored on decisions that have had huge consequences on people’s jobs, lives and their communities. This has got to change.”

Sir Keir will promise that Labour’s plans will be just as radical as moves under Tony Blair to transfer large swathes of power to the nations and regions. But he will add: “This won’t be an exercise in shifting power from one Parliament to another, of moving a few jobs out of London or to ‘devolve and to forget’.

“This will be the boldest project Labour has embarked on for a generation and every bit as bold and radical as the programme of devolution that Labour delivered in the 1990s and 2000s.

“It will consider all parts of the United Kingdom and it will focus on delivering real – and lasting – economic and political devolution across our towns, our communities and to people across the country.”

But Labour’s most immediate challenge remains next year’s Scottish elections where they are lagging far behind in the polls.

In his speech, Sir Keir will try to set out a “fresh and tangible offer” to the Scottish people in the face of rising support for the SNP and Tories.

“It is Labour’s duty to offer a positive alternative to the Scottish people. To show that you don’t have to choose between a broken status quo and the uncertainty and divisiveness of separatism,” he will say.

“It is our duty – my duty – to make the alternative case for a devolved and a socially just Scotland in a modern United Kingdom.”

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...-line-23196825

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sh-voters.html

Brilliant move as we know Brown is such an expert in winning elections .

[Denver]

He has been a massive flop and doesn't give you much covidence when your voting a prime minister

[UserSince2005]

I wish that Elephant man would just **** off. We didnt vote for him to be prime minster then and we don't want to hear about him now.

[joeysteele]

Actually I think Brown would have been a better PM than Blair.

He made 2 major errors certainly, pensions and the gold reserves.
However he had I feel a better social conscience than Blair.

He stopped Blair joining the Euro.
He presided over 10 years of solid growth as Chancellor.

The crash that came was a worldwide mess, which hit near all Countries.
He did get us back to growth by the time he was voted out in May 2010.

He may carry some influence in Scotland still.
Although I think at present anyway, there's little chance yet of the previous Labour votes returning to Labour from the SNP at the strength the SNP is currently.

[bots]

Brown is a laughing stock, don't see him winning back labour voters in Scotland

[Cherie]

That will do the trick...dear me

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Brilliant move as we know Brown is such an expert in winning elections .

Tbf he did better against Cameron than Ed Miliband did.

[arista]

Originally Posted by reece(:

Brilliant move as we know Brown is such an expert in winning elections .

Yes stupid move.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla...itics-55384938

Until He wins more than one seat
he can change nothing

[user104658]

He's a perfectly functional working politician but the man has literally ZERO charisma. What a bizarre choice.

[jet]

It has been reported that he flies into blinding rages; shouts and swears at the civil servants and throws things at them.

[Tom4784]

Gordon Brown was useless, I can't see anyone taking seats from the SNP in Scotland, tbh, and Gordon Brown won't help things.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Gordon Brown was useless, I can't see anyone taking seats from the SNP in Scotland, tbh, and Gordon Brown won't help things.

Yeah, SNP used to be a bit niche with Labour the main party, and there are some Tory strongholds (wealthier areas). SNP has harvested up the Labour vote at this point and it's pretty much a straight SNP/Tory battle where there is one at all... Labour currently has no real function in Scotland tbh.

Orkney and Shetland are die-hard for the Lib Dems of course - I'm not actually sure what the reason for that is .

The change was fast and dramatic though, look at this map 5 years apart

[Tom4784]

It's remarkable really, it's rare to see such a stark political shift but I can't blame Scotland. Labour's been useless for years, the Tories are scum and the Lib Dems are a joke so the SNP are really their best bet.

[The Slim Reaper]

Starmer is actually in a lot of trouble. It isn't widely known because the media always protect establishment tories, but he's hemorrhaging members and money out of the party, because of his purge of the left. Unions are backing away from him, and he's still behind in the polls despite what this abomination of a tory party has done this year, and his unwillingness to take a stand on anything.

[UserSince2005]

time for scotland to turn blue.