I’m holed up in a meeting all day so won’t be blogging until late afternoon.  Have an interesting update on the postal vote debacle in the City though…

"If Labour loses in London there will be a real climate of fear… it would be absolutely traumatic for the party. At that point, backbenchers would look at the situation and say, ‘How is all this going to work out for me?’. There would be real panic stations."
- Labour Peer Lord Desai

In keeping with Gordon’s desire to travel in vehicles more representing his character than the nation as a whole it has just been announce that the Prime Ministerial car is also to be changed.  Thankfully though Gordon understands the need for a little prestige and has opted for a stretch limo.  For those who might not be familiar with Prime Ministerial transport here’s a photo of the current car:

And here’s the new one:

Luxury defined. 

[Yes, this is a joke.  But then again, who knows...?]

A little while ago I argued that Brown’s decision not to go ahead with the purchase of two Blair Force Ones on the grounds that when travelling abroad the Prime Minister and the Queen are representing the UK and should land in something that reflects our status.  Well, courtesy of Ben Brogan’s recent post on the plane used to carry the PM across the pond I shall now make my argument pictorially:

Their plane:

Our plane:

I rest my case. 

VS

Getting beaten up by the Pope… that’s gotta be pretty embarrassing. 

I’ll be on Sky News this evening at 7.45 to discuss whether bloggers in the UK will ever be able to make money from their blogs.  Should be an interesting discussion.  If you’d like to take a look at the blog post that provoked tonight’s discussion you can find it here. 

…back again, yes he’s back, tell a friend:

Let’s just take a moment to reflect on some classic quotes from the man, the legend:

• "I’m the Jesus Christ of politics, I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone."
• Berlusconi’s advice to Italians trying to escape poverty: "Do it my way and earn more money."
• "By definition, as a Prime Minister I cannot be a liar."
• Asked to explain how Italy managed to get the support of its biggest competitor over the EU Food Authority dispute, he said "I used all my playboy skills and courted the Finnish President."
• "I know in Italy there is a producer, producing a film on Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you for the role of kapo. You would be perfect for that role." (said to German MEP Martin Schulz, European Parliament, July 2, 2003)

Not sure who to vote for in the coming mayoral elections (only 16 days to go)?  Sky News have the answer, or rather they have an application that lets you know who to vote for based on your responses to a series of questions called ‘Who Should I Vote For?‘:

Just for record I should it told me I should vote for Boris, by quite a margin.  Although in the interests of full disclosure I should add that Ken and I have a lot in common when it comes to the congestion charge, apparently…

The last few days have seen the polls in London’s Mayoral race narrow; according to the Evening Standard Ken is with 6 points of Boris.  A win for the Conservatives is far from certain, and to lose the race would certainly come as a blow.  But the blow suffered by the Conservative Party in the event of losing the race pales in comparison to the blow that would be dealt to Ken and Labour.  And both Ken and Labour know it. 

If Ken loses it will mark the end of his political life; there’s simply nowhere else for him to go where he could wield anything like the power and influence that comes with being Mayor of London, one the the world’s largest city economies (an economy larger than Sweden, and indeed Switzerland).  From Labour’s, or more to the point Brown’s perspective it would signal the beginning of the end (unless something truly exceptional were to happen between May 1st and the next general election).  A challenge to Brown’s leadership is not out of the questions; Brown is staring his very own rendition of the Tories early 90s in the face. 

And so the gamble - Brown and Ken campaigning side-by-side. 

The risk is incredible, but the potential rewards are worth it.  By campaigning with Brown by his side Ken takes the risk of having Labour’s national standing in the polls rub off on the London polls.  Ken risks moving from maverick to establishment, and in doing so risks driving thousands into the arms of Britain’s ‘change’ candidate.  On the other hand Brown’s presence sends a powerful signal to the Labour hardcore that the stakes could not be higher; that Labour’s fate lies squarely in their hands. 

From Brown’s point of view though his public, physical display of support handcuffs his reputation to Ken’s prospects.  If Ken goes down it will be interpreted one way, and one way alone; the electorate are running away from Brown’s Labour. 

But what of the potential rewards?  From Ken’s point of view it’s quite simply that he gets another four years to rule his fiefdom; nothing more, nothing less.  For Brown though it is telling (and speaks volumes of his current predicament) that a win for Ken would simply allow him to maintain a holding position, an opportunity to regroup; a turn-around in fortunes it would not be. 

After over three days the link on the Number 10 site directing users to Labour’s local election website has been removed:

Will an explanation for the original blatant breach of civil service rules be forthcoming?  My guess is it’s about as likely as the England football team appointing Gordon as their lucky charm…