Massive scandal for Labour
I doubt that the thousands of British parents who have children with severe learning difficulties but can't afford private school will feel the same. In fact it is likely that they will have lost faith in public sector SEN schooling. Either way, Ms Kelly has shown little faith in her community, little faith in the education system, and little faith in herself. Her decision has also caused a massive scandal for Labour, which could really do without it at the moment.
The debate has continued in the media. In 2005 David Blunkett became the 9th minister Blair had forced to resign, and five others have resigned in scandalous circumstances, four over the Iraq war. I have no doubt that Ruth Kelly would have been the 10th forced resignation under normal party conditions. A news reporter echoed Menzies Campbell last Wednesday, saying: Blair has the responsibility but no authority and Brown has the authority but no responsibility, so it looks likely she --Ruth Kelly-- will stay in her job. So, not only is it yet another high-profile scandal and yet more bad publicity for the Labour Party, but it has yet again drawn attention to the "dysfunctional government" running the UK.
This all combines to make it very unlikely the pollsters will be proved wrong about the May elections. Labour will indeed be in for a blood-bath.
So, what has never looked likely before begins to look likely now: a Scottish National Party (SNP) win in the Scottish Parliament elections and maybe even Scottish Independence. The Scottish National Party is slightly ahead of Scottish Labour, and miles ahead of all other parties in most opinion polls. You can't blame them for thinking this could be their year.
The SNP will undoubtedly try to gain Scottish independence, which has a lot of support in Scotland but not from me. I am a proud Scot, but I am also proud to be British, and believe we have far more clout in Europe and the world speaking with one unified voice. Devolution has meant Scotland can still act in its own right, with its own separate funding and separate policies - as the smoking ban in Scotland has proven. I am a smoker, and to see people on TV smoking in English pubs, knowing we can no longer smoke in public places north of the border is one example I could do without.
Article comments
1 - Zedd
Thank you Liam
I had heard it suggested that he may be leaving in May. Off course some are eager for him to vacate much sooner.
Tell me, what happened with him? He started out so strong then all of a sudden he turned into Bush's lap dog. What is fascinating is that he is incredibly intelligent and shrewd. A friend of mine was just certain that Rove had filmed him in a bizarre naughty situation and THAT was the reason for his being on board so vehemently.
2 - Atomboy
Ah, yes, Tony Blair, the genesis of New Labour and now its nemesis, hanging round its neck like a millstone and bringing the whole thing collapsing down upon himself. That chap who started with the fresh, young face and open grin and now has the bulging eyes of the mentally disturbed and the grimace of someone who knows the game is up.
The problem is, he so desperately wants to be loved that the more he sees he is hated, the more he will dig his heels in and stay.
New Labour had their time in the sun like the Tories under Mrs Thatcher. People eventually saw both of them to be corrupt, so now it's back to the wilderness.
If a week is a long time in politics, why do they learn nothing in ten years?