Sun backs perceived winners shock

Good riddance

By James Macintyre Published 30 September 2009 11:59

Gordon Brown's courting of Rupert Murdoch -- an area I have pursued for years through the Freedom of Information Act -- has finally been proved pointless today with the Sun's decision to return to its core values and support the Conservatives. Doubtless Brown will be bitterly disappointed that the paper which backed Tony Blair in 1997 and through his lowest moment over Iraq has abandoned New Labour amid a media consensus that the Tories will win next time. But the "blow" is not as great as it seems, as Alastair Campbell -- who went so far out of his way to win over the tabloid for Blair -- explains on his blog today.

First, Sun readers are human beings, too, and must occasionally wonder in amazement at some of their paper's pronouncements, such as those against the very rich paying 50 pence in the pound on income tax.

Second, as my colleague Mehdi Hasan just said on Sky News, it was never "the Sun wot won it", and it is patronising to assume that, because Murdoch and a few executives have decided to back who they think are the winners of the next election, millions of readers will, sheep-like, follow suit.

Third, progressives in the party should rejoice that it is rid of this fairweather friend. The damage done to progressive politics over the past ten years by Blair and Brown, operating within the restraints of seeking to please the right-wing media, is untold.

Arguably it is to Brown's credit that he managed to give a speech so social democratic that it alienated the Sun's right-wing proprietor. Clearly, you can no longer please both the Labour Party and Rupert Murdoch.

Do not forget: Murdoch's world-view is directly opposed to that of a party which -- with six months to go before the fight of its life -- can, at last, be itself.

Tags: Rupert Murdoch

 
 

6 comments

Tommo's picture

Wed, 2009-09-30 13:06 — Tommo (not verified)

I don't remember your Nulab fastidiousness when Blair sold the Labour Party (as was) to Murdoch and the White House in the Nineties. It has never recovered and never will.

Simmsy's picture

Wed, 2009-09-30 17:52 — Simmsy (not verified)

You state, 'Arguably it is to Brown's credit that he managed to give a speech so social democratic that it alienated the Sun's right-wing proprietor.'
Murdoch made the decision to abandon Brown long ago - as the meticulously-assembled giant free poster cataloguing Labour's failures in this morning's edition of the Sun suggests.
Murdoch allies himself with those he thinks hold power - and his judgement that Labour has blown it had nothing to do with Brown's death-rattle speech yesterday. Too little, too late - Brown should have had, to borrow a phrase from him yesterday, the strength of his convictions long ago.

tomjoad's picture

Wed, 2009-09-30 17:57 — tomjoad

Thank goodness
At last the labour party can breath a little more easily without the burden of 'support' from Fox news's right wing sugar daddy Rupert Murdoch.
Labour will be surprised at the number of people who will vote for them again now with the good news that The Sun is backing David (I'm gonna be more Blair than Blair ) Cameron.
And lets see how these fearless 'independent' journalists such as Andrew Marr and Adam Boulton interview Cameron.
No doubt without the disgraceful aggressive and downright rude attitude they showed Brown.
Thank goodness Brown showed his annoyance in these interviews,the last thing we want is a coiffured,smooth talking,PR obsessed ,vacuous Thatcher -in -a -mans suit like Cameron.

dmcks1's picture

Wed, 2009-09-30 18:03 — dmcks1 (not verified)

Sounds like you dost protest too much. As clear a case of fatous special pleading as I've read in quite some time. Please re-write (as an academic exercise) on the basis "See the Sun still sees Labour Has It!"

Praguetory's picture

Wed, 2009-09-30 18:06 — Praguetory (not verified)

"Murdoch's world view is diametrically opposed to that of a party that -- with six months to go before the fight of its life -- at last can be itself."

Lol. Like the Death Row prisoner's final request.

mrblobby's picture

Thu, 2009-10-01 13:13 — mrblobby

Few people it seems to me have been watching Mandelson the Kingmaker closely during this bizarre week of politicking. The disgraced Mandelson backed Blair once with Murdoch's blessing and apparently holds the fate of Brown in his hands today - another of a series of fatal Brown misjudgements?

What an oddly timed interview to make to the Sunday Times declaring your willingness to serve under a Tory Government [I would really be serving my country says Mandelson, or is it 'M' the new ruler of the Universe] on, and get this, the first day of the Labour Conference. What was Mandelson thinking? His speech was warmly applauded the following day and well received even in the Murdoch rags whereas Brown's speech is eclipsed by the calculated announcement of the Sun's/Murdoch's switch in loyalties.

Is Mandelson now guaranteed of a sinecure in whatever colour of Government emerges next year? Perhaps he even entertains a leadership challenge - an event that now seems inevitable after the desertion of the grocer and his grocery store of brightly coloured tittle-tattle that masquerades as news. Has Mandelson denounced fiercely the Sun and its Machiavellian proprietor? No. Silence strangely prevails from that quarter. But Brown must be nervously twitching in his bunker wondering just what of Iago's utterances he can really trust any more...

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