From: The Unit
To: GB
Subject: Things Looking Up/Resigning
So, pretty good last week/ten days. Solid. Data-loss fiasco, broadside from the five defence chiefs, resignation of the party general secretary over funding scandal and Northern Rock are really not biggies from where we're sitting. Public don't care about this sort of froth. As is demonstrated by the poll slide we have suffered - which we think is actually largely unrelated to these issues and in fact associated with a growing sense of much deeper misgivings. So let's not worry about the tittle-tattle!
Worst Week: On this claim, think the line is that we very much feel it has not been our worst ever week. This is journalistic hyperbole. Worse than the election climbdown week? Worse than the nabbing-inheritance-tax-for-the-Queen's-Speech week? Those weeks were both either worse or very nearly equally bad as the past week. Trying to pick out a worse or better period currently is like choosing a better or worse day at the Somme. All goes to show the short-sightedness and lack of political-historical perspective of our enemies. More power to our elbow!
Widening the Circle: Think the line we're pushing about you broadening out the group you consult from Ed, Ed, Douglas and ourselves is very strong. Glad you took ours and Ed's advice on this. Also, mentioning Straw and Hoon plays very well. Think it is particularly impressive to those in the know, given that Jack would definitely push you under a bus if he had a chance and Hoon is regarded by almost everyone of every political stripe, creed and intelligence level as a total prick. Thus, the suggestion you will begin to consult with even these "greybeards", regardless of how damaging taking their advice would clearly be, demonstrates a real desire to be inclusive. Also, the line that they are good confidants because they are too old to be rivals for the top job is a good piece of positioning that will break Jack's heart in particular. Nice!
Resigning: Think that despite the caveats above it is also possible that we are in the middle of a terrible crisis that will bring your leadership to an abrupt end. Think this is the strong feeling from almost everyone in the party and country. And indeed on a personal level, some of us here at The Unit have been getting big laughs at social gatherings when we say we work on tactics for Gordon Brown. That doesn't feel good.
As far as we can see, believe there is essentially nothing we can or should do about this; just an unfortunate confluence of events. We should sit tight and trust in a policy of "Temporal Roll-on" - ie, wait for everything to change as it no doubt hopefully will.
Think you are giving great leadership in this area. Real sense you are simply sitting back and saying, "Yes, I am the rock of ages. Watch as the puny sands of time and political crisis swirl so far below." Definitely don't think you should resign. Worth putting that on the record.
Once you emerge from your office, or turn on your computer, let us know your thoughts!
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