Trust rather than trick voters

Courageous.
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It may work Frank but only if you were the Prime Minister returning from the palace.
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Frank, I'm afraid your colleagues in the PLP can't hear you as they have their fingers in their ears whilst shouting "La la la!". The truth can really hurt at times.
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"Similarly, we need to cut loose European politics from our domestic politics."What does this mean?
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At last a true voice of reason and truth - I pray for my country that this is not the only one. Gordon Brown is dragging my beloved country to hell because of his insane belief he is somekind of Messiah come to save us all from the Devil Tories.
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Well quite. Unless Brown goes and goes now the labour party will simply limp to a dismal rout next year. The one thing I disagree with is that a replacement should wait to go to the polls. The labour party needs to do the decent thing even if it means a slightly earlier electoral defeat. They should replace Brown allow the replacement a decent time to settle in (say 3 months) and then call a general election. For my money that replacement should be Alan Johnson
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Well said - now Brown will push for you to be Speaker!
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To say "it's absurd" to argue that an immediate general election must be called if the PM changes is strange. It is not absurd. The Prime Minister is leader of this country and an absolutely critical role that itself selects every other role of importance except the Monarch - even the House of Lords now, as well as Cabinet, quangoes....even bishops! It is reasonable that as in most democracies people have the opportunity to vote for the man or woman in whom such immense power is vested. There is a case that we knew before 2005 that Brown would likely take over. There is no case to argue that we knew that Labour would have two unelected leaders. The case for an election is that the role of PM is so important, and so powerful, that the electorate has the right to look them in the eye and determine whether we want them to lead us.
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I agree with your sentiments and I hope the PLP tonight will serve in the best interests of the democracy we hold so dear.
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how does one cut loose european politics from our domestic politics?
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A good post-frank by name & frank by nature.
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Hello Frank. I saw you speak last year at Liverpool Hope University. It stuck me then that you had a real passion for the grass roots Labour party and shared with us some interesting ideas of welfare reform. Like me, it is evident that you care a great deal for our party. With particular respect to the current leadership problems, I would like to thank you for being brave enough to voice the concerns that a lot of my peers share for the direction and 'style' (if that's the right word) for the Labour party. Unlike yourself and your speech the absense of any new policies and direction is astounding. I wonder if you would agree with me that it no longer seems a government providing leadership but rather an attack unit to maintain one person, the Prime Minister. Undoutedly you shall face problems for this sort of article, sadly from some within thw party. I wish you all the very best for the future and thank you for voicing the concerns that I know we are all seeing daily before our eyes.
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Speak for Britain, Frank!
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How refreshing to read a cool considered and reasoned point of view rather than the production line propaganda from the No 10 bunker bubble.Like Hitler in his last days, surrounded by his fanatical followers, Gordon will take the country to destruction with him.
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A spot on analysis, Frank. Much nearer the mark than the utter nonsense being spun by the party "faces" appearing in the media. Must be why you are a "lowly" back bencher - you just aren't on message. And thank God for that. More power to your elbow, my friend.
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Frank,Glad to see you have the courage and confidence to speak out and express your views. That is called leadership. What a pity so few MPs have similar qualities. Personally, I do think that there is a need for a general election in early September at the latest. The government has lost credibility and public support and Parliament has similarly lost public confidence. Given the enormity of the problems facing the country a new mandate from the people is essential.I am not sure about your final sentence referring to Europe and the BNP - what about UKIP? I do agree that none of the three main parties at Westminster seems willing to stand up for British people against the anti-democratic EU juggernaut.
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Wise words as ever Frank.Hopefully when this government loses the election there will be a place for you in the next one. More than anything we need people who live in the world of reality, and deal with what is, as opposed to what they'd like to be.
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I believe that many more would vote for and support Labour at the General Election, whenever that is, if, and it is a very big IF, Mr Brown stands down now. However, if Mr Brown does not do the honourable thing then it is believed many more will leave the ‘Cling On Party’ forever and never vote Labour again.
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Mr Field,I'm not one of your constituents but I hope you won't mind me commenting on this. I would never dream of voting BNP but when our mainstream politicians refuse to listen to people's justified concerns, when they sneer at and smear those who ask justified questions about immigration from countries with very different cultures from our own, when they fail to defend free speech, when they fail to control our borders in any meaningful way, when they fail to deport those who commit crimes here or who are declared dangerous, when they use slogans about jobs but fail to follow through, why is anyone surprised that voters vote for a party which appears to have something to say on these matters? And, frankly, it's a bit rich of the current political establishment to attack the BNP as fascists when it is our self-important self-proclaimed "liberal" and "progressive" politicians who over the last 12 years have been responsible for the most sustained assault on our civil liberties, on traditional British freedoms and liberties, on free speech, when it is they who are seeking to impose authoritarian and un-British measures such as ID cards on us, who are seeking powers to spy on us when we email/visit the web or seek to go on holiday abroad, who seek to lock us up for 42 days etc., and who have at every turn undermined the key elements of a liberal democracy, as properly understood, though clearly not understood by them.If fascism develops in this country then the groundwork will have been laid by those craven MPs in Parliament who have utterly failed to defend our democracy, our Parliament, our values and our freedoms. Being self-righteous now about the BNP is pathetic given their own vastly more serious failures. I hope they learn the right lessons though I very much fear that they won't.
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What a delight it would be if Labour MPs put their country before personal profit and forced Brown out. Unfortunately, many see this hastening the day their personal income declines as they loose their seat in a General Election. We often hear that MPs got into politics as a form of public service. Is it any wonder we treat this claim with contempt given Labour MPs' clinging to Brown to prolong their pay packet. Shame on them!
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Well said,Frank - Frank Field for Speaker! I hope someone is watching your back.
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Thanks once again Mr Field for telling it "as it is", however unpopular it will make you with the powers that be. History will judge you very favourably whereas the sooner Gordon Brown is history the better for the labour party and the country
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Exactly what is Mandelson's role in all this and why did he come back? To ensure the government remained in power until the Lisbon Constitution (sic) is ratified? To use Brown's weakness to harvest power for himself ("First Secretary of State", "Lord President of the Council" indeed...)? To sucker Brown into dependence on him before thrusting the knife in deep (am I alone in seeing the delicious irony when politicians state that they will "back" each other "to the hilt" ...)?
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Well said Frank. I'm sick of the spin. I'm sick of the lies. I'm sick of being treated like a dumb animal by the political elite. And finally, I'm sick of our political establishement working tirelessly for self interest. I am utterly ashamed to be British today knowing that we, as a country, have returned two BNP members as MEPs to 'represent us'. Please tell you collegues in 'the village' to wake up and do what thry are paid to do and that is represent US not themselves.
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Frank Field stands head & shoulders over every other Labour MP as the next Prime Minister. Mr Field and not timid Alan Johnson WOULD strike fear in Conservative and Lib-Dem hearts as he would offer the principled leadership for which the electorate craves after Blair and Brown. The fact that the rest of the blinkered Labour herd cannot see or lack the nerve to back this man proves they deserve to be consigned to the dustbin of history along with their discredited record and leaders.We are Conservative supporters incidentally!
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I certainly didn't vote labour this time around (first time in 20 years). Why? Not because of Gordon Brown, not because of the expenses (that tarred all politians with the same dirty brush). But because of this pathetic infighting in the labour, which I blame fully on the disgusting antics of the backbenchers. They are pathetic in the extreme and are an embarrassment for the country as whole. What must other leaders think when listening to the news or reading the papers? Pathetic, I sincerely hope you do lose the the next election by a landslide, if only to possibly wake you up to the idea that we don't want children leading our country!
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A voice of sanity: thank youBut I fear your colleagues in the PLP will not listen
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I think that this is really unacceptable. How can anyone slate a Prime Minister, put into power in one of the worlds darkest hours, who has pulled us through without fatal damage. I am disgusted at what you have said about someone who has done something that you could never do yourself and am relieved you have resigned from your post of power.
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So refreshing to hear courageous words from a man who clearly DOES have a moral compass. And it appears to be working! If the rest of your party were men of such honour and integrity this county would not be in such trouble.I have a suggestion: Why not join the Conservatives? You may be surprised at the ease with which we can accommodate opposing viewpoints. You talents would be wasted as Speaker - far better that you become the new minister for welfare/social services within a highly progressive Tory government. For the good of our country.
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Frank, for some time you have seemed to be a lonely voice of sanity in the PLP. It has been hijacked by Brown and his unrepresentative henchmen, and until they go they won't get my vote. Sadly New Labour seems to have missed the point and failed to reform anything in 13 years, while old Labour seems to want to continue a class warfare that is more and more irrelevant, negative and destructive. I wish more of the party had your common sense and intelligence. In the meantime I'll vote Conservative, as I think cauterising the party via a period in opposition is the only option now. The bloodsuckers will leave and some people of integrity will remain or join.
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Frank, I am a Tory but I would vote for you in a heartbeat. You are one of the finest most honest politicians in Westminster. Would that you were PM!!
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The worst election results in a century and your MPs are reported to have greeted Brown like a hero! I guess you were right - your party's fate is now sealed!
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It's time for Labour to start formulating a constructive euroscepticism of its own. Speaking as a Conservative I can see that although Lab-Lib squishiness on Europe is good for us electorally, it is bad in terms of formulating a long term policy for the country. The centre has moved on EU policy. Labour should move too so that there'll be a chance of the political parties in this country agreeing on some core attitudes regarding the EU. Otherwise our relationship with the EU will end rather messily I fear.JonnyN
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Laudable and brave comments Frank. But the voters have woken up to the fact that they have been sold down the river on Europe and denied a referendum on the "I-can't-believe-it's-not-a-constitution". The raft of taxes, plethora of shiny new "offences", "tough new laws", ID-cards, surveillance, sellout of our forces, PC codswallop, "elfansafetee" nonsense, dumbed down education, devalued qualifications, snouts in the trough and the constant finger-wagging, the hectoring dictatorial harpies at the top of the Labour-tree. Labour is facing wipe-out. The "project" was a crock from day one and clear to anyone with eyes and ears to see through the Blairite garbage.You, Frank and Kate Hoey are the only two Labour politicians I have respect for. You are a man of honour and principle, unafraid to tell the truth. Much as it would hurt as a loyal Labour member, it is time to cross the floor and serve on the next government who would genuinely value your thinking and talent. For goodness sakes, even your site shows no sign of having anything to do with "New" Labour, no symbols, colour, red roses, mention of the party.Cllr Jeremy Zeid (Conservative - London Borough of Harrow)
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An commentator said earlier "....Hopefully when this government loses the election there will be a place for you in the next one". I am sure that you and the likes of James Purnell, Caroline Flint, Hazel Blears, Steven Byers et al would feel quite at home in the Tory Party - you could all keep the spirit of Thatcherism alive !
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I have never seen such a procession of toadies parading one by one in front of the television cameras after the PLP meeting last night all chanting the same mantra that ‘Gordon is great’. It as if the past few days of political wipe-out had never happened with the worst electoral results in some places since 1918 and coming 3rd nationally. I thought the buck stopped with the person at the top who led us to this annihilation!And so they predictably rambled on either those in the paid employment of the Government or those who have been promoted rising up the ladder of this sinking Government in its last days. They are more interested in political stardom and the Westminster club than debating the issues and policies that really matter to make a political recovery possible. On present evidence it is going to take a very long time unless we have a change of personal throughout to articulate Labours past achievements and to put new radical policies in place speaking with a passion and purpose to achieve what Labour Governments have in the past. Watching the present lot is like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic as it goes under. At present we have the most under performing, inept set of ministers I have ever seen from a Labour Government, were are the political giants of the past who achieved so much for ordinary people.Do we really think that by carrying on in the same fashion that it is going to change for the better, what type of mindset is that? Even if they start to tackle the expenses issues the damage is done in the eyes of the public as they all knew what was going on and not one of them rose above the parapet to do anything about it despite their bleating words now, nobody believes a word they say anymore, the trust factor (TF) has gone. Because of this (TF) if the economy starts to make a recovery, in the public and medias mind it will be down to market forces rather than anything this Government has done, Gordon Brown said he was going to put in place new policies (10p tax?) over 18 months ago and he is still saying it, to listen, reconnect and engage with voters all meaningless words unless backed up with action which is something this washed up out of touch government has been consistently incapable of as it stumbles on until the inevitable happens. Because of their ineffectiveness thousands of hard working Councillor’s up and down the country the workhorse of the party have been lost and that’s why staring us in the face is the frightening prospect of an extreme right wing Tory party who have not changed their spots at all under their shiny plastic coated stepford wife of a leader will get in unless we can reorganise from top to bottom and present vote winning policies to the public.The cowardice of the PLP to understand this just reinforces in the party member’s minds that they are more interested in hanging onto their jobs for another 6 months rather than putting the party first.
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Very encouraging to know that FF has so much support from across the political spectrum. The 'moral compass' issue is undoubtedly important but so is the down-to-earth common sense aspect of his approach after the airy-fairy theory from Labour ministers who've never experienced the outside world. COMMON SENSE & COMPETENCE is all the electorate really expect from politicians - not the constant re-invention of the wheel! Most of the Labour cabinet - old and new - couldn't anyway tell a spoke from a hubcap!
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Can I add to the people asking Frank to cross the floor: there are two reasons this would not happen. First is that as a man of principle Frank knows he was elected by the people of Birkenhead as their Labour representative. And secondly, If he crossed the floor he would be voted out at the next election if he joined the Conservatives. Whatever the rights or wrongs of such a move, Birkenhead is, and will remain, one of the safest Labour seats in the country. I am a traditional Labour voter, not one of these New Labour idiots who have never actually had a proper job or turned a dollar (I'm looking at you two, Milliband and Purnell) but If Frank stood as an Independent he may well get in as he is extremely well thought of by the local populace. And anyway, if we are lucky enough to have a principled, honest, hard working representative, why should we be the ones to suffer by losing him? Get your own honest MPs. ha ha.
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The only labour candidate I could ever dream of voting for.
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I've added you to my blog list........near the top.North West Tory
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Mr Field, I have always enjoyed your honest views even though not always agreeing to all of them. I think the only way that you and other honest Labour MP's can remove your deluded leader and his almost completely rotten cabinet is to walk across the floor and sit with Independent MP's. If enough of you are serious and want the support of the public in the future this act would ensure the public's respect for at least some MP's and give us a chance to get rid of all the corrupt MP's from all party's.
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29 Oaks CrossStevenageHertsSG2 8LSTel: 01438 223727Sirs,I believe the political scene during the next few months is a critical one for Britain and, behind the smokescreen of promised legislation and proposed parliamentary reform, the following scheme will be relentlessly rolled out:1. In the autumn the EU will buy the Irish YES vote in their referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.2. As threatened, the EU will force the full ratification of the treaty in January 2010 allowing them to enforce our compliance with Europe wide security rules, the POLICE STATE.3. Lord Mandelson will then allow Gordon Brown, who is now Prime Minister in name only, to call a general election in his own time as long as he doesn't upset the EU by granting us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty (very unlikely).It will then no longer matter who wins the general election because, after the Treaty ratification, Westminster will be a puppet parliament and both houses will be reduced to debating trivialities but without any power to change even a shoelace. Lord Mandelson is now the puppet master who has power over Gordon Brown and his toadying cabinet because he has powerful EU connections that could, in future, make or break every one of them. If Mandelson's scheme doesn't work out he still has his sinecure in the Lords, the others will have nothing.The EU is a club with 27 members, only 5 of which (including the UK) pay any subscriptions, the rest are free-loaders. If Britain were to leave, the EU funds would be some £16bn pa lighter, a deficit that would fall heavily on the other four subscribers. In addition, our retiring politicians would no longer be entitled to tickets for the EU gravy train, so recently vacated by Mandelson, Brittain and the Kinnocks. Since Labour's drubbing at the European elections, the EU power-mongers and officials have expressed concern that the Labour government may be forced to call an early general election and that the succeeding administration might grant us a referendum. That won't do at all if the EU's plans for Treaty ratification are to go ahead.Therefore Peter Mandelson, Gordon Brown and the rest of the gang have been ordered by Europe to postpone an election in order to disenfranchise us, the British people, until it is too late for us to escape the jackboot of the Stalinist EU. Gordon Brown will become famous for hammering home the last nail in the coffin of British sovereignty.Currently only the Tory party have sufficient strength to defeat Labour but they will have to be quick. David Cameron may be pleased that Gordon Brown is still holding the red hot iron of recession but time is pressing and he will have to move rather more smartly if he is to save this country from eternal subservience to the corrupt regime in Europe.B. J. Maddox
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