Waiting for the results of the European Elections tonight is reminiscent of the anticipation of the General Election in May 1997. But for all the wrong reasons. Labour has come full circle from sweeping victory to miserable defeat. Much was achieved in the first term (minimum wage, tax credits, House of Lords reform) but slowly all radicalism faded as Ministers' ambitions fused with Civil Sevants's caution resulting in abject atrophy.
The Cabinet is less diverse than John Major's in '97; the gap between rich and poor is wider; civil liberties are routinely compromised; privatisations forced through and sleaze and disgrace now widespread. This is not what people voted Labour for.
This must be what divorce feels like. The only reason MPs are holding back from facing the obvious choice and sacking Brown is the irrestible Constitutional truth of an immediate General Election. But when a relationship has ceased to function the best reaction is to accept the inevitable, denial is impossible now.
After all the huge political machinations and analysis by everyone with a stake in Parliament, it is just down to Gordon Brown now. He is clearly highly stressed, under massive mental strain. I hope he can see the point to give in, because it's hours away.
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