Andrew Grice: The Week In Politics
Gangs of New Labour: Gloomsters v happy bunnies
Published: 29 July 2006
As they departed for their summer break, Labour ministers and MPs fell into two very distinct tribes. The Gloom Mongers believe that Tony Blair will hang on too long in Downing Street and that Labour is heading for defeat at the next election. But the Happy Bunnies think the party is in a stronger underlying position than the horrible day-to-day headlines suggest and that Gordon Brown will provide the bounce needed for a fourth election victory.
"There is a battle going on between pessimism and optimism," said one close Blair ally. It would be wrong to suggest that all the Happy Bunnies are Blairites and all the Gloomsters are acolytes of Mr Brown. But the Blairites are generally more optimistic than the Brownites.
Article Length: 764 words (approx.)
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