Andrew Grice: The Week In Politics
This time it is Brown who needs speech of his life
Published: 23 September 2006
"Going is the most difficult thing to do in politics. Too many people stay for too long," Tony Blair told Paddy Ashdown in a prophetic conversation in 1999 recorded in the former Liberal Democrat leader's diaries. "I would rather stop when people said, 'Why is he going?' than when they said, 'Why isn't he going?' Or, even worse, 'When is he going?'."
So, what better moment to go than when Mr Blair addresses Labour's annual conference for the 13th and last time as party leader on Tuesday? It could easily be his last opportunity to bow out on a high. If he said he was quitting immediately, or announced a date, he would get a rapturous reception, uniting his Labour friends and foes at a stroke.
Article Length: 857 words (approx.)
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