Labour must regain the initiative

Two U-turns from Downing Street last night.  First up, the inevitable climbdown over the the decision to cut the budget of the Territorial Army.  John Reid, no friend of Our Dear Leader, must have been at his bruising best when he trotted along to tell Brown that a rebellion was afoot.  After securing his victory, he decided that politeness was the best way of informing the press:

I very much welcome the fact that the prime minister has been prepared to listen to the issues and personally intervene to make sure that the Territorial Army training budget is retained.

Then, not content with just one late evening U-turn, Brown announces that he will, after all, actively lobby for Tony Blair to become the President of Europe.  With the decision from the Czech court still a week away, why does he need to say anything at this stage?  It will further isolate him from a host of Labour MPs that are not keen on the three times election winner.

There is wider point to be made.  Where is the policy setting agenda?  Why hasn't Labour been out there attacking Osborne’s politically astute, but much criticised announcement on bank bonuses?  There has been little from Labour of late that has grabbed the headlines and put the Tories on the defensive.

Labour are just reacting to events.  The whips are not forewarning Brown of the feelings on the backbenches.  Have they given up?  Brown is becoming increasingly isolated and not even Mandy is out there defending Brown in his usual way.

It is obvious that Brown’s authority is draining away, but Labour cannot allow this to continue much longer.  It will further demoralise Labour MPs and, more importantly, it will become in increasingly difficult to regain the political initiative under a new leader.