Could Gordon Brown become 'Crisis Man'?
New Prime Minster Gordon Brown has had a pretty good first few weeks. His job has been made easier by many mistakes during that same period by his opponents, but still Gordon himslef has run a steady as she goes regime so far, and he has not frightened the horses in the way many thought he may.
He dealt with the Terrorist attacks with a calm, reassuring manner that impressed many. His brave decision to promote the MP for Redditch, Jackie Smith, has been welcomed by many, and vindicated in the way she has dealt with the position so far. His honeymoon period has allowed him to turn the polls around for Labour from a minor deficit to a lead of around 6%. There are signs however the these polls are stabalising and you would expect some edge to come off that lead in due course. So if the honeymoon is coming to an end, could things now begin to go wrong.
The answer is of course that this will depned on what events get thrown up. He has controversial decisions to make over new anti-terror laws. His support for ID cards and wanting to increase the detention period without charge could lead to opposition. His early release scheme for prisoners has come under fire, so has his decision to rule out a referendum on the new EU treaty. The ecomomy is also not as strong as it was, and if that continues, the man who has run it for the last 10 years, Mr Brown himself, could get the blame. So there are many pitfalls that could cause problems on the horision.
We do however live in an age where often perception and image are sometimes as important as reality. So for all the policy areas I have just mentioned, Brown's biggest danger maybe more of the sort covered by this article in the Mail on Sunday documenting what Gordon has had to deal with in his short time as Prime Minister. First a terrorist attack, then floods and now foot and mouth disease's return. None of these are issues that the opposition can make any capital out of directly, to try would actually damage them, but the image of Gordon Brown's regime following one crisis after another could become a big problem for the Government.
Gordon could be in danger of becoming a victim of circumstances through no fault of his own. If people begin to link his Governemnt with crisis after crisis, the view that something different may be needed to stop the rot may become subconciously prevelent in the minds of the public. There is only so long the media can begin with the words 'And Gordon Brown is facing another crisis today' before Gordon Brown and crisis become inextricably linked. If this happens, Gordon could find himself in danger dispite having done nothing worng personally. He must surely hope nothing else out of theordinary happens for a while, or he could become 'Crisis Man,' which will not help him fight a furture election anymore easily.
