Brown in Black

British PM Gordon Brown is in political darkness, a territory he has never traversed prior to his appointment as premier. He is caught in a catch 22 situation, a classic game. The European constitution reform is giving Brown a headache. Claiming to be a Euro-positive Labour MP, he contrastingly has never proven his virtue, not even once in his political career. But, it is never late to start, especially when you are a leader of one of the most powerful governments in the world- Her Majesty's government. That is why now, he is trying to prove himself worthy of European support, interestingly at the time when he has not consolidated his full authority and political power at home. Ironically, he is perhaps one of the most Euroskeptic and hostile members of the British high office since Neville Chamberlain. His economic lectures to European finance ministers during a conference in Brussels, is just one of the examples of this Scotsman's arrogance. Having said that, in last week's PMQ time, he re-iterated that this issue as minute as it is just an "amendment to the European constitution" and not a reform. Perhaps, having appointed a young and naive foreign secretary in the name of David Miliband- known for his Europhilic nature and lack of diplomatic experience, is after all a wrong move by Brown. Miliband, being a young rising star of Labour, perhaps a successor to Brown one day, is too naive to read the writings behind the wall. His career has been centred much on domestic issues and not the skills of international diplomacy.An amendment in Europe is merely a disguise for constitutional reform. The European Union is gaining strength by the day, despite a few hiccups a couple of years ago, again on constitutional issues. It's economic stability is cemented and the currency has bettered predictions made during its debut. This is the time when Brussels is not looking foolish and attempts to absorb as much power as it could from its member countries.
Thatcher famously said in her No, no,no speech in the Commons in 1987 that "we have given away much power to the community (now EU) and I think that is enough."Brown, an open admirer of the Iron Lady, has perhaps forgotten all this surrendering power to the Europe problem . Or probably, he does not know the treacherous water he is in. Denying a referendum on the EU constitutional issue is a U-turn from his maiden prime ministerial speech of I will listen to the British people. It is his first promise broken. His refusal for a referendum is primarily because he has no confidence in winning it. Had he campaigned for a yes, and loss, it would be political suicide. It shows the level of support the British are giving him. It would be another blow to know, that this is his only weakness compared to Blair. Tony Blair, to an extent has inculcated a modern form of cult of personality. Blair will go down in the history books as a first-tier prime minister-young when he took office and was well received until his Iraq blunders. Blair would have won the referendum in his first hundred days of office-Brown would and could not. Having calculated this, Brown and his team of advisers decided to pull the plug off a Euro referendum, and defied the general British appeal for a referendum. He might have lost some respect for this, but it was far less damaging from being defeated at the referendum. Politicians break promises and make new ones while campaigning. Brown is no different. Perhaps, the past should make way for the future, as said by the Opposition Leader, David Cameron. But what is the future for Britain? Tory is still too conservative for modern Britain. Like it or not, the British society is synonymous with New Labour. The tories know this and they are working hard to overcome such tragedy.There is no future with Cameron. He is an opportunist, and does not seem to offer fresh and genuine agenda. Brown on the other hand, has stayed in the cabinet for far too long. A new breed of Labour needs to emerge, just like how Blair and Brown refreshened the party in the early 1990s. But they need to scout for talents away from populist figures such as the Miliband brothers, there are other grassroot leaders that could be groomed for top office. Brown is certainly black these days, having achieved neither international supremacy nor domestic authority. After all, the public have not endorsed him as PM yet. No referendum and no Autumn elections. Both have eroded Brown's grip on the British people.Brown could go down as the unelected Prime Minister of Great Britain.