The Mail on Sunday, with the rest of the press pack following close behind their coup, is going big about revelations by the former General Secretary of the Labour Party.
In a series of damning extracts from his book, Peter Watt makes serious allegations about Gordon Brown and whether he is fit to lead this country.
This, of course, comes out a mere six days after the botched coup by Hoon and Hewitt.
Whilst such tittle tattle is bound to stir up excitement in the press and amongst political anoraks, I believe that the real damage to the Prime Minister has come from elsewhere.
Revelations in the Sunday Times today indicate that, according to leaked letters, Gordon Brown personally overturned earlier Treasury assurances that the Ministry of Defence would be free to spend extra cash on troop-carrying helicopters for Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to the article, the leaked letters show how Brown’s actions during the crucial period of 2002 to 2004 meant that military chiefs were unable to buy new helicopters which could now be in service in Afghanistan. The lack of air support has forced British troops to take dangerous journeys by road, exposing them to deadly Taliban bombs.
If true, this is the most damning indictment of the Prime Minister's judgement yet.
There are many who have serious doubts about the war in Afghanistan, although I am sure every one of those people would support our troops having the best equipment whilst out there serving within this country's Armed Forces.
If it is proved that the penny pinching within the Treasury has resulted in lost British lives, then this Government has the blood of 246 troops on its hands and the terrible injuries of hundreds of more soldiers.
That, more than any other reason, is why it should fall and I hope that the press do not let the Prime Minister or his Government off the hook on this one.
In a series of damning extracts from his book, Peter Watt makes serious allegations about Gordon Brown and whether he is fit to lead this country.
This, of course, comes out a mere six days after the botched coup by Hoon and Hewitt.
Whilst such tittle tattle is bound to stir up excitement in the press and amongst political anoraks, I believe that the real damage to the Prime Minister has come from elsewhere.
Revelations in the Sunday Times today indicate that, according to leaked letters, Gordon Brown personally overturned earlier Treasury assurances that the Ministry of Defence would be free to spend extra cash on troop-carrying helicopters for Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to the article, the leaked letters show how Brown’s actions during the crucial period of 2002 to 2004 meant that military chiefs were unable to buy new helicopters which could now be in service in Afghanistan. The lack of air support has forced British troops to take dangerous journeys by road, exposing them to deadly Taliban bombs.
If true, this is the most damning indictment of the Prime Minister's judgement yet.
There are many who have serious doubts about the war in Afghanistan, although I am sure every one of those people would support our troops having the best equipment whilst out there serving within this country's Armed Forces.
If it is proved that the penny pinching within the Treasury has resulted in lost British lives, then this Government has the blood of 246 troops on its hands and the terrible injuries of hundreds of more soldiers.
That, more than any other reason, is why it should fall and I hope that the press do not let the Prime Minister or his Government off the hook on this one.
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