Clarke and Gordon: An Unlikely Conversion

Talk about burying the hatchet - Charlie the Safety Elephant has gone pro-Gordo:

But Mr Clarke has now said that the premier had demonstrated "genuine economic and political leadership at a time when it was both desperately needed and difficult to do"

Mr Clarke is evidently easily pleased, as all Gordon has actually done since the summer is spend government cash like it is going out of fashion and, through a spin operation that would make Alastair Campbell jealous, pitched the highly unlikely case for Gordon Brown being a visionary world statesman. But deep down, Charles isn't interested in what is best for the economy - either national or international - but rather what is best for his out dated, out moded and hopefully on the way out party:

Speaking to the Independent on Sunday and Observer newspapers, he said Labour could now win the next general election.

Great, Gordon Brown can confirm that he has Clarke's vote at the next General Election.

I'm not so sure that Brown should be reading about Clarke's sudden conversion to his cause and be celebrating. After all, Clarke is one of the few people in the Commons who seems to be less likable that Gordo. Clarke is just, plain ugly. And not just his physical appearance, although Lord knows he has a face that is so heinous that it makes a decapitated pig's head in a bath look erotic. Clarke is also a miserable, gruff sulker. He is the sort of bitter, failed politico who should just be put down, both for his own benefit and for the benefit of the country. Clarke seems to feel that he got a rough ride from the Labour leadership when he was in the Cabinet, and still attacks that leadership, even though the man who binned him hasn't been in power for nearly a year and a half.

Gaining the respect of such an unpleasant individual would be something most people could take or leave, I'd both imagine and hope. But give the ghastly nature of Gordon Brown's desperate attempts to be accepted by all, I'd imagine he'll still be celebrating the unlikely conversion of Clarke.