Labour is not all about Brown

This evening I was at an election meet for Joan Ryan, the sitting MP for Enfield North who is seeking re-election. BAFTA award-winning actor Ross Kemp had come to give the campaign a boost. Kemp described Ryan as 'the best MP in this election campaign' and urged voters not to get swayed by a large-section of the media supporting the Tories. With Brown's personal ratings down, more and more Labour MPs are seeking to reach out to their constituents on local issues and their performances rather than Brown's inning as PM.


"This lady knows where the buses do not stop," Kemp said referring to Joan's knowledge about local issues. He also dwelt on Joan's suitability as an elected representative, and went on to say that the Tory candidate just wants the tag of 'MP' to be added with his name. Kemp has been campaigning for the Labour across UK and also appeared on their promo titled 'Sixty Seconds'.


Kemp agreed that Brown's campaign has not been superb but stated that 'it is not about one person'. He insisted that Labour will do more to fight crime and improve health services. However, Kemp reminded people that Brown was a chancellor in a very crucial period. "Do not think that there are only three people in this election. There are hundreds of MPs who are in this election," Kemp announced, commenting on channels going all out on Brown, Cameron and Clegg.


Ryan has been an MP for 13 years and in the past has been critical of Gordon Brown leadership. She was also the vice-chair of Labour party and Prime Minister's envoy to Cyprus. Ryan has been hoping it would be her performance as MP that might help her to retain her seat. Much of Ryan's campaigning centres around Chase Farm Hospital, which she alleges will close down under a Tory government. "You need to keep the Tories out to save the hospital."

A tale of two bullies: Gordon Brown & Kamlesh Bahl

Gordon Brown went on national telly yesterday to defend himself against allegation of bullying after an anti bullying charity went out on record to say that some staff members from his office had contacted them for help.

Gordon Brown said: “I get angry sometimes, doesn't everybody. I get impatient, I'm driven to do things. We're a sort of family in Downing Street and like any family there are issues from time to time."

If this was India, this wouldn’t even be news. Unless there was a television sting involved and it would have only ranked in viewer ship for a day and then forgotten. But it has created a furor in the UK and with elections around the corner, it is important for the PM to defend this image. And he did. So did his senior staff members and his loyal wife.

Brown also denied "unleashing hell" against Chancellor Alistair Darling on his comment about the recession. In fact they were so ‘close’ during the PM questions at the Common yesterday, that David Cameron actually said, ‘any closer they would start kissing!’

Its interesting how such a serious offense of ‘bullying’ can get a white wash when you have excellent spin doctors and the person in question in the Prime Minister of the country. While some have spent years to fight it out in court, lost their jobs, ruined their career, and spent hundred thousands of pounds in legal fees and compensations.

I remember when I was covering the Kamlesh Bahl case in 2004. Kamlesh Bahl, an NRI, was the vice president of the Law Society and slated to be the first ever woman and Indian origin President of the body that represents over 80000 solicitors in England and Wales when allegations of bullying brought her entire career down.

I was at the Old Bailey where a tribunal was hearing her case, but did not really hear her out. I saw her lawyer and her make several attempts to put forth their point, but were brushed away ever so often. She lost the case. She then filed a case against the Law society for race and sexual harassment. She lost that too and her claims were termed ‘ludicrous’. Her total costs were estimated to be around 300,000 pounds.

I often wondered if things would have been different if Kamlesh Bahl was British or a man. And Gordon Brown’s case just reinforces this point. Perhaps its better to be a Brown than be brown when its about bullying.

So while the debate continues whether Brown is a Bully or not, a Hong Kong based TV has put the allegations into animation. Take a look, just for laughs!