You have to wonder what Charles Clarke sees when he looks in the mirror. Wise old grandee of the Labour Party? The young ambitious man he once was? The next leader of the Labour Party?
If he wipes away the mist he may see something else – the unsmiling eyes, the rigid jaw. Yes, unfortunately Charles Clarke has got a bad case of Short’s disease. This disease is fortunately not widely spread and usually only afflicts those who leave Government under a cloud. Released from the responsibilities of high office, sufferers of Short’s disease are compelled to maintain their media appearances in the belief that there are thousands of us, mourning their unfathomable loss of status, waiting to nod sagely at their words of wisdom.
If you agree with the commentators, Charles Clarke has a particulary virulent strain of Short’s disease, he has been mocked for 2020 vision, for setting out his view of how the Labour Party should proceed and for intimating that he will stand to force a leadership contest.
But has he?
The commentators haven’t explained why the only open ‘debate’ about the future of Labour is the preserve of the loony left. Charles may be exacting revenge, but I also believe that he recognises the damage to the Labour Party of the various disciples of Rev. Sun Myung Brown popping up telling us that there is no need for a debate, no need for a contest.
Were it to be the case that Mr Brown really is the best candidate for leader, then this is understandable. Unfortunately to those of us outside of the Westminster Village, it looks like a desperate attempt to ingratiate by those who realise that their ministerial careers are already past their sell by date.
If Charles Clarkes contribution is no more than ensuring that we avoid a ‘Coronation’, he should not be derided but applauded.