What the hell is going on with the UK Government!

There is what can only be described as a ‘hitting the fan’ of speculation among the media blogs on which Ministers are or aren`t going to resign.

As I write the news that David Cairns HAS now resigned has just broken. There is still the question whether he will be the last one to go. Cairns is an ambitious sort and must be calculating that by going now that others, who have been speculated on, will follow. In seeking a chain reaction they are looking for the swift removal of Brown and a new body to be brought in. The notion being that with a new body in place that they have 2 years before the next election to try and claw back their current position trailing behind the Conservatvies in England and the SNP in Scotland.

It’s a high risk strategy for Cairns – banking that the Prime Minister will be forced to go, spurred on by his actions. The rumour mill has it that Caroline Flint MP (Minister for Housing) who has taken a few hits for the Government on Housing policy she is clearly less than comfortable with. Also in the frame are Phil Woolas MP(DEFRA) and Jim Murphy MP (Europe).

If another was to follow then it would make the forthcoming Labour conference a bit of a bloodbath. But for any of these people’s resignations to have impact it needs one of the big beast to step forward. Jack Straw? Alan Johnston? David Milliband?

I think one of the most entertaining suggestions is that of another possible runner who has been out of the limelight – step forward Dr John Reid MP. Stop giggling, I`m serious. Reid is a firm Blairite and all round ‘Fixer’ during the Blair era. He has the profile and the gravitas to ask Brown to step outside without the hindrance of having to appear as a loyal member of the Cabinet. He’s untouched by the Brown regime’s problems and I suspect a credible bid could be built around Reid dusting off his ol’ cowboy hat and sidearm, muttering that he never thought he’s have to use it in anger again, before riding off across the plains to the rescue of the party.

Not quite so daft a notion anymore is it.

Let’s look at the other supporting evidence that has been put forward by others. Siobhain McDonagh MP, the junior whip who sparked the current crisis by asking for leadership nomination papers to be sent to each Labour MP – which led to her being sacked, is a close ally of Reid having been his PPS at the Home Office. Looking at the other plotters there is Joan Ryan MP , also sacked, who was a junior Minister of Reid’s at the Home Office, Fiona Mactaggart MP also ex of the Home Office. Also implicated was Lord Waheed Alli who was a former advisor to Reid.

Its also been pointed out that David Cairns is an ally of and former researcher to Siobhain McDonagh, completing the link to Reid.

Even if the attempted coup on behalf of John Reid is nonsense it does make for entertaining speculation.