LONDON -- In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has clearly announced the time when he will depart from office. In London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair has left the time of his departure wide open. Therein lies the difference, and the core, of the deep problems currently besetting the British Labour government.
The British Labour Party is now in danger of falling into three camps: those who want Blair to go as soon as possible and make way for his eager would-be successor and erstwhile closest political friend, Gordon Brown; those who want Blair to stay a good while yet; and those who cannot make up their minds but just feel very uneasy at the unsettled state of affairs.
Their unease has been compounded by a very poor showing for Labour in the recent local government elections and by the growing success and appeal of the Conservative opposition party under the youthful David Cameron. It has been further compounded by Blair's response to these setbacks by dismissing or downgrading several of his key Cabinet colleagues.