The Blair Succession

So, Tony Blair is expected to announce his resignation as Labour leader on Thursday.

I thought this warranted a thread to discuss how the news outlets deal with tomorrow's announcement, and the subsequent succession of a new Prime Minister *cough*Gordon Brown*cough* in the coming weeks.

Anybody any thoughts? News Specials likely tomorrow? Does anyone remember what the main outlets did when Maggie Thatcher hung up her boots?

Please discuss . . .

I thought Mag Thatcher could have won another election but there may be a news special tomorrow. And I hope its soon

It'll be a bit stupid to brand it "Breaking News" tomorrow when it's already been announced that he will announce he's quitting!

It was very diffrent circumstances of course. Blair leaving has been on the cards since the last General Election. Thatcher left during a leadership challenge which she was going to fight the next round of - it was more of a sudden thing (although not totally unexpected).

It was definately covered that morning on TV, no idea whether her announcement itself (whether she actually made one) was, there was of course no rolling news then except a fledgling Sky.

Seems it's going to take 7 weeks for Labour to elect a new leader. Coverage of this slow motion process will bore the media, and all of us, to death!

I wonder who they'll vote-in as new leader. Denis Healy? Roy Hattersley? Tub of Lard? Moira Stua.....................nah.

Kindly take a ticket, move to the back of the line and stop speaking for all of us.

This from the BBC On This Day website:
"Downing Street issued a statement at 0930 GMT on 22nd November 1990 after Mrs Thatcher had informed her Cabinet and the Queen of her intention."

Thats exactly what I thought - but you know its going to happen. In fact Sky News will probably have their Breaking News strap up until Gordon Brown takes over.

EDIT: Ehem, I mean until the new Prime Minister takes over . . .

On the issue of Thatcher's resignation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDS23DY670

a rather familiar face who memorably stormed off the News 24 set shouting, "I'll not work with her".

He's since resigned and Kate Silverton's now a regular presenter.

So she didn't make an announcement herself then, and unless the Tv companies knew in advance there'd have been no news programmes on at that time.

Shame Infax isn't working!

EDIT: think it is working, it's just I can't get it to search for 22/11/1990

The Daily Politics announced today that they would have a slightly later programme tomorrow, on the expectation of carrying the speech live from Sedgefield. Although the Sky EPG hasn't been updated to show this.

Even though everyone knows it's happening tomorrow so all the rolling news networks will be ready.

As for a 7 week process. Don't forget if Gordy is the only candidate then there is no election and he would be appointed when nominations close next week.

Any challenger could of course befall a nasty RTA, probably in a tunnel somewhere being chased by papparazzi . That would also shorten the process somewhat.