Are we watching 1990 to 1997 replayed in double speed?

It struck me the other day that the similarities between the present Government's problems and the problems of John Major's Government are similar but being played out a double speed.

Both leaders came into office after a coup had forced out the previous thrice election winning incumbent, and quickly saw their initial popularity wane as they were deemed useless compared to their illustrious predecessor. But the similarity does not end there...

After John major's election as leader of the Tory party, that he became a very popular figure for a short while and was able to pull off the spectacular coup of a fourth Tory election victory. There could be a similarity here with Gordon Brown's initial popularity which lasted a short 5 months.

There then followed an economic upheaval as Britain was forced (thankfully) out of the ERM. For Brown, this could be deemed his Northern Rock moment. From that moment on, Major's and Brown's popularity plummeted.

John Major then had to pass the Maastrict treaty against some rebels in his party, the Constitution anybody?

For John Major, the following Budget brought in tax rises in a very unpopular way. The addition of VAT to fuel was in the words of Sir Humphrey, 'Courageous' as it hit the poorest hardest, and had to be amended (halved) for the tax proposals to pass. Are you seeing the abolition of the 10% tax rate yet?

By this point, the Tories were backstabbing, inward-looking, and not interested in unity any more. John Major had to plead for loyalty. Maybe someone should tell the PLP.

John Major had seven years in office before being booted out, at most Gordon Brown has three years. The similarities are striking. I don't think Labour will recover.

Squiffy.