Clarking around

Last Modified: 04 Sep 2008
By: Newsroom blogger

Inside the morning news meeting...

It's a busy news day today, but the newsroom's going to have a job squeezing everything it wants to say about Charles Clarke's criticisms of Gordon Brown into tonight's show.

"Now Clarke's mentioned the 'R' word, Brown's going to have to make a stand," says one producer.

"It does up the anti on Brown," one of the eds says, "He can't ignore it. The onus is now on Brown to give a big fighting speech. If he doesn't realise it today then maybe Clarke has a point?"

"I don't see the Labour party in trouble because of Clarke," says one correspondent. "He's the party's Edward Heath."

"This is just what always happens at the end of a political era," a reporter adds. "It's like the Tories losing Henley."

All our political correspondents will be on the case, and we'll be bidding for current interviews.

"Let's seek for a live response from government," the prog ed suggests. "We need someone who's going to state that Charles Clarke is wrong."

"One of the back benchers?" someone replies, as a series of potentials are bandied about.

"It's a good story," says the prog ed, "But there are lots of good stories around today."

"[correspondent's name will remain anonymous for reasons of exclusivity] has got a cracker I'll let him tell you about."

"Actually, can we save it for tomorrow?" asks the correspondent.

The prog ed laughs, perhaps fearful his show will lose out on the exclusive: "What? You want to lead with it tomorrow?"

"Yes," the correspondent replies, deadpan.

It's an exclusive, so we can't say too much about it now - but to hit the top spot on tomorrow's show Gordon Brown and the Labour party will have to keep a low profile over the next 24 hours. Likely? We'll keep you posted at 7pm.