Band Aid Cabinet

Gordon Brown's first cabinet was called the GOAT; the Government of All the Talents. The latest would be more accurately named GOST; Government of Suspect Talent. More acronyms on the way, I'm afraid.

Bob Ainsworth's (pictured) elevation to Defence Secretary is one of several examples of very average Ministers' ability to rise under Brown, seemingly without trace.

Ainsworth was one of the first Ministers I dealt with closely and he struggled fitfully with the details of the brief on Drug Policy. My abiding memory of Bob, is of him losing his temper, addressing my very genial Geordie boss as a 'bastard' and blaming him for a mistake obviously made by Ainsworth's fellow Minister (Charles Clarke). As for his Ministerial style, one could say he excelled at the adequate.

The biggest MOG (Machinery of Government) change amidst the chaotic re-shuffle, was the creation of the 'Super' Ministry of Business, Innovation and Skills under First Secretary, Lord Mandelson. Pete clearly lives by Obama's Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel's maxim, 'never let a good crisis go to waste.'

The BIS is now a spectacular and unwieldy Department, a fine tribute to Lord M's ambition. It contains are no less than six Ministers of State (MoS) - the Cabinet Office responsible for all the radical Constitutional reform to come, must make do with just one. Many of the Ministers have dual roles in other Departments which means Mandy has spies everywhere, a joy for him. Here is the whole dreadful role of appointments.
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19564

There are many names here which officials must be reeling from. Angela Eagle is now MoS at GOE (Government Equalities Office). Blair appointed her to the Home Office in 2002 and then sacked her a few months later for her total inability to command the brief. Now she walks tall amongst the political pygmies. The two Phils, Hope and Woolas, keep their MoS posts despite scandal (£40k expenses) and incompetence (Gurkhas).

The most curious case in Brown's Government concerns Ivan Lewis. He was a very junior Health Minister last year but incurred the wrath of Damien 'Omen' McBride by calling for, "a new generation of political leadership." His swipe at Brown ensured the world got to know, via the tabloids, of Lewis's texting obsession with one his female staff. It was painted as a classic mid-life crisis following his marriage break up. So what should Brown do with this pestering Minister with dubious temperament? Why, promote him to FCO Minister responsible for Middle-East and counter-terrorism, of course.

There is one other aspect of Her Maj's Government which perfesctly highlights Labour's political bankruptcy which is the number of Ministers sitting in the House of Lords. Count them, twenty. Labour is turning the clock back in so many different ways; popularity at Edwardian levels, a surge in fascist support and a Government stiff with Barons.

Beneath the Bed Rock

You can be forgiven for not immediately recognising the picture, left. Herbert Henry Asquith is no longer one of Britain most memorable PMs. Elected in 1910, HHA made way for David Lloyd George in 1916. His significance today is 1910 was the last occassion the Labour party scored less than 20% in a national poll, that is until Sunday. They weren't even a national party then.

One must look at a hundred years of history to measure the depths Labour has sunk to. It is over 90 years since the Conservative Party beat Labour in the popular vote in Wales. Brown has managed to pull off what seemed impossible: he has taken Labour below its bedrock support.

The results in the South West and South East were, if anything, even worse. Labour came 5th in both regions behind the Lib-Dems and Greens with only 7.7% and 8.2%. In these areas, UKIP outpolled Labour 3:1 and also beat them nationally. The numbers are only part of the tragedy; the body politic must now lend respectability to the fascist BNP. Labour's collapse means Nick Griffin has every opportunity to spout his bigotry and lies on national media.

But despite several high profile resignations, the party still did not move against Brown. Last night's PLP meeting was a pitiful display of forced support, a facade of executive power. The paralysis of the party is complete, they are resigned to their demise.

Faced with such political tumult Asquith would have simply opened another bottle. Labour members will be fortunate to find any solace elsewhere.

For All We Know

Waiting for the results of the European Elections tonight is reminiscent of the anticipation of the General Election in May 1997. But for all the wrong reasons. Labour has come full circle from sweeping victory to miserable defeat. Much was achieved in the first term (minimum wage, tax credits, House of Lords reform) but slowly all radicalism faded as Ministers' ambitions fused with Civil Sevants's caution resulting in abject atrophy.

The Cabinet is less diverse than John Major's in '97; the gap between rich and poor is wider; civil liberties are routinely compromised; privatisations forced through and sleaze and disgrace now widespread. This is not what people voted Labour for.

This must be what divorce feels like. The only reason MPs are holding back from facing the obvious choice and sacking Brown is the irrestible Constitutional truth of an immediate General Election. But when a relationship has ceased to function the best reaction is to accept the inevitable, denial is impossible now.

After all the huge political machinations and analysis by everyone with a stake in Parliament, it is just down to Gordon Brown now. He is clearly highly stressed, under massive mental strain. I hope he can see the point to give in, because it's hours away.

Disaster is too Small a Word

Nick Robinson was talking to a No.10 adviser last night when he got the news down the wire that James Purnell had resigned. Naturally the Downing St insider began to rubbish the claim until he heard it too. Brown really is in a bunker if he and his team are so unaware of these major shifts in the Cabinet.

Purnell's move looks like certain to being the catalyst to a leadership contest. Although the wagons are being circled today and some semblance of authority may be restored for a few hours, the disastrous results in local and Euro elections will be too much for too many people to bear. Peter Mandelson may be grateful to Brown for bringing back into the bosom of Government but he also possesses the acutest of political brains. When Mandy decides the game is up, he'll be best placed to make Brown see it too.

Alan Johnson has no choice but to sit back while the knives are being thrown. It is an unwritten law of British politics which says the assassin can never be king. His statement of support for Gordon contained no criticism of Purnell. But then it would be more suprising it it had - Purnell may be serving in a Johnson Cabinet next month.

Defeat Deferred

It won't be until Sunday evening when we learn the true scale of Labour's humiliation in the European elections. On current polling, fourth place on 15% is a real possibility. For a western democracy, only former Canadian PM, Kim Campbell, would have suffered a more disastrous poll when her Conservative party was reduced from 151 seats to just 2 in the 1993 election.

Brown's prospects look deservedly bleak. He was certain to succeed Tony Blair as PM but such was his control-freakery, he ensured no other candidate would stand against him and build up a power base to rival his chosen successor, Ed Balls. Without any form of election, his tenure has always lacked legitimacy. Like Emperor Napoleon, his Coronation signalled his downfall.

The politics of an unstoppable cabinet rebellion are still finely balanced; the resignations this week from Hazel Blears, Jacqui Smith, Pat Hewitt and Bev Hughes have shown their determination to defy the No.10 machine and leave at their choosing. It is inevitable the resulting cabinet will end up looking as male as Harold Wilson's in the mid-60s, with Harriet Harman taking the Barbara Castle role as the solitary senior female.

But it is another of 'Blair's Babes' who currently holds Brown's fate in her hands. Foreign Office Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint (above), has stoutly defended her friend and ex-Home Office colleague Hazel Blears and when asked if she too would resign her advisers indicated, 'not today.'

If Brown were to see both local Government and European Ministers chuck in the towel as the country were voting in Council and Euro elections, then his position would look impossible. It would be enough to persuade many bankbenchers to break ranks and publicly denounce his leadership.

But Gord's difficulties hardly end there. Alistair Darling seems thoroughly disgruntled to be making way for Brown's 'mini-me' Ed Balls as Chancellor. It is the one Cabinet post Minsters seem unable or unwilling to be demoted from. If we look at the recent residents of No.11 - Brown was promoted to PM; Ken Clarke lost the '97 election anyway; Lamont was plain sacked; Major promoted to PM; Lawson resigned. We have to go back to Geoffrey Howe in 1983 to find the last Chancellor who was shifted. Geoff got Foreign Sec so didn't lose face. Darling's best prospect for a senior post appears to be as Home Sec. Well who wouldn't resign, given that choice?

Brown will press ahead with his re-shuffle on Monday but there promises to be chaotic scenes across Westminster as Ministers weigh up whether they can still lend support to the Party's biggest liability. It's hard to envisage Brown actually resigning, he just doesn't seem the type but then again, neither did La Thatcher.

The Quality of Mercy

Some five years or so ago the Beeb canvassed the public's views of various BBC interviewers. The survey included a question on which news presenters were deemed rudest and unsuprisingly Jeremy Paxman and John Humphries were top of the heap. It was instructive about the British character to learn Pax and Humph were simultaneously considered the most popular at their craft.

We, as a country, tend to take this journalistic tenacity for granted but it is a vital element to the modern British democracy. In many countries, such as Spain, there isn't anything like this level of news analysis. In the US, there are no interviewers on the main channels who would dare to savage politicians like Jezza did to William Hague last night. Hague is one of Parliament's more formidable performers, usually light on his feet and quite witty*. But he looked lead-booted and punch-drunk as Paxman turned on a vintage performance over the mighty Lord Ashcroft's tax liability.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/8080379.stm

The clip does not show the first part of the interview when Pax pummelled Hague over the Conservatives' perverse position on the Lisbon Treaty (a referendum is promised unless the Irish vote yes to ratify, which they will). He also made as mincemeat, the Tories' bizarre re-alignment from the mainstream Conservative group in the Euro Parliament to join with parties of homophobes, quasi-racists and climate change deniers.

But it was high time the Conservatives were grilled about the status of their main benefactor. In the current climate, the Ashcroft funding issue has the potential to hole the good ship Cameron below the water line. The questions about Lord A's tax position have been around for more than ten years - the Times tried to reveal some murky dealings but were hit with injunctions and writs for libel. Ashcroft used his vast wealth to fight the Thunderer into a very expensive stalemate; no other media group has dared cross swords with him since. He never gives interviews and cuts such a mysterious figure, he could be viewed as the Ernst Blofeld of the Conservative Party.

It is, of course, asking too much for the feeble Government to hold the Opposition to account on the legality of its funding - they have their own Civil War breaking out. But at least we have merciless interviewers like Pax challenge politicians' complacency and to tear down the arrogant facade.

* Hague has a comic's timing. He was to be interviewed by Matthew Parris in C4's old Charlotte Street studios. There was no dressing room and both had to share the one set of make-up in the loos. Hague turned to Parris and offering him use of the foundation said, "Well, who would have thought it, Matthew? You and I in a Gentleman's lavatory with just one puff between us."

Expletive Deleted

"It wasn't a racist murder, there's no doubt about that," said BNP leader Nick Griffin last week of the obviously racist murder of Anthony Walker in Liverpool in 2005. Griffin had posted this message on Youtube and was pictured standing shamelessly at the spot where Anthony Walker was killed by a blow to the head with an ice axe.

Although the police, jury and judge all agreed this act of vicious brutality was driven by racial hate, Griffin chose the testimony of a couple of local BNP supporters or "patriots" as all the evidence he needed.

His intention is clearly to incense the 'liberal elite" and he succeeds often, particularly when he describes black England players like Rio Ferdinand as, "not English" or calls Gurkhas, "mercenaries".

But his video was a bit more than just infuriating; it amounted to a criminal attempt to stir up racial hatred. The clip has now been withdrawn 'by the user' presumably on legal advice, as Griffin could face a prison sentence after his last conviction for circulating leaflets which denied the Jewish holocaust.

The Observer 'revealed' yesterday the thoughts and words of a few of the foul-mouthed and violent yobs who support Griffin's organisation; they may deny him the goal of respectability but also help attract many more tiny-minded and bitter hooligans to the cause.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/31/bnp-european-elections-facebook-expose

The BNP's party political broadcast for the European Parliament leant heavily on nostalgia for a white Britain of 60 years ago. There were long references to the WWII which was reported as simply stopping Hitler from forming a European superstate. There was, naturally, no acknowledgement of our desire as a country to defeat Nazism itself, borne out of our utter rejection of the cruel discrimination, persecution and murder of minorities. Griffin did not honour the dead; he insulted them.

So many of Griffin's words are patently hypocritical and perverse. He protested outside Coventry Cathedral in 1996 describing the RAF pilots as, "mass murderers". Griffin is no patriot; if he had been alive in 1940 he, alongside the traitors Moseley and Joyce, would clearly have welcomed a German victory.

The BNP are showing on 5%, according to the latest Telegraph opinion polls and it is likely they will win one or two seats next week. For the voters who are drawn to the extreme agenda, one can only hope they spend at least five minutes reflecting whether their anger is so boundless they really belong with this band of bigots and thugs.