Saturday, March 04, 2006
Norman Lamb Appointed Ming's Chief of Staff
I have just read on PoliticalBetting.com that Norman Lamb, my old adversary in North Norfolk, has just been appointed as Ming Campbell's Chief of Staff. Up to now he has been in the Shadow Cabinet as DTI Spokesman. What a strange move. As one of Ming's earliest backers I had expected him to play a leading role in the LibDem front bench team. To take on a job which would normally be the preserve of an apparatchik is odd to say the least. It's certainly a job which has plenty of problems and precious few rewards. I'd be interested to hear in the Comments section what my LibDem readers think of it. Tomorrow I'll get the old Dale cystal ball out and make some LibDem Shadow Cabinet predictions. And on Monday I'll turn my attention to Labour. They might be having their own reshuffle by then... Right, off for that waist enhancing Mexican then...
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4 comments:
Didn't you used to be chief of staff to a party leader, Iain?
Hard to say what Norman Lamb's new role means andd whether or not it's a promotion. It is rather like the "deputy PM" role - Thatcher gave Howe the job as a humiliating, meaningless bauble whereas it was a vital post in the Major years when Heseltine did the honours.
I suspect the chief of staff role may be key under Ming because Campbell has signalled that he will lead out on foreign affairs but delegate developing a domestic agenda to his bright young thing (and his mate Vince!) The chief of staff role could be quite crucial in making that work. Additionally, Ming wants to shake up policy making and the central organisation (being brutal, Lamb's background as an employment lawyer could be part of the thinking).
I think the fact that Ming announced it before his reshuffle suggests that he views it as key - if it was a sop because there was no space in his shadow cabinet, you would expect it to be announced with the other posts.
Anyway, will be interesting to see.
Norman is very highly thought of by Ming and others in the party and will have strong influence through this role. If you're going to be a chief of staff, back the right candidate...
I don't see it as demotion. dick newby was kennedys bag carrier and sadly sucombed to the same bunker mentality that he did in the end. i think given the traumas of the last 2 months having a COS in the commons is a good move. he'll also be very useful if as appears likely, the pig styes are to be cleared in cowley street.
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