Now just tell me you're not looking forward to the battles between these two. the Old Knuckle-duster versus the Glaswegian kunckle sandwich. Who said Punch and Judy were dead. I get the feeling they've just been reincarnated with a vengeance. Having claimed the scalp of a third Home Office Minister and a second Home Secretary today DD can hardly be blamed if he carries a certain swagger today. If I were him I'd be like a dog with two tails. Beverley Hughes, David Blunkett and Charles Clarke. Not a bad record. The last time I can remember a Shadow getting three scalps was in 1958, when three Treasury Ministers resigned altogether, although it had nothing to do with their Labour opposite numbers. DD has handled the Charles Clarke saga brilliantly - I don't think even his enemies could argue otherwise.
11 comments:
On the day of Cameron's vindication
its only fair to allow you just a tiny bit of poetic license!
If it's fighting talk your after: DD's happy days are over. Reid will have your boy :)
I was amused to see Des Browne promoted to Defence. Presumably the current chaos in the home office had nothing to do with his time as minister with responsibility for amongst other things immigration?
John Reid has now held 7 Cabinet positions in less than 7 years. Is this some kind of record??
A dog with two tails? Funny, we have a different saying around here. It is difficult to see how DD can claim the credit for Clarke or Blunkett. What did he do, puncture Blunkett's condoms? Persuade the Home Office to release the prisoners and forget about them?
Methinks you massage your mentor's ego a little too much.
How many people did Robin Cook See off in the 80s/90s.
presuming the ridiculous John Moore counted.
how many did Robin Cook see off when in opposition? Even if one was the ridiculous John Moore
DD is daaaa man. He would take Reid down in just one swing - better make room for another shrunken head soon then on the belt of DD.. .
How will the Home Office cope!
So DD's the new Chuck Norris, is he? Well, I hope Dave C lets him off the leash enough for the fum to return to parliamentary debate then.
He's certainly got enough ammo, all courtesy of the Labour Party.
RM
Glaswegian midget??? How insulting. The midget's from Lanarkshire.
It's like that Telegraph article that described Galloway as having a Glaswegian accent.
I heard that Reid was behind the speaker's chair a short time ago asking a policeman if they'd seen his black leather gloves. Since Galloway wrote that the former Commie Reid used to sing IRA songs I wondered if they went with his balaclava.
I wonder how many of HM forces are aware of that one.
"Anonymous" asked how many scalps Robin Cook claimed when he was a Shadow spokesman. Well, although he was undoubtedly an effective opposition spokesman, he didn't actually claim that many opposite numbers.
He joined the Shadow Cabinet as spokesman for Social Services 1987-1988. During that time he shadowed John Moore.
In 1988 the DHSS was split, and Cook continued as Social Security spokesman until 1989, still against John Moore. I think we can give him Moore's scalp in 1989.
Cook was Shadow Health spokesman from 1989 to 1992. He faced Ken Clarke (1989-1990), Waldegrave (1990-1992) and, perhaps briefly Virginia Bottomley.
There is no way you can claim he scalped Clarke (who was obviously promoted) or Bottomley (who kept the job for a further 3 yrs). Waldegrave was moved sideways and remained in Cabinet until the bitter end in '97. No scalps there.
Cook shadowed DTI from 1992-1994, against Heseltine - who lasted longer in the portfolio than Cook did. No scalps.
Cook shadowed Foreign Affairs 1994-97, against Hurd (Foreign Secretary 1989-95) and Rifkind (95-97). Hurd retired at the time of Major's leadership re-election, before the famous Scott Enquiry performance by Cook, and Rifkind was removed by the electorate. No scalps.
Looks to me that DD is well ahead in this league table.
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