This is from Labour MP Tom Watson's blog...
John Reid is getting to grips with the Home Office. Some people do not like his abrasive manner but I suspect, in fact I’m certain, that ‘abrasive’ is the only way that the Home Office can be made to move in the direction of travel parliament expects. If I was John this morning I would be spitting nails. The latest revelation about police records and criminals with convictions from abroad would send me into a fury. Firstly, given what has gone on in recent months I would have expected officials to be pro-active on the matter. Forget dancing around hand bags about whether resources should be found to update the database or not. They (the officials of the Home Office) should have just got on with it. The job should just have happened without the need for grand gestures or detailed political direction. I have to say though, if ACPO had written to me about the matter (whatever the text of the letter) suggesting that I inform the Home Secretary, I wouldn’t have passed it down the food chain like Tony McNulty did. At the very least I would have sought advice from a more senior or experienced minister. Ankle passes don’t help anyone. One thing we all have to understand is that in politics, you can delegate power but not resonsibility. I wouldn’t want to be Tony McNulty this stormy Thursday.
And I wouldn't want to be Tom Watson when Tony McNulty passes him in a dark corridor. McNulty'll chin him. I think an interview without coffee with the Labour Chief Whip might be in order.
16 comments:
The Dale curse strikes again.
"Abrasive" ? Hardly.
The room should ignite when Reid enters and incinerate the incompetent fools and deadbeats.
McNulty and his Ofsted wife Christine Gilbert should be banned for life from the public payroll.
Joan Ryan too.
Then the Head of the Civil Service should move all the Home Office dead wood to Home Office outlets in Newcastle or Durham.
And Permanent Secretaries should be directly accountable to Select Committees - with the husband of Blunkett's lawyer - John Grieve who skidaddled from Home to Bank of England hauled for a David Kelly Session before the Public Accounts Committee
>>John Reid is getting to grips with the Home Office
Around the neck?
Or what is technically known as a hand-job?
You really are the kiss of death, aren't you Iain!
Had a good night then?
Given that I hadn't heard of Tom Watson before this morning, and don't know what constituency he represents, I daresay the whips won't be bothered.
Good article though, he should turn to journalism.
I think Gordy has given it to reidy big time. Maybe if he had fully ruled himself out as a leadership contestant then we would never have found out about all this.
"Contestant" sounds like the price is right or some other game show.
Tony McNulty can handle himself.
Tom Watson said, "One thing we all have to understand is that in politics, you can delegate power but not resonsibility."
Since when did NuLab ministers take responsibility for their many failings? Not very often it would appear. I get the feeling that you don't agree with Mr. Watson Iain. I also stand by the comment I made earlier this week about McNumpty's incomptetence. What's the German word for schadenfreude?
Reid's tough talk when he took over at the 'Home Office' has bitten him on the backside. Implicit in his famous 'not fit for purpose' comment was the agreement that 'heads would roll' if it could not be sorted out, and that people would have to be accountable.
As far as I'm aware [please correct me if I'm wrong] no heads have rolled.
So if any problems arise, people can understandably be forgiven for holding Reid fully responsible.
Harsh, but since he put his head on the 'chopping block', also fair.
Perhaps you should invite Tony McNulty to reveal full details of the ACPO correspondence on 18DoughtyStreet..
That way no one will found out what ministers knew, but Tony can say quite truthfully 'I've gone public' !!
Everyone's a winner, baby...
"Tony McNulty can handle himself" An incompetent wanker like the rest of that Home Office shower. Bring back Jack Straw.
griswold - i agree. Jack Straw is much maligned, but he can communicate, he is competent and does at least know his elbow from his arse.
Being aware as I am that Iain Dale and David Davis had this thing together, it is not surprising that I am coming under attack on this blog. Let us not forget that David Davis is a mere shadow of the real thing who is shadow boxing into thin air.
I was recently criticised for the out of court payment to prisoners who had alleged that a failure to supply heroin substitute was a breach of their human rights. The ECtHR has recently handed down its judgment in Holomiov v. Moldova app.no. 30649/05, where the Court decided that lack of appropriate medical care was a breach of Article 3 of the Convention.
There are somethings that those in the know don't tell those who don't know, because if they did know they would not know what they know. Know what I mean Harry?
"Jack Straw ....does at least know his elbow from his arse."
Indeed, but then most of us can tell the difference between Milburn and Blunkett.
It now appears that McNulty received a letter from ACPO last October detailing this situation, suggesting he speak to the Home Secretary, and McNulty then passed that letter to Joan Ryan, who replied to ACPO. So I don't quite see how either McNulty or Ryan can stay in office when they were both adamant that no Minister had known a thing about it before last Tuesday.
Isn't that what is commonly known as a LIE? Not just a tiny porky, but a whopping great bells-and-whistles lie.
Whether John Reid knew or not, both his Ministers certainly did. Therefore they should both either resign or be sacked for deliberately lying.
Of course, if they actually did tell John Reid, that might explain why they're both still in office...........
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