On Friday lunchtime on The World at One Dr John Reid was asked exactly the same questions about his future, which he was asked on the Politics Show today. Yet on Friday he prevaricated and today he bared his soul and announced that he would step down as Home Secretary at the end of June. The big question is what changed over the last 48 hours. Here's the exchange with Martha Kearney, who must be spitting with blood at missing out on the big story...Martha Kearney: Who is going to be the man taking on DC. Tony Blair's endorsed him. Will you now support Gordon Brown?
John Reid: I know it is terribly tempting to go on to the next election before we have finished this one. If you wouldn't mind...
MK: We're only talking about next week.
JR: Once we know this election.... I will make my views known. It was 5 years ago people started asking me this question. Because it was all part of the process of trying to...
MK: OK, You're still not going to give me answer, fair enough.
So Reid is the latest Blairite Cabinet Minister to step back from being smashed by the Great Clunking Fist. The truth behind his uncharacteristic backdown makes interesting reading. Until the last two weeks it had been his firm intention to stand. But he knows that his mismanagement of the Home Office is about to catch up with him. Not for nothing is he known as "Wreck it and Run" in David Davis's office. Several chickens are about to come home to roost for the good Doctor and he will pay for his policy of making a big announcement and then letting his officials do the legwork.
But even worse than that, he got to hear of a big tabloid scandal brewing, which portrayed him, shall we say, in a less than chivalrous light. It was clear that the newspaper concerned was preparing to run the story if and when he announced his candidacy.
And so Dr Reid shuffles off into the great political waiting room muttering "Enoch was right". All political careers do indeed end in failure.
13 comments:
Well Martha, there's another big story - What the h*ll is Gordon up to 48 hours after the election.
Pick your phone up, find out - then email Iain.
'Bad news' day? This week could see all sorts of things brushed under the media carpet.
A the end of a very bad day for the Labour party in the country , it is the news that Charles Clarke has publicly announced that he will not run for the Labour leadership and John Reid's news that he will resign from the Cabinet when Brown takes over that really gives us the meaning of it all and describes just how bad things are.
They have taken one look at today's political landscape and pulled out.
They and all the other potential candidates like Milibrand, will sit on their hands. They prefer a survival strategy. The sooner Brown takes over, the sooner they lose and the sooner Brown can be dispatched and replaced. That is the time to rescue Labour, not now.
If you are under or around 50-ish, that is by far a better option than challenging now. After all, even if you win, what is the prize? The vile legacy of Blair and Iraq? The economic pensions black hole of Brown? A failing NHS? The torment of the Scottish Nationalists and the collapse of the Union? A revived and attractive Conservative challenge?
No thanks, Mr Brown. Its all yours, and you deserve it.
"the complacency of this is very encouraging."
Do cowards and bullies often do anything else when it comes to 'Hey lads hey'?
Given the dislike between Brown and Mr Reid he hasnt got a future in the Commons for a few years.
However does not the Prime Mintister have the right to appoint peers to the house of lords on resignation?
Have just finished reading Michael Dobbs' 'First Lady', about the machinations behind the scenes to get rid of potential Party Leaders prior to a contest.
The general reader will think it is far-fetched nonsense - all those of us involved in politics, however peripherally, will know it is under-stated.
It's hard not to think that both Clarke and Reid were told of stories that could be leaked to the MSM if they had the temerity to stand.
Oh come ON, you old Jockteaser, WHAT tabloid, WHAT story? Or is Guido going to scoop it?
Come in Iain, don't do a Nick Robinson on us. Spill the beans.
What's the story?
Is it that, not only can he peel an orange in his pocket, he can do it with his arms folded?
Did you notice that Peter Hain slipped in an interesting comment in his interview about Reid on the "Westiminister Hour" tonight? He said "John's very happy in his personal life...." - why did he need to say this?
Come on Iain, do the decent thing and send me a private email. I won't pass it on, honest!
Perhaps more was going to be made of his friendship with Radovan Karadzic?
I disagree at the failure tag. I think Reid is waiting for the Gordon Thunderbolt train-wreck when it hits the buffers.
The ever-supportive David Blunkett was loyally backing John Reid, according to the BBC website:
Mr Blunkett...said the timing of Mr Reid's departure, in the midst of the departmental "deconstruction and reconstruction", meant "there must be very profound reasons that have driven him to do so".
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