The Government needs fresh talent but not necessarily catapulted straight into the Cabinet. There could be a refreshing of junior ranks which takes the best of the 2015 intake, and even puts in some of this year's as PPSs.
What the MOD needs is someone who isn't learning on the job.
It seems exceptionally unlikely that Fallon resigned for a clumsy pass at a journalist 15 years ago - and if he truly did, then he's more of a fool than I took him for.
Assuming that I'm right, then his resignation statement fell well short of the candour which might have served his party better. He gave no substantial explanation for his resignation, merely a load of circumlocutory periphrastic waffle - and no real apology, either general or specific.
Such lack of candour sets a very low bar indeed for cabinet resignations (as is already being mooted on this morning's news programmes), and could not be better designed to set the media in pursuit of further scalps.
On topic, I can't see it. This is an incredibly weak minority government with various factions around Brexit to be balanced off and assuaged by a PM there on sufferance. Moving too many people around, however desirable and even necessary, is simply beyond her power. One in, one out with an internal promotion is the most likely outcome.
Mr. B, indeed, though voluntarily coming out with past misconduct would've been difficult. That said, it either comes out anyway, not in a manner of his choosing, or does not, in which case his resignation was unnecessary.
Don't think I had any bets on the Next Cabinet Minister out market.
On-topic: agree entirely that fresh blood is needed.
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
On topic, I can't see it. This is an incredibly weak minority government with various factions around Brexit to be balanced off and assuaged by a PM there on sufferance. Moving too many people around, however desirable and even necessary, is simply beyond her power. One in, one out with an internal promotion is the most likely outcome.
Better to live a day as a tiger than 5 years as a dead sheep. No change, no chance.
She should sack Boris Johnson today. What backbencher is going to risk making him party leader in the current climate?
It seems exceptionally unlikely that Fallon resigned for a clumsy pass at a journalist 15 years ago - and if he truly did, then he's more of a fool than I took him for.
Assuming that I'm right, then his resignation statement fell well short of the candour which might have served his party better. He gave no substantial explanation for his resignation, merely a load of circumlocutory periphrastic waffle - and no real apology, either general or specific.
Such lack of candour sets a very low bar indeed for cabinet resignations (as is already being mooted on this morning's news programmes), and could not be better designed to set the media in pursuit of further scalps.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
On topic, I can't see it. This is an incredibly weak minority government with various factions around Brexit to be balanced off and assuaged by a PM there on sufferance. Moving too many people around, however desirable and even necessary, is simply beyond her power. One in, one out with an internal promotion is the most likely outcome.
Better to live a day as a tiger than 5 years as a dead sheep. No change, no chance.
She should sack Boris Johnson today. What backbencher is going to risk making him party leader in the current climate?
If Fallon is going because of the stated reason, where does that leave Boris? Of course he’s never been known to hide either his light or his dubious deeds!
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
Ugh! She’d be a sight to behold at Questions if she got rattled. And she can get rattled.
Theresa May needs to rediscover some of the nerve and steel that led her to deliver the nasty party speech to her own party. She must see that the Conservative party is enervated. Only she can start to change that. She has been given the perfect opportunity to do so. She should take it.
I've known a few ex-soldiers in my time, and given their often somewhat rough and ready nature, I do wonder what the 'high standards' Fallon expects in their personal lives.
It seems exceptionally unlikely that Fallon resigned for a clumsy pass at a journalist 15 years ago - and if he truly did, then he's more of a fool than I took him for.
Assuming that I'm right, then his resignation statement fell well short of the candour which might have served his party better. He gave no substantial explanation for his resignation, merely a load of circumlocutory periphrastic waffle - and no real apology, either general or specific.
Such lack of candour sets a very low bar indeed for cabinet resignations (as is already being mooted on this morning's news programmes), and could not be better designed to set the media in pursuit of further scalps.
Well exactly. Incidentally one report yesterday emphasised how his sudden departure would throw the MoD into chaos. I am not sure what kind of "offence" is deemed serious enough for him to resign as a minister but not serious enough for him to resign as an MP, being stripped of his knighthood or worse.. Fallon has indeed set a low bar and an unwelcome precedent.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
Fallon's age may have been a factor, but what he really did is what interests me. Of course, he isnt the first Def Sec to resign in recent times, Liam Fox did so in 2011 (over access for friends) and look where that got him........
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
She’s no longer a supporter of the death penalty.
She’s seen the light.
As this latest farrago shows 'what's said cannot be unsaid, what's done cannot be undone'
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
She’s no longer a supporter of the death penalty.
She’s seen the light.
As this latest farrago shows 'what's said cannot be unsaid, what's done cannot be undone'
Don’t worry, it’s all part of the master plan, she’ll recant her Brexit beliefs too.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
She’s no longer a supporter of the death penalty.
She’s seen the light.
If she's becomes Defence Secretary then she'll be applying the death penalty by drone.
I think David L has it right, May lacks the power for a major shake up. Only way people are leaving us by choice or if more stories on Ill behaviour comes up.
So when’s the cross party meeting on all this? I bet they cannot wait to depressingly reveal to one another how many if their MPs are gropers, how many are merely sexist, and so on.
Tobias Ellwood would be ideal for the Defence Secretary role and there should also be promotions for Johnny Mercer and Tom Tugenhadt sooner rather than later.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
Mrs Panel's views may be more popular than you think, although personally I do not support the death penalty except possibly lethal injection for serial killers.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
She’s no longer a supporter of the death penalty.
She’s seen the light.
As this latest farrago shows 'what's said cannot be unsaid, what's done cannot be undone'
A somewhat harsh view. More joy in heaven over sinner who recants and all that. Even the fallon thing seems to be down to likelihood of more allegations he cannot deny establishing a pattern rather than the initial report, for which an apology seems generally to have been thought acceptable. We should welcome politicians who sincerely move away from views we dislike.
A clumsy pass is one thing, but I struggle to understand why people think that exposing themselves to others will be well received. But, perhaps it is part of today's etiquette, in which one texts pictures of one's genitalia to all and sundry, while complaining about sexual harassment.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
A majority of the country supports the death penalty for murder
A majority of the country also supports renationalising the railways.
There is no doubt in my mind that they interfered in both Scottish Independence and Brexit referenda. Unsuccessfully in the first instance...
I think this might be a stretch. If there's an opportunity to stir up a bit of trouble I'm sure that Russia does take advantage. But there is only opportunity for this when there is a clear wedge already opening up the space.
So in Brexit terms, Russia might have desired the result, but any interference could only have effect if they were pushing at an open door, and therefore it is very difficult to judge how much influence that interference might have had.
A new Defence Secretary now -- or wait a few days in case the Sunday papers cause more resignations. A reshuffle every day for a week would not help the Prime Minister's already shaky reputation for strength and stability.
Somewhere (I think the Great Redoubt at Dover) had three doors. One was for "Officers and their ladies," another "Sergeants and their wives," and the final, "Soldiers and their women."
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
She’s no longer a supporter of the death penalty.
She’s seen the light.
If she's becomes Defence Secretary then she'll be applying the death penalty by drone.
Without any of this due process or judicial malarky either.......
There’s also a very big story being hinted at in the American gossip columns today, about a private island in the Caribbean. Potential to bring down half of Hollywood and a bunch more of US high society if even a fraction of what’s hinted at can be stood up. Apparently something the FBI looked at years ago and got nowhere, but people now might be willing to speak in the light of recent revelations about Weinstein, Spacey etc. No link from me, you’ll have to find it yourselves!
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
Haven't we been told that British construction workers are expensive, unskilled, lazy and in insufficient numbers ?
As to the coalition - hundreds of billions of extra borrowing, stagnant productivity and wages, continuous trade deficits, Middle Eastern warmongering, uncontrolled immigration, triple lock pensions, unafforadable housing, student debts, EU humiliations, Scottish nationalism rampant, vanity projects and plenty more I've temporarily forgotten.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
A majority of the country supports the death penalty for murder
A majority of the country also supports renationalising the railways.
Doesn’t mean they are right.
No it does not but Corbyn clearly won votes on renationalising the railways and there is no necessary reason why Patel supporting the death penalty should lose her votes, indeed she may even gain some.
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
The new New Zealand PM is a leftwing metropolitan liberal, she will only make token concessions on immigration to appease NZ First who she needs for a majority.
In any case New Zealand has a points system and has never had free movement so it can import workers when it needs their skills.
There’s also a very big story being hinted at in the American gossip columns today, about a private island in the Caribbean. Potential to bring down half of Hollywood and a bunch more of US high society if even a fraction of what’s hinted at can be stood up. Apparently something the FBI looked at years ago and got nowhere, but people now might be willing to speak in the light of recent revelations about Weinstein, Spacey etc. No link from me, you’ll have to find it yourselves!
IMHO, it will be a paedophile scandal that really rocks Hollywood. Lots of attractive child actors and actresses being prostituted to powerful players. Mario Puzo knew what he was writing about.
A new Defence Secretary now -- or wait a few days in case the Sunday papers cause more resignations. A reshuffle every day for a week would not help the Prime Minister's already shaky reputation for strength and stability.
That depends on what the government knows but the media doesn't and what the media knows but the government doesn't.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
A majority of the country supports the death penalty for murder
A majority of the country also supports renationalising the railways.
Doesn’t mean they are right.
No it does not but Corbyn clearly won votes on renationalising the railways and there is no necessary reason why Patel supporting the death penalty should lose her votes, indeed she may even gain some.
I think it’s an issue unlikely to be decisive in many people’s decision, not least since there are no plans to reintroduce the death penalty. Now if she became leader and advocated a change, we’d find out if it’d help or hinder - as you point out, most say they support it.
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
A majority of the country supports the death penalty for murder
A majority of the country also supports renationalising the railways.
Doesn’t mean they are right.
No it does not but Corbyn clearly won votes on renationalising the railways and there is no necessary reason why Patel supporting the death penalty should lose her votes, indeed she may even gain some.
My (reasonably good) information suggests that she’s not that popular with some fairly high in her local party.
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
There’s also a very big story being hinted at in the American gossip columns today, about a private island in the Caribbean. Potential to bring down half of Hollywood and a bunch more of US high society if even a fraction of what’s hinted at can be stood up. Apparently something the FBI looked at years ago and got nowhere, but people now might be willing to speak in the light of recent revelations about Weinstein, Spacey etc. No link from me, you’ll have to find it yourselves!
A new Defence Secretary now -- or wait a few days in case the Sunday papers cause more resignations. A reshuffle every day for a week would not help the Prime Minister's already shaky reputation for strength and stability.
That depends on what the government knows but the media doesn't and what the media knows but the government doesn't.
The unknown knows and the know unknowns.
Indeed - it relies also on people owning up, since it’d be a bit harsh to sack or forcibly resign someone on the basis of a denied allegation of impropriety (something serious and suspension might be in order)
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger...
Except Hammond/May are apparently very hesitant about a large house building program as they don't want to mess up the borrowing figures.
Which is crazy, as it would be one form of government investment almost guaranteed to generate a long term real return at current interest rates.
(edit - and would leave less borrowing headroom for any future Corbyn administration to borrow for less productive forms pf spending...)
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
I know he had previous experience, but wasn’t fallon a junior minister this time around when he was promoted to the cabinet?
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
Haven't we been told that British construction workers are expensive, unskilled, lazy and in insufficient numbers ?
As to the coalition - hundreds of billions of extra borrowing, stagnant productivity and wages, continuous trade deficits, Middle Eastern warmongering, uncontrolled immigration, triple lock pensions, unafforadable housing, student debts, EU humiliations, Scottish nationalism rampant, vanity projects and plenty more I've temporarily forgotten.
There's not much good government there.
Construction has been the real star of the economy since 2013, with output up 27%.
I think the government's economic record has been better than you describe. The budget deficit has gone from 11% of GDP to 2%, while unemployment has halved.
There’s also a very big story being hinted at in the American gossip columns today, about a private island in the Caribbean. Potential to bring down half of Hollywood and a bunch more of US high society if even a fraction of what’s hinted at can be stood up. Apparently something the FBI looked at years ago and got nowhere, but people now might be willing to speak in the light of recent revelations about Weinstein, Spacey etc. No link from me, you’ll have to find it yourselves!
A new Defence Secretary now -- or wait a few days in case the Sunday papers cause more resignations. A reshuffle every day for a week would not help the Prime Minister's already shaky reputation for strength and stability.
That depends on what the government knows but the media doesn't and what the media knows but the government doesn't.
The unknown knows and the know unknowns.
Indeed - it relies also on people owning up, since it’d be a bit harsh to sack or forcibly resign someone on the basis of a denied allegation of impropriety (something serious and suspension might be in order)
Fallon has rather lowered the bar by resigning ostensibly over JHB's knee (even if it was actually about something more serious).
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
I know he had previous experience, but wasn’t fallon a junior minister this time around when he was promoted to the cabinet?
y but plenty of previous, including prior shadow cabinet experience.
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
Haven't we been told that British construction workers are expensive, unskilled, lazy and in insufficient numbers ?
As to the coalition - hundreds of billions of extra borrowing, stagnant productivity and wages, continuous trade deficits, Middle Eastern warmongering, uncontrolled immigration, triple lock pensions, unafforadable housing, student debts, EU humiliations, Scottish nationalism rampant, vanity projects and plenty more I've temporarily forgotten.
There's not much good government there.
Construction has been the real star of the economy since 2013, with output up 27%.
I think the government's economic record has been better than you describe. The budget deficit has gone from 11% of GDP to 2%, while unemployment has halved.
You wouldn’t think there was a problem with construction of new homes round here. Colchester, Chelmsford have enormous new estates, and more are planned.
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
Some sort of a reshuffle is inevitable, unless they can promote someone from within the same department. As others have said, the PM is going to be wary of other scandals coming to light, I imagine she’ll be spending today with the whips and the spooks trying to work out who’s in trouble.
She really doesn’t want to be making changes every few days for weeks on end, as Corbyn had to last year, it gives the impression of a massive shambles especially when in government.
A clumsy pass is one thing, but I struggle to understand why people think that exposing themselves to others will be well received. But, perhaps it is part of today's etiquette, in which one texts pictures of one's genitalia to all and sundry, while complaining about sexual harassment.
Some years ago my PA came back from the carpark looking shocked and said there was a man on the stairs who had just flashed at her and asked me to see her to her car. I went with her and as we walked up the stairs there was a man in a raincoat. She said 'That's him! That's him!'
So I went up to him and said 'Did you just flash at this lady?' 'No'. He said. 'It wasn't me' Turning to my PA 'Are you sure it was him?' OF COURSE I'M SURE!. Turning to him 'She's sure it was you'. 'Honestly it wasn't me' he said looking pathetic. Realising there was nowhere else to go I said 'Well if it was don't ever do it again'!
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
A majority of the country supports the death penalty for murder
A majority of the country also supports renationalising the railways.
Doesn’t mean they are right.
No it does not but Corbyn clearly won votes on renationalising the railways and there is no necessary reason why Patel supporting the death penalty should lose her votes, indeed she may even gain some.
My (reasonably good) information suggests that she’s not that popular with some fairly high in her local party.
Corbyn was not that popular with officials in Labour either
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
Some sort of a reshuffle is inevitable, unless they can promote someone from within the same department. As others have said, the PM is going to be wary of other scandals coming to light, I imagine she’ll be spending today with the whips and the spooks trying to work out who’s in trouble.
She really doesn’t want to be making changes every few days for weeks on end, as Corbyn had to last year, it gives the impression of a massive shambles especially when in government.
Agreed on that but the government seems to be in an ongoing shambles.
If Rory Stewart going in to No. 10 means he's got it then of course my previous comments become moot.
A new Defence Secretary now -- or wait a few days in case the Sunday papers cause more resignations. A reshuffle every day for a week would not help the Prime Minister's already shaky reputation for strength and stability.
That depends on what the government knows but the media doesn't and what the media knows but the government doesn't.
The unknown knows and the know unknowns.
Indeed - it relies also on people owning up, since it’d be a bit harsh to sack or forcibly resign someone on the basis of a denied allegation of impropriety (something serious and suspension might be in order)
Fallon has rather lowered the bar by resigning ostensibly over JHB's knee (even if it was actually about something more serious).
From the sounds of it there would 'likely' have been other stuff. Not serious stuff, but just a drip-drip of stories about inappropriate flirting and stepping over a line.
Which is going to be a big issue, I'm sure there's plenty of thing 'like' this which happen to a lot of people everyday, both in Westminster and in nigh on every workplace.
Even if I examine my own behaviour, i've never approached a collegue or someone i've worked with in a sexual way, but i've engaged in flavourful jokes/banter with women which have that type of humour as well.
There’s also a very big story being hinted at in the American gossip columns today, about a private island in the Caribbean. Potential to bring down half of Hollywood and a bunch more of US high society if even a fraction of what’s hinted at can be stood up. Apparently something the FBI looked at years ago and got nowhere, but people now might be willing to speak in the light of recent revelations about Weinstein, Spacey etc. No link from me, you’ll have to find it yourselves!
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
Haven't we been told that British construction workers are expensive, unskilled, lazy and in insufficient numbers ?
As to the coalition - hundreds of billions of extra borrowing, stagnant productivity and wages, continuous trade deficits, Middle Eastern warmongering, uncontrolled immigration, triple lock pensions, unafforadable housing, student debts, EU humiliations, Scottish nationalism rampant, vanity projects and plenty more I've temporarily forgotten.
There's not much good government there.
Construction has been the real star of the economy since 2013, with output up 27%.
I think the government's economic record has been better than you describe. The budget deficit has gone from 11% of GDP to 2%, while unemployment has halved.
A trillion quid of government borrowing and spending is going to lead to lots of low level service sector jobs.
The Thatcher government could have done the same but chose to keep the public finances in order and reform the economy. All that popular angst and political damage from three million unemployed could have been avoided in retrospect.
It was the Coalition that rather fossilised the cabinet and stopped new talent coming through.
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger...
Except Hammond/May are apparently very hesitant about a large house building program as they don't want to mess up the borrowing figures.
Which is crazy, as it would be one form of government investment almost guaranteed to generate a long term real return at current interest rates.
(edit - and would leave less borrowing headroom for any future Corbyn administration to borrow for less productive forms pf spending...)
£25 billion a year being effectively thrown away on housing benefit should be the reason we do the borrowing - because in the long term it should cut the HB bill. Otherwise that is just going to go up and up as more people rent - particularly in the future in retirement which is another ticking time bomb. And of course those renting in retirement will have no assets to fund their social care either.
Of course Hammond made his money in property and buy to let - so maybe from a purely personal perspective he doesn't want more supply?
Theresa May should promote Rory Stewart as it would be good for my book.
or Tim Tugendhat or Leo Docherty, both of whom would be that skipped generation.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
Some sort of a reshuffle is inevitable, unless they can promote someone from within the same department. As others have said, the PM is going to be wary of other scandals coming to light, I imagine she’ll be spending today with the whips and the spooks trying to work out who’s in trouble.
She really doesn’t want to be making changes every few days for weeks on end, as Corbyn had to last year, it gives the impression of a massive shambles especially when in government.
Agreed on that but the government seems to be in an ongoing shambles.
If Rory Stewart going in to No. 10 means he's got it then of course my previous comments become moot.
Possible he is going in to resign as well! But I'm pretty hopeful he isn't.
If he gets defence then my +Stewart position will look pretty good.
I’m sure this story will get an airing if Rory gets Defence.
When Prof Noah Coburn volunteered to work in war-torn Afghanistan for the charity established by Rory Stewart and the Prince of Wales, his wife, Shoshana, agreed to go with him.
She promised her parents that she would stay for no more than nine months. Little did Prof Coburn know, however, that the couple’s marriage would founder and that his wife would end up being charmed by Stewart, who is now a prominent Tory MP.
“Noah was absolutely devastated when his marriage broke down,” a friend of the eminent American anthropologist tells Mandrake. “He loved Shoshana very dearly.”
I’m sure this story will get an airing if Rory gets Defence.
When Prof Noah Coburn volunteered to work in war-torn Afghanistan for the charity established by Rory Stewart and the Prince of Wales, his wife, Shoshana, agreed to go with him.
She promised her parents that she would stay for no more than nine months. Little did Prof Coburn know, however, that the couple’s marriage would founder and that his wife would end up being charmed by Stewart, who is now a prominent Tory MP.
“Noah was absolutely devastated when his marriage broke down,” a friend of the eminent American anthropologist tells Mandrake. “He loved Shoshana very dearly.”
Comments
What the MOD needs is someone who isn't learning on the job.
Assuming that I'm right, then his resignation statement fell well short of the candour which might have served his party better. He gave no substantial explanation for his resignation, merely a load of circumlocutory periphrastic waffle - and no real apology, either general or specific.
Such lack of candour sets a very low bar indeed for cabinet resignations (as is already being mooted on this morning's news programmes), and could not be better designed to set the media in pursuit of further scalps.
Mr. B, indeed, though voluntarily coming out with past misconduct would've been difficult. That said, it either comes out anyway, not in a manner of his choosing, or does not, in which case his resignation was unnecessary.
Don't think I had any bets on the Next Cabinet Minister out market.
On-topic: agree entirely that fresh blood is needed.
I'll get my coat...
That Coalition does increasingly look like a golden era of good government.
In other news NZ is planning to tackle its housing and infrastructure challenge via importing British construction workers. Not sure how this fits with clamping down on migration. I expect a similar drive here would be the same but an order of magnitude bigger.
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/02/new-zealand-launches-biggest-ever-drive-to-attract-brexit-britains-builders
She should sack Boris Johnson today. What backbencher is going to risk making him party leader in the current climate?
I just heard on radio that Priti Patel was a likely replacement. Her credentials being that she's a SHE and unlikely to have brushed anyone's knee with her hand.
Having a pro hanging defence secretary who believes the odd mistake isn't a problem should add to the gaiety of this government.
Time for Mrs Corbyn to get her Littlewoods catalogue out.
Ugh! She’d be a sight to behold at Questions if she got rattled. And she can get rattled.
If Mrs May had any sense she’d oust Patrick McLoughlin today as well and bring those two in.
She’s seen the light.
There is no doubt in my mind that they interfered in both Scottish Independence and Brexit referenda. Unsuccessfully in the first instance...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2346330/Navy-ditches-toast-wives-sweethearts-time-200-years-women-sea.html
Fallon has no idea about The Navy.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/kevin-spacey-sexual-harassment-expose-genitals-watch-flash-barman-daniel-beal-quiet-actor-a8031521.html
So when’s the cross party meeting on all this? I bet they cannot wait to depressingly reveal to one another how many if their MPs are gropers, how many are merely sexist, and so on.
The Mash nails Fallon.
https://yougov.co.uk/news/2014/08/13/capital-punishment-50-years-favoured/
Mrs Panel's views may be more popular than you think, although personally I do not support the death penalty except possibly lethal injection for serial killers.
Doesn’t mean they are right.
The first tiny step (if they do put them up) back to sanity.
So in Brexit terms, Russia might have desired the result, but any interference could only have effect if they were pushing at an open door, and therefore it is very difficult to judge how much influence that interference might have had.
Edit: http://www.dover-kent.co.uk/western_heights_shaft.htm
Edited extra bit: World Series, apparently. I wasn't sure if I'd backed it, but I did, with a small stake.
Spacey is indeed a great actor - he also appears to be a pretty scuzzy human being - and he's far from the first in that category.
As to the coalition - hundreds of billions of extra borrowing, stagnant productivity and wages, continuous trade deficits, Middle Eastern warmongering, uncontrolled immigration, triple lock pensions, unafforadable housing, student debts, EU humiliations, Scottish nationalism rampant, vanity projects and plenty more I've temporarily forgotten.
There's not much good government there.
Mind you, the Holy Roman Empire wasn't holy, Roman, or an empire so it's not the first misleading title in history.
In any case New Zealand has a points system and has never had free movement so it can import workers when it needs their skills.
The unknown knows and the know unknowns.
Thinking is, however, that as a major office, it can't be given to a newcomer to the Cabinet, and therefore it will be someone already in the Cabinet, and probably at SoS level.
Which is crazy, as it would be one form of government investment almost guaranteed to generate a long term real return at current interest rates.
(edit - and would leave less borrowing headroom for any future Corbyn administration to borrow for less productive forms pf spending...)
I think the government's economic record has been better than you describe. The budget deficit has gone from 11% of GDP to 2%, while unemployment has halved.
She really doesn’t want to be making changes every few days for weeks on end, as Corbyn had to last year, it gives the impression of a massive shambles especially when in government.
So I went up to him and said 'Did you just flash at this lady?' 'No'. He said. 'It wasn't me' Turning to my PA 'Are you sure it was him?' OF COURSE I'M SURE!. Turning to him 'She's sure it was you'. 'Honestly it wasn't me' he said looking pathetic. Realising there was nowhere else to go I said 'Well if it was don't ever do it again'!
She didn't speak to me for weeks
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41840007
If Rory Stewart going in to No. 10 means he's got it then of course my previous comments become moot.
Which is going to be a big issue, I'm sure there's plenty of thing 'like' this which happen to a lot of people everyday, both in Westminster and in nigh on every workplace.
Even if I examine my own behaviour, i've never approached a collegue or someone i've worked with in a sexual way, but i've engaged in flavourful jokes/banter with women which have that type of humour as well.
The Thatcher government could have done the same but chose to keep the public finances in order and reform the economy. All that popular angst and political damage from three million unemployed could have been avoided in retrospect.
Of course Hammond made his money in property and buy to let - so maybe from a purely personal perspective he doesn't want more supply?
Corbyn Vs Stewart. I'd pay to see that Marxist get his arse handed to him.
https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/925645750608060416
https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/925495970032443392
But I'm pretty hopeful he isn't.
If he gets defence then my +Stewart position will look pretty good.
When Prof Noah Coburn volunteered to work in war-torn Afghanistan for the charity established by Rory Stewart and the Prince of Wales, his wife, Shoshana, agreed to go with him.
She promised her parents that she would stay for no more than nine months. Little did Prof Coburn know, however, that the couple’s marriage would founder and that his wife would end up being charmed by Stewart, who is now a prominent Tory MP.
“Noah was absolutely devastated when his marriage broke down,” a friend of the eminent American anthropologist tells Mandrake. “He loved Shoshana very dearly.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9434945/How-lover-of-Conservative-MP-Rory-Stewart-left-her-husband-heartbroken-in-Afghanistan.html