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| Britain |
| Fury erupts at Blair’s ’botched’ reshuffle |
| 2003-06-14 |
| Before Blair sells the UK to Europe for a wad of promises and a fistful of magic beans, he's taking a wrecking ball to Government infrastructure to show he Has The Power, Juche-style... EFL Tony Blair was accused of creating chaos and confusion throughout government last night as anger grew over the way far-reaching constitutional changes had been rushed through without consultation. [Tory leader] Iain Duncan Smith said the Prime Minister was acting like a "tinpot dictator" and treating the centuries-old British constitution as his "personal plaything". Mr Blair sought to regain the initiative by promoting women and giving a second chance to former ministers when he made changes to the middle and lower ranks of the Government. Mr Blair's attempt to freshen his team was overshadowed by protests from opposition parties and some Labour MPs over the decision to scrap the 1,400-year-old office of Lord Chancellor. It will be replaced by a Department of Constitutional Affairs, headed by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, his former flatmate. It will oversee radical reforms, including the creation of a supreme court. Lord Strathclyde, Tory leader in the Lords, accused Mr Blair of producing "trendy reforms cobbled together on the back on an envelope". Others claimed the reshuffle was a "botched job" which had produced a "constitutional dog's breakfast". There was a widespread view at Westminster that the changes appeared rushed and ill thought through. Downing Street was unable or unwilling to answer detailed questions about the constitutional shake-up. Mr Blair's spokesman said that the old Scottish and Welsh Offices would be "subsumed" within Lord Falconer's new department. Peter Hain - who will combine the jobs of Leader of the Commons and Welsh Secretary - admitted that it should have been explained "far more effectively" by No 10. In an interview in The Daily Telegraph today, he adds to the confusion by saying that he will continue as Welsh Secretary while the Welsh Office will come "under Charlie Falconer's umbrella". There was further controversy over the decision to combine Alistair Darling's post of Transport Secretary with the job of Scottish Secretary. Downing Street denied that it meant the transport portfolio was being downgraded. But officials were unable to say whether he would devote one day a week to Scotland and the rest to trying to improve the country's overcrowded road and rail links. Civil servants in the Scottish and Welsh Offices said they were not sure whether they reported to Lord Falconer - or Mr Darling and Mr Hain. MPs protested they did not know who they would go to with issues concerning their constituencies. It also emerged that Lord Falconer would take over as Lord Chancellor, following the resignation of Lord Irvine of Lairg, until the post was abolished by legislation. To the surprise of peers, he briefly took his place on the Woolsack in the House of Lords dressed in the gown and wig of the Lord Chancellor. He had not wanted the role - but No 10 had not realised that the Lord Chancellor's attendance in the House was required by a standing order that goes back to 1660. Lord Falconer appealed yesterday to be judged on his merits and not as one of Mr Blair's "cronies". But Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, said he was not elected and was a creature of the Prime Minister's patronage. I gave, and will give, Tony full credit for a lot of things, not the least of which being his brave position over Iraq. But he's increasingly acting more like President for Life rather than Leader of the Government. Having been vindicated over Iraq in the eyes of the sane, it looks as though he's emboldened sufficiently to think that whatever he thinks is right will turn out to be right, and to hell with obstacles that get in the way. |
| Posted by:Bulldog |
| #5 a "botched job" which had produced a "constitutional dog's breakfast". what is a "dog's breakfast"? |
| Posted by: Becky 2003-06-14 13:14:20 |
| #4 One "Aw, Shit" will negate a thousand "atta-boys." Blair better explain what he is trying to do and involve the public or he will sink himself. Even public perceptions are important at this stage. A public that perceives that it is being railroaded into something, no matter how good, will turn on their leaders. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-06-14 12:34:15 |
| #3 How many magic beans? |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-06-14 11:30:21 |
| #2 Is there any place in this remarkable process for the will of the people to be heard, Bulldog? What do they think? Does it matter? |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2003-06-14 11:27:38 |
| #1 Becky, A dog's breakfast (not to be confused with the similar expression, a dog's bollocks) means a mess, or muddle. You can find the origin of the phrase at this useful site http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/114550.html |
| Posted by: Dick Saucer 2003-06-14 14:29:38 |