Andrew Mitchell

I posted earlier, that I thought Andrew Mitchell should go.  Either voluntarily or be sacked.  What he is alleged to have said was plain wrong even if all of the words were not spoken!

Writing on Twitter, Iain Martin (@IainMartin1) poses the interesting question of why Andrew Mitchell, was stopped from taking his bike through the Downing Street car-gates, in the first place? 

The newspapers are quoting from the police 'log' of the events as if it had been inscribed by Moses himself which, given past experience (was it only last week we heard about Hillsborough?) suggests an over-reliance on a source that was previously found to be 'dodgy' from time to time.

I would also question, why in this 'Levenson' era, the papers seem to still have such a cosy relationship with the Metropolitan Police?  Especially, The Sun.  The Sun surely has an axe to grind against the Conservatives and I guess we are seeing some of that coming into play.

All that said, Mitchell should go.  This sorry tale is distracting and allowing the Lib Dems to make all the running, on the political front with their crazy 'squeeze the rich' policies and letting Labour to push ahead on sniping about Mitchell (though they themselves, seem to have forgotten  foul-mouthed SPADs and a deranged and phone-throwing PM)

 

From where is Clegg getting all this money?

Nick Clegg, the Deputy PM has promised a further £100 Million for childcare.  While I am sure that thousands of unmarried mothers will appreciate his largesse, as this will allow them more time to spend with their 'baby-fathers' - either past or future -  I do have to ask from where is Nick getting all of this money?  I just don't believe that the YouTube royalties from his 'I'm Sorry' video will be sufficient.  Neither surely, could be his wife's salary. 

So where does it come from?

Surely, he can't be planning to spend taxpayers money?  We are living in hard times, or so we are constantly told.  It seems that this money is coming from 'government underspending'.  That's right.  They have taken more money from taxpayers than they needed to and, rather than give it back, will fritter it away on providing 100,000 nursery places for 2 year-olds.  Will this allow these mothers to go out and find work?  What do you think?  Hint - we are told by the Labour Party that there are 'no jobs out there' - so why provide extra nursery spaces?  Surely, it couldn't be that he wants to allow these mostly unmarried mothers to have the time to get pregnant and become a greater burden on the taxpayer?  That would be too perverse, even for a Lib Dem!

In truth, I don't really expect Nick Clegg and the socialist Lib Dems to understand the concept of ownership - the money I earn is mine and not the government's - but surely, at the heart of the Conservative-led Coalition, there are some people who still understand the basic principles of Conservative belief?  Someone?  What about in the Conservative Party?


Urgent Note to David Cameron - Andrew Mitchell - he should go and go today.  His comments were crass and stupid but more importantly, the story is distracting government from the business of government - namely fixing the economy!  I must declare an interest though, I can't forgive Mitchell for being the International Development Minister and giving my tax money to overseas while cutting spending in the UK.  Unforgivable!  That isn't hypocrisy.  I don't want the government to take my money and waste it overseas and I don't want them to waste it here in the UK, either

The ideal Cabinet re-shuffle

OK, so some of what follows is decidedly wishful thinking but without dreams ................

David Cameron is apparently contemplating a re-shuffle of the portfolio's of his ministers and so I offer the following:

There is an agreement to have 5 Lib Dems in the Cabinet.  Currently these are, Clegg, Davey, Cable, Alexander and Moore. 

The most obvious candidate for removal is Vince Cable.  This, frankly speaking, socialist anti-business Lib Dem cannot be left in charge of the Business portfolio.  Replace him with David Laws.  Most commentators view him as very capable and he has served his punishment for his expenses mis-demeanour's.  Cable will make noise from the back-benches but the sound might actually be less and get less air-time than emanates from him, today, where he regularly strays into areas outside of his portfolio and spouts off on things in a non-Coalition way.  He is not a team player!

Next, move Ed Davey from Energy and Climate Change to Culture and Media.  Davey cannot be replaced with the obvious candidate, James Delingpole, unless Delingpole is elevated to the House of Lords.  What a picture, springs to mind!!  The key is to get this ministry away from the 'green zealots'.   Note to Dave.  There are big votes in this.  Scrap the lunatic 'green policies' and we will see reduced fuel bills, all to the credit of the Conservatives!!

Kenneth Clarke out of Justice and replaced by David Davis.  Clarke is far too detached and still stuck in a pro-EU time-warp.  We don't need baggage like that, going into an election.

Andrew Mitchell - out of International Development - pushes a NGO agenda at a time when we simply cannot afford it.

Justine Greening -  out of Transport - she has funked the Heathrow Third Runway question and is pushing the seemingly uneconomic H2S or, as it is known in the Tory heartlands - the 'political suicide express' .  Replace with David Willets - Two-Brains might actually get engaged on a coherent and integrated policy.

Keep
Lansley at Health - these reforms need to be bedded-in and he is the man for the job.
IDS at Work & Pensions - No comments needed for a minister on the top of his game
Gove at Education - Same as IDS - taking no prisoners as he pushes through much-needed reform

With Lords reform now abandoned, this Government should not waste the talents of the Deputy PM.  So, given his enthusiasm for reform make him responsible for consulting on and then developing a policy for the reform of the relationship between the UK and the EU.