May's cabinet and In Tray

Prior to the coronation of Theresa May, as Britain’s new Prime Minister, I thought I would share a couple of comments and advice on her Cabinet appointments.

Firstly, we can ignore the clamour from Labour and the Liberal Democrats for a snap General Election.  Labour’s call is perfunctory – they would be very, very negatively impacted by such an election.  UKIP would severely damage them in the North of England. As for the LibDems,  well, enough said.

Secondly, in order to demonstrate that the country can trust Theresa May and her government, we should take immediate steps to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.  There is a suspicion that this step is being delayed and that after April 2017 we would require the approval of 14 EU nations.  Let’s get rid of all of that buy firing the starting pistol, now.  An added benefit of imposing this eminently achievable deadline, is that this would clarify the future somewhat and cause minds to be concentrated rather than us drifting, as we are currently.

Thirdly, announce the immediate abandonment of the HS2 project – this is a project that is a major embarrassment and produces little real benefits – a few meaningless minutes off journey times.  The cost is also likely to balloon above the £50 Billion current level and will damage the physical environment and maybe Conservative election prospects.

Now to the Cabinet. 

Chancellor of the Exchequer – Pundits point to Philip Hammond – Although a Remainer, no problem with his appointment.

Home Secretary – Re-combine this department with Justice and appoint Michael Gove.  If not combining, then leave Gove at Justice, move Michael Fallon to Home Office and appoint Liam Fox as Defence Secretary.

Foreign Secretary – Chris Grayling – a Brexiteer but solid performer

Defence, Education, Transport, Wales, Northern Ireland, Leader of the Lords, Work & Pensions, Scotland – stay with incumbents Michael Fallon, Nicky Morgan, Patrick McLoughlin, Alun Cairns, Theresa Villiers, Baroness Stowell, Stephen Crabb  and David Mundell, respectively

Merge Communities and Local Government ministry and Energy and Climate Change ministry together with Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministry and appoint Andrea Leadsom. 

Create a new department for England and appoint Jeremy Hunt as minister with Cabinet seat.

Culture, Media & Sport – Add responsibilities for London – Boris Johnson

Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister for Women & Equalities – Priti Patel - She would bring energy and common sense to this brief.

Health – Liz Truss - A very solid media performer who would be able to take-on the doctor's union - the BMA and the other self-serving provider unions, within the NHS

Leader of the House – Greg Clark

International Development – Sajid Javid

Secretary of State for Brexit – David Davis – He is a solid performer, confirmed Brexiteer who commands respect on both sides of the argument.  A man of principle, with a very good ‘back-story’.

So nothing for George Osborne – like Cameron he must suffer the consequences of his Project Fear – not just because it failed but because he so mis-read the electorate.

If Theresa May wanted to be mischievous, she could do worse than appoint Boris Johnson as Secretary of State for Scotland.  He would have no hesitation in slapping down the ‘gobby’ Sturgeon every time she popped-up with another stupid IndyRef2 claim.

The time has come for England to have its own minister and that is why I suggest to appoint someone of the calibre of Jeremy Hunt.  Health is a poisoned chalice and especially so, for a Conservative.  Hunt has made a good fist of his time at that department.

Abortion limits - do the maths!

The new UK Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt has shared his view that the time limit on abortions should be reduced to 12 weeks. 

Given that more than 90% of the, in excess of , 190,000 abortions that occur in England and Wales happen within 13 weeks, Hunt is not talking about affecting a significant number of abortions.  Though, if you oppose abortion, 19,000 is still too many.

Of course that doesn't stop the usual suspects jumping up and screaming about 'right-wing politicians pushing an agenda' or 'this is about women's choice and has nothing to do with men and men should keep quiet on the whole issue!'

However, think for a minute about the timeline.   Surely within 4-8 weeks of conception, a woman knows she is pregnant?  Then she has tests?  Then ponders?  So how much time for pondering?  Consider that this 'pondering' is a solitary task - after all, the man concerned or any man for that matter, has no right to offer any input - simply because he is a man!

So isn't 4-8 weeks enough time for pondering?

OK, so as a man, I should keep quiet but.......    I think that most women will already have a view on abortion.  They will have given thought to 'what would I do' if I found myself inconveniently or accidentally  pregnant'.  So the ponder time doesn't sound like it should be any hurdle.

So 12 weeks sounds like ample time.

Oh and if it avoids those 19,000 abortions, that, for me, would be a step in the right direction!

Next step?  After getting the timeline reduced, re-examine the rationale and arguments that were put forward in 1967, when the abortion law was passed and see these in relation to the excuses given for abortions, today.  I recall we were told that this law was required to end back-street abortions and for rape victims and for those expectant mothers who had health issues.  No one, not even David (now Lord) Steele said we would end up with abortion on demand and become the abortion capital of Europe.

So from a time perspective, the maths suggest that 12 weeks is much more than enough time.!

Labour mud slinging

Labour MP Jim Sheridan has criticized the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, because he had a chance, passing encounter, with Rupert Murdoch at a London Olympics venue.

He went on to wonder 'what would Milly Dowler's family think of this'?

I seem to recall that Surrey Police were very clear that there was no evidence that anyone at Murdoch's News International's now defunct News of the World newspaper, ever hacked the phone of the abducted and subsequently murdered schoolgirl.

So why fling the mud? 

Apart from such being a familiar tactic regularly employed by the 'holier than thou' hypocrites from  Labour, this is yet another attempt to obscure and distance themselves from News International and particularly the exceedingly close relations that they enjoyed with that organization.  Indeed, much of the phone hacking that has been alleged to have taken place, occurred when those guardians of morality, AKA the Labour Party, were actually in power.  Maybe it just didn't suit their ends to question the media organs that were so supportive?

Labour Party doesn't sling mud?  Think Damian McBride, Think Dr David Kelly. 

Heavens, when Brown was fuming on the sidelines, as Chancellor (and in the process ruining the UK economy) his cohorts - Charlie Whelan and the afore-mentioned McBride were vigorously leaking and plotting against Blair and his team.  Blair and Co were no angels either - remember 'pyschologically flawed'?


Sometimes a chance meeting is just that.  The reports indicate that this was so, so why, other than for cheap political points, make a fuss about it.

It says more about Sheridan's flawed judgement than Hunt's.