News reaches Recess Monkey that Charles Clarke’s resignation is a certainty. According to Hugo Rifkind of The Times, William Hill is refusing to take bets on him going in the next 48 hours because, “we feel that it is certainty, so we will not be accepting these wagers.”
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One man and his dog..The return?
Howler Monkey said this on April 26th, 2006 at 6:27 pm
Impossible, surely - if this has been going on for seven years, Blunkett is at least as culpable as Clarke (as, indeed, is Jack Straw). No, if we’re going to see the return of some horrific Blairite nark, my money’s on Alan Milburne.
I’d like to think Blair would do the sensible thing and appoint someone who’s head is neither up his arse nor up their own. But that’s not likely, and such a mythical beast could probably only be found amongst Labour’s backbench rebels. So, if Alan Milburne again refuses to answer the call to duty, I’m guessing it’ll be Hilary Benn.
But this is all small potatoes - I’m still on tenter hooks awaiting the appointment of the next Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Months that job’s been vacant. The Duchy must be going to pot.
Gregg said this on April 26th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Bollocks..Miburne’s goeing for leader.
Howler Monkey said this on April 26th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
The Duchy of Lancaster job is not going to be filled…Govt has reached its limit of 109 paid ministers by using the DofL money to give Meg Munn a ministerial salary….
evil eye said this on April 27th, 2006 at 8:51 am
Well I’le do it, if I’me asked niceley enough…But I want good pay (Minamum Wage)and expences or the DSS will be after me
Howler Monkey said this on April 27th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
How kind of you to offer Howler.
Dr. Freling said this on April 27th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
Well.just had to help out.
Howler Monkey said this on April 27th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
Bollocks..Miburne’s goeing for leader.
How many people have become party leader (much less Prime Minister) straight from the back benches? The only person I can think of who even tried was Heseltine, and he was running as rebel - Milburne quit amicably, to spend more time with his consultancies. Surely he’d have to go back into Cabinet first - and Home Secretary would be an ideal position from which to challenge Brown. I can’t believe… no, OK, I can believe Milburne is egotistical enough to think he could mount a serious challenge from the backbenches, but surely the apparatchiks would know better.
Gregg said this on April 28th, 2006 at 3:05 pm
See if you can get a copy of his speech to Labour south west conferance and see whot you think. I think it was a stump speech.
Howler Monkey said this on April 28th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
I quite believe Milburne wants to be leader and intends to run when the time comes (and if the Blairites get their way, that’ll be November 2008 at the earliest). But I don’t see how he could possibly do it from the backbenches - he has to get back into government first, in some post. If Clarke is forced to resign, or Blair decides to get rid of him, I think Milburne would be the prime candidate to replace him. And, for Milburne, the Home Office would look ideal as a stepping-stone to the premiership (Blair held that protfolio himself in Opposition, before becoming leader).
As a backbencher, Milburne stands less chance of becoming leader than Lynne Jones does - though, as I said, he’s probably up himself enough not realise that. As Home Secretary, he’d become a serious contender.
Gregg said this on April 28th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Quite posable…lets see who get whot in the reshuffel..
Blunkett for the H.O. Read for helth. Wingnut for the chop..AAhhh ..Just like old times Come on Monkey..Fantasey Cabanet poll, Please!!
Howler Monkey said this on April 28th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
109 paid ministers and no money left to pay poor Howler his minimum wage at the Duchy of Lancaster.This is indeed a sad state of affairs.
Edicius said this on April 28th, 2006 at 5:24 pm
I know..But if I get the job surf team D.S.S. will miss me.
Howler Monkey said this on April 28th, 2006 at 7:38 pm