David Cameron has announced his new front bench team today, the biggest news was the return of Ken Clarke to the Shadow Cabinet.
I have a huge amount of time for Ken Clarke, I don't agree with his views on a number of Europe related issues and these have caused some ruffles feathers in the part in the past. But I'm confident that he will stick to his promise and accept the collective responsibility that comes with the new appointment.
The left will go into overdrive in their attempts to drive a wedge between Ken and the party as a whole, they won't succeed. The contrast between Brown/Darling's economic track record and Ken Clarke's couldn't be more stark. Clarke fixed the economy, handed it over to Brown, Brown broke it!
I'm glad to see Chris Grayling (my old next door neighbour) getting the Home Affairs brief and Dominic Grieve is very well suited to the Justice role. I thought that Nick Herbert was doing very well in Justice but I can see that the DEFRA role is a natural fit.
One appointment that will delight the Conservative grass roots is Eric Pickles to Party Chairman. He has a down to earth, get things done attitude which is exactly what we need in the role. Also, he can win elections, as the Crewe& Nantwich by-election proved.
The party is branding this as "The strongest possible Shadow Cabinet", I think that that title is spot on.
19 January, 2009
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6 comments:
I'm glad to hear Ken is back - we need a heavyweight to go toe-to-toe with The Dark Lord Mandelson.
However, he's a bit of a dinosaur to have in the Shadow Cabinet, isn't he?
D
I have a great nervousness about this.
Whilst he might indeed wipe the floor with that sleazeball Mandelson, Ken Clarke is symptomatic with all that was wrong with the Conservatives during the Major-era of the 1990s - something that has left the party unelectable for in excess of a decade.
We have moved on from that era, and politicians associated with the sleazy government back then should be consigned to the dustbin of history. We must never return to the way of the sleazy 1990s again, we must look onwards and upwards.
Oh no, James, what a disaster. This man will cause no end of trouble. He's an egomaniac. David Cameron really could have blown our election chances with this massive gaffe.
James - don't forget the grass roots stuff as well.
On a day that South-East London ground to a halt with another accident in the Blackwall Tunnel, can you please remember that by the simple measure of re-opening the tidal flow for the duration would have had a much bigger impact on voters lives?
Secondly, you are more than welcome to get down with some more kids, as Bromley Korfball Club are holding a come and try it event at the Bishop Justus school on 28th February, as part of the Winter of Sport programme sponsored by the Mayor. See Bromley.korfball.co.uk and let us know if you fancy joining in!
Ken Clarke is a very capable politician, what I can't understand is why he should have a junior position to George Osbourne. This is an insult to the talents of Ken Clarke.
Because Ken's a troublemaker who will make the Conservatives unelectable given anything other than the most junior post.
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