Welcome back Labour

[Oneeyedvic]

Blair says "I think I have a very clear idea of what the British people now expect from this government for a third term"

How many of the British people are relieved that David Blunkett

(who has been living rent free in the home secretary's accomodation at a cost of �70,000 to the tax payer since resigning,

who fraudulently claimed for a rail ticket for his lover,

who made amazing (but quite true) derogatory commments about his colleagues

and was forced to resign when it became apparent that he fsat tracked his lover's nanny visa application)

is back in the cabinet?

New Labour? Certainly No New Spin

[flaming]

Honestly!  What did you expect?  Leopards don't change their spots!  Oh and whilst all the pre-Christmas kerfuffle about Blunkett was filling the papers, closely followed by the tsunami tragedy, lots of bad news was buried - not bad for politicians, but bad for us.  Scant news attention was given to the erosion of our civil liberties.  Little tiny paragraphs appeared  in some papers, concerning ALL MPs pensions being increased, and attendance allowances for Tony's Cronies in the Lords being increased too.  Can't have them suffering  economies like the rest of us, although I did read that the subsidised posh restaurant at the House was having reduced hours. 

[jno]

Not me. At least he's away from identity cards now... or will he try to introduce them as a qualification for picking up your pension?

[Oneeyedvic]

flaming - personally, I thought a law being passed so that Judge's were exempt from higher taxes on their pensions (only over �1.5 Million) as trhey threatened to strike was the best cronieism....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4047303.stm

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4048777.stm

[Dom Tuk]

But what kind of power do they have on him these mandelsons and blunketts. Why do they keep getting back into the inner circl. what do they know that we dont. It was only 5 months ago that blunkett had to resign.....in disgrace...... And now he is back. Do we forget that easily.

[El D]

Unfortunately yes. It appears to have slipped under the radar of anyone willing to make a fuss about it. But as you say its a disgrace, I have to laugh cos their was a question on here about it asking how long it would take - 5 months. Does anyone seriously doubt this arrangement was made back then?

[Philtaz]

It just proves that cronyism is rife in British politics, regardless of which party is involved.

It's also another reason why I don't and never have voted.

[mike1222]

Croneyism is alive and kicking in all British political parties, but particularly so in this government - almost as thriving as the bare-faced lying that is so prevalent.  This is just one reason that I do not vote and I am amazed at how gullible the British public is in voting for these liars that now govern us!

[elgroucho]

The fact is that Labour is pretty short of talent (but not nearly as badly off as the Tories). It wasn't exactly a secret that Blunkett would be back, he is a Blair man, and Tony needs as many of those as he can get at the moment.

[El D]

Indeed, see his well timed defence of old tone . . . textbook

[flaming]

The look of triumph on Blunkett's face as he went in following the announcement - puke-making.  He can make a hash at Pensions now. Still he's got the Lords to look forward to when he's gone through the whole range of top posts. Anyone would think it was just the rail ticket he cheated on - what about cheating us, all the time he wasn't bothering to do his job, which was quite a long time according to the dates given about his Kimberley affairt.  Anyone  else read that LORD Kinnock hasn't bothered to go in to the Lords since he was made one in the New Year Honours.  Suppose he'll wait until he needs a few quid -   his former EU post has left him a bit flush at present, no doubt. (Wasn't he one of the blokes who said he's never accept a Life Peerage?)

[El D]

What are you implying - it's not like Kinnock was ever part of a European commission dismissed for corruption. . .The whole thing is sickening.