Bring on the transsexual horses!

[matgb]

Everyone remember back when I said I really fancy Sue Perkins?. Well, it's been a great week on that front; she was on Heresy on Tuesday (from which this post gets its headline - anyone else get the reference?), and then she was on The News Quiz tonight as well (both on Listen Again at the moment, can't find the MP3 downloads on a quick search). Memorable quote on Ruth Kelly:

She's not fit for any century ... she's walked towards a load of jobs she's no good at.

We repeat, Ruth Kelly: she's rubbish and should resign.

If I get time over the weekend, I might put up a poll of the current cabinet and ask for people to vote for those likely to make it through to Brown's cabinet. Reid's already gone, Hodge has to go, as does Hewitt, others I'm not so sure of; Gordo'll need to do a clean sweep in many respects. Ah well.

In other news, had the crappiest megabus driver ever today, but apart from traffic and his inability to stop effectively, was OK. Then I managed to not get off the train at Brighouse. D'oh! So instead of getting to Elland just about now for a nice drink in Jennie's pub, I missed the last bus and am waiting for her here; I'm actually about to take the dog fora walk. Ouch...

Comments

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

D'oh!

I'm actually about to take the dog fora walk.
I see she's trained you well already. :o)

[matgb]

Well, sort of; she just asked nicely after I messed up on the trains; purely selfish motives, meant we could spend more time together once she got home.

[karohemd.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

Re: Patsy. Leave the health post, yes. Leave Government and/or the Cabinet? Hmm. She seems to be able to whip herself up into a frenzy of soundbites read from index cards much like Ms Jowell (though Ms Jowell is much better at it), so I could see her being kept on in some other role, possibly sub-Cabinet. Perhaps Leader of the Commons, or something like that without major policy areas. It looks like Gordon might bundle some of the Parliamentary reforms in with his more general constitutional reforms, so whoever's Leader of the Commons might have considerably restricted freedom when trying to do things like modernise the House.

The member of the Cabinet I want to see leave it, more than any other because I'm irrational like that, is Hazel Fscking Blears.

[matgb]

Blears, unfortunately, seems to have secured herself into the job, especially with the deputy campaign; word has it there's a chance she may even *shudder* win the damn thing.

I think I'll turn back on the 'watching politics very closely' instincts when Gordon's elected, especially with the constitutional stuff, could turn out to be quite interesting.

I also keep getting Jowell and Hewitt mixed up, they really are that bland aren't they.

[caramel-betty.livejournal.com]

I also keep getting Jowell and Hewitt mixed up, they really are that bland aren't they.

You can tell the difference - Jowell is more shrill, Hewitt is more patronising.

Overall, I don't actually hate Hewitt that much. Health is a poisoned chalice, and IT sucks. I'm inclined to think that a cross-department "Minister" for Administrative Affairs IT Infrastructure (possibly a Lord, possibly a cross-party czar, possibly an "independent advisor" a la Lord Carlisle) would be sensible. As would changing some of our more stupid IT procurement policies, which seem to prevent earlier fuck-ups being taken into account when buying new IT systems.

[matgb]

Aye; in my notional "I suddenly take over the Government" plan, appointing someone to go over the whole Govt IT infrastructure is fairly high on the list; I think I'd ask Paul Evans of Never Trust a Hippy; he's one of those Labour supporters in the wrong party, but has written some damn good stuff on IT purchasing fuck ups.

I especially liked the reports of the splitting of the Home Office and the staff being transferred to the MoJ, problems would be caused by the incompatible IT systems; why do two very closely linked departments have different IT infrastructures?

Then there's Crapita.

[tyrell.livejournal.com]

Hazel Blears is terrifying. Anyone who can say on record that their proposal needs to be passed because we must "prevent people from doing something wrong" needs to be stopped. Her and Reid, that'd be a good double-act. Briefly.

[rhythmaning.livejournal.com]

My big question about the Cabinet: who in thier right mind is going to want Chancellor?

I had heard that Darling might get it. But I really can't imagine Brown letting anyone else actually do anything.

[matgb]

Ed balls. He doesn't need to be in his right mind, and he's used to doing what El Gordo wants anyway.

Alternately, Gordo might do something weird, and appoint someone to have a completely free reign, and we might see a change in economic policy. Doubt it, but we might.