She’s going before she was pushed
Ever since she was discovered to be claiming a room in her sister’s house in Nunhead, south London as her primary residence, home secretary Jacqui Smith has been in trouble.
Her husband renting a couple of porn movies on the taxpayer didn’t help.
But in truth the first woman home secretary, the second youngest holder of the office since Winston Churchill, will not leave the stage with her reputation enhanced. At least in the view of her many critics.
Indeed, she might have gone out with a little more glory if she had resigned right now, provoking Gordon Brown to have to bring forward his attempts to reshuffle the government.
The prime minister’s traction is waning very fast, and it is questionable how many people will agree either to be moved or to go on working for him.
He wanted to have his reshuffle on Friday, before we learn the worst of the European election results on Sunday. That still seems to be his plan.
At this point it’s hard to see whether Jacqui Smith’s self-immolation signals the final crumbling of the Brown regime or another stagger towards relatively fruitless power.
Related posts:
- Jacqui Smith: fall guy for a doomed species
- How Boris copped it from Sir Ian Blair
- 'This is Gordon Brown. Now, about my expenses…'
- I love the sound of breaking glass ceilings
- Life and dearth in Britain: Newcastle
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I think that many of the “Hopeless and Hapless” Ministers would have performed much better if freed from the burdens of having to toe-the line and “defend the indefensible” that goes with the system of Cabinet Government.
Why do good back-bench MP’s suddenly become basket cases when they are promoted to a Ministers job ?
That’s where reform is needed, as much as anywhere else, freeing the shackles and chains of the party machine, party-politics, collective responsibility etc… that prevent good practice and good Government…
When you get Jacqui Smith and any other casualties on the show, please would you ask them that question?
I know she’s stepping down, but I’m prepared to give Jacqui a bit of credit for being a casualty of an impossible system..
The porn-films were a cock-up though !
@ Ray Turner: they were indeed a cock up
Well, her departure does not come one day too early. The fewer, the merrier.
And, for all this talk about whether it is the system which is to blame or the MPs within…
The answer is – it’s both. The entire system needs radical changing. But the individual MPs should know better than to use the loop holes in this system for their own gain. As they did use these to their advantage anyway – they need changing, too.
I can’t help thinking it is a bit like when you take penicillin. There is no point taking half of the cure – you must finish it and carry on until the end – otherwise the few bacteria which escaped will be rooted and start growing again.
Let us empty the House, give it a good scrubbing, open the windows to let in some fresh, (well -ish) 21st century air and re-elect new, honest MPs who live as they preach.
Or maybe it’s like taking a couple of asprin to clear a headache? That will do the trick but if you take the whole bottle it will kill you.
I cling to the hope that at least some, maybe most of our MPs are not in it for what they can get out of it. My own MP, Philip Davies, with whom I disagree passionately on almost every issue, appears to have behaved properly.
I want parliamentary reform, I want a lot of new faces but I’d hate to think the country was going to be run completely by rookies. Even Obama admits his needs experienced people around him.
A ‘reply’ to myself here…
Correction: The word ‘re-elect’ is to be replaced by the word ‘elect’. We don’t want them all back again!
Saltaire Sam – I agree on what you’re saying. We don’t want a lot of rookies running the country – obviously. (We could end up with Arnold Schwarzenegger!) My idea is that the ‘honest ones’ would stand again and people could re-elect them.
The arrogance of these MPs and the contempt they show towards the electorate and media questions, stand testimony to why the public will not let up on this issue. The public have suffered with repeated cut backs, wage errosions, back door stealth taxes, benefit denial, higher living costs, recession, bankers greedy corruption, and all in the face of these evil law makers basking in their self indulgence of public money.
Simple advice: Get out of office now, because you’ve not got long left before we boot ‘ya all out anyway.
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As we used to say in New York…a city that is sooooooooo used to people in power acting out in outrageous ways..declasse indivuduals “fall-up” just like Mandy M…rockbottom is for us ordinary folks..
I agree with Ray. An impossible system and a horrible cock-up by her husband (who was meant to be helping her for goodness sake) has led to a disastrous situation where she has lost all authority.
Someone needs to make an investigative programme about how many of women MP’s have failed bedcause they have pandered to their male partners.
I’m not a feminist – but evidence shows that its best to be single (a la Widdecombe) or to have a rich indulgent partner (Denis). Sad for politics.
Yes, good news the Home Secretary has decided to resign.
However, while MPs are deciding “Shall I jump ship as well?.. How can I save myself ?”, there are important issues around the UK and globally which are being ignored.
The current state of the Government and Parliament is very disheartening because yet again we will all be affected by its continued failure and lack of drive for reform.
Do you think that the Prime Minister will carryout a cull of ministers after the elections on June 4th, similar to the one Harold MacMIllan did? This I beleive, was known as “The Night of the Long Knives.”
Also, has Channel4 sought the views as to how the MP’s expenses scandal is viewed overseas?
“Also, has Channel4 sought the views as to how the MP’s expenses scandal is viewed overseas?”
who gives a flying f@#k what the veiw is from overseas, its the people who live here who’s opinion counts and we find this behaviour abominable
Just a thought: what do we know of the corruption and misbehaviour of politicians abroad? Even someone from as near as Ireland or France seldom appears in the news. Those overseas probably don’t know what’s happening here. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I am not surprised at the timing for the announcement of Jacqui Smiths “resignation” as Home Sectary. She has never struck me as someone who would be graceful in defeat. The truth is her judgement was being called into question long before the expenses scandals came to light. I seem to remember that a lot of eyebrows were raised when Gordon Brown announced his cabinet after taking over from Tony Blair. Most notable was the fact that Ed Balls didn’t take the job of chancellor. I wonder if he had an idea of what was coming. My theory is that, for whatever reason, Gordon Brown surrounded himself with idiots and now he’s paying the price. Whenever I watch Labour being interviewed I almost feel sorry for them. Its like watching a car crash.
Who watched these people? No-one. did, and they plundered the trough as if it was all their own personal bank. Now they are going to be paid vast sums of money to go away. Why? They rode into power on a big charger saying they would do away with sleaze. Looks like that sleaze is going to carry them right out again…and the sooner the better. How low the (high and) mighty are fallen!
Jon is it true that the police will be entering parliament on monday to start investigating the fees office – not a story i think channel 4 would have missed – but i hope its true
The last 4-5 weeks have been like some weekend Radio 4 comedy programme where contestants must talk for 5 minutes without uttering the words ‘dishonest’, ‘immoral’, ‘illegal’, ‘corrupt’, ‘theft’, ‘guilty’ or ‘greedy’. Watching them search the air with distant eyes for the least damaging words has been sheer entertainment – but testament to the wiles of the wordsmith. By the way…did the Inland Revenue ever cash Blears’ cheque?
When will MEPs’ and European Commission Members’ benefits and expenses be investigated as at Westminster?
A crumbling and useless government in London is a long torture we will endure until May next year. The EU elections are imminent and we have even less transparency on our “servants” there.
Jon, can your team investigate as a matter of some urgency?
Oh to hear what Tony Blair thinks of all this.
If Brown goes too- I shudder to think of the options left for the Labour Party.
Is it true that altough all the MP’s are resigning but will they not just move in to some other role within government? Should it not be that once they have been caught that is it for them why shoudl they then be allowed to move into some other job and get exactly the same type of benefits and money thrown at them. If they are not trusted . They shoudl be ejected forever if they still I do not want to see there smirkin glittle faces in parliament ever again.
Not a femanist?
The Ministers and MPs are exposed as corrupt. They resign their Cabinet posts and announce they will not stand at the next general election. What is their punishment? De-selection and a bye-election called?
No! They continue to draw their parliamentary salaries and expenses, in what is nothing less than an extended holiday until a General Election.
What a liberty! Wrong! New Labour deprived us of most of them in the policy of “The price of Freedom is curtailed Liberty. A free Press has unmasked the cheapskate fiddlers for what they are: self-serving frauds and spivs – The Scrubs & Holloway are too cosy for their ilk – deport the lot of them!
I can’t help wondering if the arrangement for renting a room at her sister’s home utilised the Government’s Rent a Room scheme whereby tax advantages can be gained by the homeowner? (I think it’s something like up to £4,200 can be made tax free, but I could be wrong?)