Dear readers, I thought I would share with you my thoughts, albeit limited, on the reshuffle
of Gordon Brown's cabinet, which mainly has responsibility for English affairs given the
devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland and given the increasing role in foreign affairs
of the European Affairs. I know this is a bit off the accounting brief but it is Friday afternoon
and you are probably in need of light relief.
Is the 41 year old David Miliband looking forward as Foreign Secretary to be squashed by the Americans, bored by the Germans and terrified by the Russians? David has worked tirelessly on the Green agenda and thought that nuclear power was not the whole answer to our future energy needs. Perhaps we will be able to buy in the nuclear power from France and go without the fag of building the actual stations. Apparently, David saved quite a bit of inheritance tax with a nifty deed of variation in the past.
Ruth Kelly has had more ministerial posts than hot dinners. Recently she got mauled in the
House of Commons over HIPS and she got a real duffing-up at Education. I suppose Transport
is a nice cosy billet and making decisions over airport expansion or Crossrail will be a piece of
cake for someone of Ms Kelly's talents.
The new Chancellor is the old one Gordon Brown, who keeps on intimating that he went to
a local comprehensive, when it was a selective school. He has put in his Edinburgh mucker
Alistair Darling as Chancellor. Darling's masterly inaction at Transport shows how it can be done for Ms Kelly. Gordon's challenge will be to prevent the boring bits of sucking up to foreigners
as Prime Minister and to further his first love of further expanding Tolley's Guide.
Gordon has been the accountant's best friend with the constant changes and increased taxation. For instance, if you need an accountant in Birmingham, this will help you out. Although Gordon has probably turned your pension into mush, he is a formidable politician since he actually believes in what he is doing. Usually, the Tories are unable to lay on a glove on him since they don't understand what he saying, since it can be a mass of incomprehensible detail. Don't mention the UK's productivity growth or the current account deficit, Gordon will only get annoyed and put in new taxes. Congestion charges on cars will probably come after the next election.
Obviously, I am probably doing these ministers a great disservice. They probably have amazing ability to get where they have. I was impressed once seeing Alistair Darling talking to
Vauxhall workers at Ellesmere Port in a very difficult situation. He was quite brave. Sorry,
I have'nt mentioned other ministers but I don't envy their lot. Tony Blair's main ability
was not to get worried about disasters such as Iraq, cash-for-honours and Ecclestone. The
new administration will miss this ability.
