Wednesday, 16 July 2008

A possible leader?

Yesterday the Daily Mail asked whether this was the worst Home Secretary that we had even had

we are saddled with a party hack who is good at defending MPs' outrageously bloated expenses and her boss's shortcomings, but quite incapable of the clarity of thought that the knife crisis demands.


Some sympathy though from Open House's Nigel Morris who says that

The job of Home Secretary is always one of the most gruelling in government, even in the slimmed-down department headed by Jacqui Smith.
There is always the potential cock-up, crisis or catastrophe round the corner. You deal with many of the issues that most preoccupy the public – crime, terrorism and immigration.


For him the biggest problem has been

the man in Downing Street, a presence constantly looming at her shoulder.
and a good example this week when

the department’s plans for an all-singing and all-dancing launch of its youth crime plans were wrecked by Mr Brown’s announcement of its central measure of targeting help on problem families.
Number 10 was already seething over her bungled promise to take knife offenders into hospital to see stab victims. Its anger was shared by many Labour MPs.


Remember that not long ago she was being touted as a possible leader.I wouldn't be putting any money on that at the moment

No comments: