After all the media furore, does anyone actually care about the role of the Lord Chancellor?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Nope, thought not.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Or, for that matter, the last cabinet reshuffle...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Cabinet reshuffles did seem more exciting under the Tories in a kind of masochistic way (i.e. oh my GOD they can't put HIM in charge of THAT), now I just assume they're all competent managerial Blairocrats who won't be allowed to decide anything important.

― Tico Tico (Tico Tico), Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:16 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, the big interesting posts never seem to change hands any more (I assume this is because everyone is either boringly competent or has had their powers neutered to the point of irrelevence).

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Expect more autonomy. The secret of total omnipotent messianic-type management is delegating more and bigger stuff all the time, so you don't have to suly yourself with it. Blair doesn't give a shit about what's going on domestically anymore, he's moved onto cosmic-significance type shit, but you have to make it look as if you're at least making an effort sometimes so just unloading it onto somebody who won't be a total fuckup is sound management practice.
See everyone appears to think that every time there's a cabinet-level fuckup that it happened because the minister either 'treaded on somebody's toes and had to go', ignoring the possibility that maybe Blair is as exasperated with these bungles as the public and that maybe the Labour party simply has a severe lack of quality/experience/whatever in top level ppl and this just gets brought to light over and over

― dave q, Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:27 (twenty-two years ago)

HE SITS ON A WOOLSACK!! => back trouble issues in old age < / 40something perspective >

― mark s (mark s), Thursday, 19 June 2003 09:55 (twenty-two years ago)

I knew who was minister of what much better under the Tories. I don't know if this was because I was paying more attention or just what Tom said.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 19 June 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Force of personality, partly, most Tory ministers were distinctive in their appearance/public profile/evilness and therefore everyone knew who they were. Most NewLab ministers except Blunkett, Prescott and Brown are like bland middle-manager types with faces most people would be hard-pressed to remember, as Tom says.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

ie a Spitting Image cabinet scene these days would be k-rub...

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Any Spitting Image scene these days would be k-rub

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 19 June 2003 12:03 (twenty-two years ago)

as a grey-suited mandarin of whitehall, this does interest me somewhat since the reshuffle did actually affect my work - not so much the Lord Chancellor fiasco, but some other bits. but as an uninterested observer, i do find what blair has done with what's left of westminster responsiblities for scotland & wales completely dsft and irresponsible

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 12:08 (twenty-two years ago)

(dsft = daft)

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 12:09 (twenty-two years ago)

I do find what blair has done with what's left of westminster responsiblities for scotland & wales completely dsft and irresponsible

Why?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 19 June 2003 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

hiving off the SoS role to other cabinet ministers while all the day-to-day stuff will be dealt with in Lord Falcolner's new dept. for "constitutional affairs" - if there's any logic to this, i haven't seen it explained anywhere yet

― zebedee (zebedee), Thursday, 19 June 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I care about the role of the Lord Chancellor, if only until Monday when I have to sit A Level Government & Politics. My only real reaction to the constitutional shake-up news was a vague annoyance at having a whole load of extra stuff to learn.
I think its a shame that Michael Meacher isn't in the cabinet anymore. I liked him. Is Charles Clarke still doing Education? He's rubbish. When all the teachers were complaining about having to make kids sit pointless exams all the time the other week his reply was like "stop whining, I like the pointless exams and they're staying". I also seem to remember him once saying that he didn't believe in education for education's sake, which is rather worrying.

So, what will the department for "constitutional affairs" actually do?

― Cathy, Thursday, 19 June 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

his reply was like "stop whining, I like the pointless exams and they're staying"

If it was actuall those words then he is my new hero.

― N. (nickdastoor), Thursday, 19 June 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.