Blame the PM
Scotsman.com (Free subscription) | 30/10/2009
The recent report on the fatal Nimrod crash (your report, 29 October) condemns the MoD, but what pressure was put on the department by the Treasury and the Cabinet to
Geoff Hoon
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Each of the Defence Secretaries should be held to account for the MoD's failings
Labourlist (Free subscription) | 29/10/2009
By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982 On Septmeber 2, 2006, 14 servicemen died in Afghanistan on an RAF Nimrod. The results of the inquiry into that tragedy, released yesterday, reveal that the MoD is largely culpable. The report describes a: "PowerPoint culture in government that glosses over hard questions and detailed evidence, and sacrifices safety to incompotence, sloppiness, complacency and cynism."...
Explore : Afghanistan, Bob Ainsworth, Central Asia, Computer industry, Crossbench, Department for Business Enterprise, Des Browne, Equipment, Government, HM Treasury, John Hutton, John Reid, Labour Party, Lord George, Ministry of Defence, Outsourcing, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, Parties, Semi-Conductors, The House of Lords, The Parliament, UK Politics
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Cost cutting to blame for Nimrod crash
Lightwater (Free subscription) | 29/10/2009
For once here’s an independent report – the 2006 Nimrod crash review - which successfully identifies the causes and names those responsible. Michael Evans, The Times Defence Editor open his report with these words: “The Nimrod report is the most devastating attack on the Ministry of Defence and the defence industry in living memory.” The report severely criticises the government,...
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One isn't impressed
Lobbydog (Free subscription) | 26/10/2009
Loved this Hoonish bit from Black Dog ... In his first public speech since quitting as Black Rod, Lieutenant-General Sir Michael Willcocks recalled how ex-Lord Chancellor Charlie Falconer apologised to the Queen at the 2005 State Opening of Parliament for the over-long Queen's Speech written for her by No10. Geoff Hoon, Commons Leader at the time, chipped in limply: "We tried to take as much...
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How atypical was the BNP Question Time?
Clayboy (Free subscription) | 25/10/2009
I wasn’t going to say anything about the appearance of the fascist Nick Griffin on the BBC’s Question Time. Others have said most of it. I particularly liked the very different perspectives of David Keen and Phil Hendren. For an analysis of the post-programme poll see Anthony Wells. However, there is one thing causing me to [...]
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May UK give up its policy of Armenian Genocide denial?
Panarmenian (Free subscription) | 24/10/2009
For the first time since 1918, members of British parliament who spoke the truth about the Armenian Genocide were appointed rapporteurs on Armenia and Turkey.
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Sir Richard Leese: letter to Geoff Hoon
David Ottewell's politics (Free subscription) | 19/10/2009
"To say I am still a little dejected... would be a bit of an understatement..."
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MPs' expenses: Jacqui Smith faces questions over capital gains tax
The Telegraph (Free subscription) | 15/10/2009
Jacqui Smith was facing questions over whether she paid capital gains tax on the £74000 profit she made selling her "second home".
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Does Labour really have the nerve to take tough action on expenses?
Labourlist (Free subscription) | 14/10/2009
By Jessica Asato / @Jessica_Asato I’ve just finished listening to Harriet Harman on the Today Programme. I’m left none the wiser about what Labour’s leadership deems to be unacceptable behaviour in relation to expense claims, and about what action Labour MPs should face. I still can’t see why all of this couldn’t have been sorted out in July, or through an extended summer...
Explore : Harriet Harman, HM Treasury, Home Office, Ian Gibson, Jacqui Smith, Labour, Labour Party, Leader of the House of Commons, Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, Parties, Secretary of State for the Home Department, The House of Commons, The Parliament, UK Politics
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Adonis modifies airport crisis plan
Financial Times (Free subscription) | 14/10/2009
Lord Adonis, the transport secretary, has watered down plans proposed by his predecessor, Geoff Hoon, to take over the running of Heathrow and London's other main...
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At least he turned up...
Lobbydog (Free subscription) | 12/10/2009
Geoff Hoon showed amazing resourcefulness at the memorial service for the Iraq War. According to a witness quoted in the Daily Mail he used his Order of Service to shield the fact that he was fiddling with his mobile phone. The witness said: “At around 11.15am, 15 minutes into the service when the choir was singing a Requiem Mass, I caught sight of him checking his messages on a mobile. “He...
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The Legg inquiry: "The solution not the problem"
Events dear boy, events (Free subscription) | 12/10/2009
That is how Alan Johnson brilliantly described Sir Thomas's little task over the summer months. Today we get Act 2, Scene 1 of the MPs’ expenses scandal. Star of the show will Gordon Brown closely followed by Alistair Darling and Geoff Hoon. Other guests will join in with sackfulls of our money. If that isn't enough to keep us all amused, there will be a separate sideshow starring a smiling Jacqui...
Explore : Alan Johnson, Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Department of Health, Gordon Brown, Government, HM Treasury, Home Office, Jacqui Smith, Johnson and Johnson, Labour Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, Parties, Prime Minister, Secretary of State for the Home Department, Stuart Bell, UK Politics
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A hoon, or merely a chump?
The Last Ditch (Free subscription) | 12/10/2009
Geoff Hoon 'checked phone during Iraq war memorial' - Telegraph. Is it any wonder his surname has become one of the British blogosphere's favourite euphemisms? Yet, in truth, Hoon (the only Labour minister with whom I have had the misfortune to break bread) is only displaying Labour's bog standard attitude...
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Brown faces a furious backlash from MPs told to repay expenses
The Independent (Free subscription) | 12/10/2009
More than 300 MPs will today be asked to pay part of their expenses or produce evidence to back up old claims.
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Geoff Hoon 'checked phone during Iraq war memorial'
The Telegraph (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009
Geoff Hoon the former Defence Secretary has been accused of checking his mobile phone messages during the Iraq war memorial service.