Independent "Talent"?
Gordon Brown has announced ministerial jobs for people outside the world of politics in his new government, the idea being to portray himself and his government as open to new ideas, people, and an attempt to de-politicise issues through the appointment of professionals who, if they do not already have peerages, will be given them. Brown has appointed:
Sir Digby Jones: Trade minister
Prof Sir Ara Darzi: Health Minister, patient care
Admiral Sir Alan West: Home Office minister, security
Lord Malloch Brown: Foreign Office minister, Asia, Africa and UN
Lord Stevens: Adviser on international security issues
Lib Dem Baroness Neuberger: Volunteering
Lib Dem Lord Lester: Adviser on constitutional reform
Source: BBC
Yet will these new “talents” really be independent in any form? Not really. Even though they will not be required to join the Labour Party, they will all be expected to take the Labour whip in the Lords and vote with Labour Peers. Quite how that will work for the Lib Dem peers Baroness Neuberger and Lord Lester [and Baroness (Shirley) Williams, should she accept Brown's offer] is unknown - although the Lib Dems are claiming that their peers in government positions would not take the Labour whip. Letting his peers join Browns government is a big mistake by Ming, as Norfolk Blogger says.
What it appears is that the “talent”Brown has introduced into his government is not all that much more than a gimmick to make himself look good, and to aid his honeymoon “bounce”. In the long term, it all will be revealed as a phoney attempt by Brown to remake his image. But a leopard can’t change its spots.
Sources: BBC, The Times, The Guardian
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