Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Lord Bonkers' Diary: An embarrassment at the Home Office

An embarrassment at the Home Office

I recognise this letterhead: it belongs to the Deputy Prime Minister. I have to confess that I wrote to him the other day in somewhat intemperate terms. You see, it had recently been drawn to my attention that someone who holds the most ridiculous views had been appointed to the Home Office and I let Clegg have both barrels for allowing it to happen. How can we possibly be taken seriously as a party when we allow such things to happen? I demanded.

Clegg, I see, has replied in emollient terms, saying that he agrees with my view of the matter but Cameron is adamant that Theresa May must be Home Secretary and there is nothing he can do about it. I suppose that is coalition government for you.

Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South-West 1906-10

Earlier this week...

4 comments:

Phil Beesley said...

The problem for Lord Bonkers is that Theresa May has not always been rabid.

During coalition, Theresa May might have felt a few bumps, and worked out that a Home Office advisor might define how she should think.

I dunno how it worked out.

Jonathan Calder said...

Lord Bonkers can speak for himself, but it is telling that Theresa May has gone from warning the Conservatives against being seen as "the nasty party" to being a cheerleader for that strategy.

Phil Beesley said...

But is it not about Home Office culture? Alex Carlisle is an embarrassing survivor of pre-coalition partnership. He could not change culture but was sucked in.

Jonathan Calder said...

That may well be part of it, but Alex Carlile was quite capable of going off on one long before he reached the Home Office.