Cabinet Lurches to the Right Options

[Simon Kirby]

David Cameron's cabinet took a lurch to the right in the reshuffle.

Liberal Tory Ken Clarke was replaced at the Ministry of Justice by authoritarian eurosceptic Chris Grayling; Owen Paterson, a climate change sceptic, took over the environmental brief; Michael Fallon was installed to counteract Vince Cable in the Department for Business; and Maria Miller, who has opposed or been absent from all gay rights votes, was given responsibility for women and equalities.

I liked what Ken Clarke was doing, and I worry how far rightwards we might slide with Chris Grayling in charge. Vindictive justice is what grass-roots voters want, and I think we'll see more of that, but it actually makes the country lest just and increases criminality, so it's self-defeating.

I dispair at Owen Paterson being incharge of Environment. It's like the moderates in the Conservative Party have given up the argument over climate change and blood sports. Popular with tory voters I'm sure, but disasterous for wildlife and the environment.

Shame Eric Pickles kept Communities and Local Government, but then perhaps Cameron is perfectly happy that the great dollop has done zip-all to create the much vaunted Big Society.

Pitty too that Cameron couldn't dump his fag Cleggers.

[Penelope]

David Cameron's cabinet took a lurch to the right in the reshuffle.



I liked what Ken Clarke was doing, and I worry how far rightwards we might slide with Chris Grayling in charge. Vindictive justice is what grass-roots voters want, and I think we'll see more of that, but it actually makes the country lest just and increases criminality, so it's self-defeating.

I dispair at Owen Paterson being incharge of Environment. It's like the moderates in the Conservative Party have given up the argument over climate change and blood sports. Popular with tory voters I'm sure, but disasterous for wildlife and the environment.

Shame Eric Pickles kept Communities and Local Government, but then perhaps Cameron is perfectly happy that the great dollop has done zip-all to create the much vaunted Big Society.

Pitty too that Cameron couldn't dump his fag Cleggers.

Well, the left hasn't worked, the centre hadn't worked, the Conservatives have merely gone back to what can be considered 'type'. Let's see if it works.

[On the edge]

Pity about Transport brief - hope it doesn't really mean Terminal 3 but suspect it does.

[Newbelly]

Pity about Transport brief - hope it doesn't really mean Terminal 3 but suspect it does.

Terminal 3?

[JeffG]

Terminal 3?

That's the one that was built before 4 and 5.

Incidentally, this is what a real airport looks like.

(Or this one.)

[Newbelly]

That's the one that was built before 4 and 5.

Well, I know they gave it a new glass frontage a few years back, but it is still a nightmare!

[Dodgys smarter b...]

Relax lads, help is at hand..

Chinese Whispers

[On the edge]

Hands up in horror - sorry runway 3, of course!

Blame the error on the family thing about Heathrow, my old man never got over it being chosen instead of White Waltham.

[dannyboy]

That's the one that was built before 4 and 5.

Incidentally, this is what a real airport looks like.

(Or this one.)

When you have millions of square acres covered in nothing but sage brush, you can build what you like.

[NWNREADER]

Relax lads, help is at hand..

Chinese Whispers

Greenham Common looks ideal

[Biker1]

Yes, a third runway at Heathrow?
Are we supposed to be pursuing environmentally friendly policies or not.
We seem to be encouraged and taxed to do so and then we get a proposal such as this.
We either take the decision to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions or we don't.
We can't pick and choose to suit.

[Andy Capp]

Yes, a third runway at Heathrow?
Are we supposed to be pursuing environmentally friendly policies or not.
We seem to be encouraged and taxed to do so and then we get a proposal such as this.
We either take the decision to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions or we don't.
We can't pick and choose to suit.

I agree to a point, but the environment is helped by another runway because you ease flow and have less 'stacking'. In my view, however, adding another runway would be a bit like buying another waste bin for the kitchen: eventually you find you fill both up.

[Richard Garvie]

I think the main idea of another runway at Heathrow has always been to create an airport supehub and the economic benefits that come with it. My own opinion would be that building one runway at Heathrow is more cost effective and greener than building a four runway site in the Thames Estuary or at Banbury!!! The real argument would seem to be "do we need a hub airport", and whether you support the economic arguments.

Surely the Government can't perform another U-Turn though???

[Jayjay]

Unbelievable, Top jobs to a man who cheats on his expenses and blames it on being gay. Another who messed up the security for olympics and was called a liar in court, charged the tax payer for mandarin lessons when he married his chinese wife and woman found guilty of breaking the ministerial code.

[blackdog]

We can't pick and choose to suit.

I think you'll find we can.

[Penelope]

They say " no third runway in this Parliament" does anyone seriously believe they will get a second bite of the cherry?

[dannyboy]

Surely the Government can't perform another U-Turn though???

Standard politcial bullshine - as you welll know.

[Brewmaster]

That's the one that was built before 4 and 5.

Incidentally, this is what a real airport looks like.

(Or this one.)

Nah, this is a real one!

 airport.jpg ( 170.84K ) Number of downloads: 10

[Biker1]

I think the main idea of another runway at Heathrow has always been to create an airport supehub and the economic benefits that come with it. My own opinion would be that building one runway at Heathrow is more cost effective and greener than building a four runway site in the Thames Estuary or at Banbury!!!

No, it is greener to cut down on air travel altogether!
As Blackdog says, we pick and choose our green policies depending on whether it suits us!

[lordtup]

The line that segregates the political wings is not so easily defined as it was 30 years ago. The recent cabinet shuffle may give the impression of a move to the "right" but in all honesty the collective huddle that is now the incumbents of the Palace of Westminster presents a bunch of inept wannabes rather than intellectual idealists .
In mitigation it may be beyond the general remit of any of them to do much more than they are ,but a little bit of humility would not go amiss......