Chris Grayling became shadow home secretary as a reward for his attack doggery. He was part of the "pub ready" reshuffle that also saw the elevation of Eric Pickles and Mark Francois. Attack doggery and pub readiness is not what the party needs six months on. It needs gravitas and a preparedness to govern. Chris Grayling hasn't caught that change of gear. He is still in the soundbite phase. The left wing media has leapt on his dodgy references to The Wire television series (as you would expect) but Janet Daley has joined in with an attack on Grayling for "shallow" politics. Wiregate (sorry) comes on top of his derided promise to give the Nokia generation a 21st century clip about the ear. Mr Grayling must put the soundbite politics behind him. He is a better man than this.