Below is a sight many of us didn't think we'd be seeing: Ken Clarke responding to a government statement from the Opposition Despatch Box this afternoon as shadow business secretary. Alan Duncan is clearly enjoying the performance given by his successor.
Mr Clarke described it a "consitutional outrage" that due to Lord Mandelson's being a member of the House of Lords it was their Lordships who heard the statement first and the Commons had to make do with having it re-read by Business and Enterprise Minister, Ian Pearson.
The new shadow business secretary suggested that the Government package announced today was "pretty small beer", wondering whether, for the first time, the Treasury had actually won an argument with a government department which wanted money and not produced a bail-out because it couldn't be afforded.
He accused the Government of having dithered on how to respond and mocked the new trade minister, Lord Davies, for the fact that one of his first decisions in government had been to set up a task force.
Altogether, a solid first outing for the big beast from Rushcliffe.
Jonathan Isaby
Great stuff from Ken. He really does have this wonderful knack of "cutting to the chase" and at the same time so effectively mocking the Govt and all its spurious claims of being up to speed on the crisis.
Posted by: Peter Buss | January 27, 2009 at 16:14
Pleased to hear him Mangling Mandelson for being unable to appear in the house or to submit his plans correct in accordance with the constitution. I await repeats of this on any other appearances of Mandelson the ghost of Westminster. Typical Brown blunder on appointing a minister who cannot appear the berk.
Posted by: rugfish | January 27, 2009 at 16:15
£2.3bn is Small beer? So Clarke is attacking Lansley as well now, is he?
Posted by: Mark | January 27, 2009 at 16:16
This is the utter futility of having an unelected member of the house of lords in a senior cabinet post. How can any democratic system effectively work when a cabinet member cannot go to the democratically elected members and be held accountable. Makes my blood boil.
Posted by: Adam | January 27, 2009 at 16:23
Don't worry, as our poll lead widens the anti Brown briefing is starting again with a gusto. Look at little Sylvester's pieces in The Times. Brown's civil partership of convienience with Mandelson will quickly come apart at the seams.
Great to see Ken back,he made Pearson and McFadden looked like what they are- unworldly, public sector supplicant policy wonks.
Posted by: London Tory | January 27, 2009 at 16:38
I must admit I thought the same as Mark when I read that
Posted by: Paul D | January 27, 2009 at 17:26
I agree Ken did a very good job. I just pray he stays on message for all of his time in the shadow cab etc.
Posted by: HF | January 27, 2009 at 17:37
"I just pray he stays on message for all of his time in the shadow cab etc".
We can pray, IF, but Ken thank goodness is Ken, just as Boris is Boris. Both are so refreshing that we should sit back and enjoy the performance.
Posted by: David Belchamber | January 27, 2009 at 18:17
Exactly as you would expect from a party that is about to deliver a landslide victory.
How much longer can the Sun hold out Before it annotates our next leader? So much for the Brown bounce it is already over.
Posted by: The Bishop swine | January 27, 2009 at 18:30
If they can't go head to head in the Commons, it would be great if Newsnight could get Ken Clarke and Mandelson in the same studio to debate some of these issues.
Posted by: Rob | January 27, 2009 at 18:49
"Constitutional outrage"? Clarke did *exactly* the same thing when he was David Young's number 2 in the Commons. Exactly the same thing. It wasn't an 'outrage' then, and it's not now. But it's good to see that this Majorite lag is still as honest as ever he was.
Posted by: ACT | January 27, 2009 at 18:54
Mandelson is articulate, does his homework and unless Clarke puts in the hours and masters the detail he will be shown up.
Posted by: griswold | January 27, 2009 at 20:34
"Mandelson is articulate, does his homework and unless Clarke puts in the hours and masters the detail he will be shown up."
Err, experience obviously counts for nothing these days.... Ken Clarke is pretty plain speaking, its why he has been brought back, and to remind Gordon who delivered him a golden legacy.
I am sure that Mandelson does his homework theory, he will be up against an older and vastly more experienced politician who has the work experience. That used to count for something.
Has anyone got a link to footage of Clarke's performance? Many thanks in advance if someone can find it.
Posted by: ChrisD | January 27, 2009 at 20:47
So much for the Brown bounce it is already over.
Posted by: The Bishop swine | January 27, 2009 at 18:30
----------------------------------
Good old Ken!
Have you seen Brown's cat bounce on
http://oldrightie.blogspot.com/
You might enjoy the vista?
Posted by: m dowding | January 27, 2009 at 22:07
ChrisD
It's here....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7854262.stm
Posted by: johnfromcamberley | January 27, 2009 at 22:44
Clarke turned Mandleson's stand-in into shrimp paste. It was a thing of beauty. All the front bench were there, unlike the government who had all dived for cover, knowing that it would be a bloodbath.
Posted by: Watervole | January 27, 2009 at 22:47
Thanks johnfromcamberley, you are a star.
Posted by: ChrisD | January 28, 2009 at 00:56
Clarke demolished the patsy put in for Labour. Great stuff. Thats why he was brought in, to take a big hammer and go nuts over the Governments economic strategy. More of the same please...
Posted by: James Maskell | January 28, 2009 at 10:42