Government changes

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

Chris has resigned from the Department for Transport.

Sadly, not Grayling, but the very junior Parliamentary Private Secretary Chris Green.

[TaplowGreen]

Chris has resigned from the Department for Transport.

Sadly, not Grayling, but the very junior Parliamentary Private Secretary Chris Green.

Who would you have instead of Chris Grayling, and what difference would that person make?

[JayMac]

Of those with transport briefs, Andy Mcdonald or Baroness Randerson.

If I could chose anyone then Baron Adonis.

The difference they would make is none of them are ideologically wedded to the idea that railways are in any way suited to the free market.

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt can longer fupp up the NHS. Foreign Secretary may be a promotion for him, but at least it keeps him away from hospitals.

[CMRail]

You got me excited for a second.

Oh well.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Who would you have instead of Chris Grayling, and what difference would that person make?

From the Conservative party, as per earlier postings, Claire Perry.

[bobm]

the very junior Parliamentary Private Secretary Chris Green.

Chris Green - there’s a name with a railway history.

[TaplowGreen]

Of those with transport briefs, Andy Mcdonald or Baroness Randerson.

If I could chose anyone then Baron Adonis.

The difference they would make is none of them are ideologically wedded to the idea that railways are in any way suited to the free market.

Meanwhile Jeremy Hunt can longer fupp up the NHS. Foreign Secretary may be a promotion for him, but at least it keeps him away from hospitals.

Since none of them are in Government, nor are ever likely to be in the current climate, that's rather futile, so I'll ask the question again, since the subject is "Government changes".

I am genuinely interested in the difference you think a different individual could make.

[paul7575]

I am genuinely interested in the difference you think a different individual could make.

Grayling doesn’t or won’t understand anything technical, I think you need a new set of civil servants in the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).  a few qualified engineers might help...

[JayMac]

Since none of them are in Government, nor are ever likely to be in the current climate, that's rather futile, so I'll ask the question again, since the subject is "Government changes".

I am genuinely interested in the difference you think a different individual could make.

The difference an individual can make is based on their political leaning and their party's ideology. So my answers were based on a change of government.

I'm happy to wait, while continuing to enjoy watching the Tories tear themselves apart. It's just a little disappointing that they dragged the whole country into their Eurosquabble. David Cameron was too spineless to face down the euroseptics (sic) in his party so used the referendum as means of fighting the battle by proxy. That was a terrible decision as borne out by the last two years. He stupidly believed a referendum would settle the matter and unite his party. Fool. We are a representative democracy. We elect politicians to lead, to make the great decisions of state on our behalf. Not hand that decision making back to the people and then weigh them down with propaganda and lies. Remaining in or leaving the EU^» (European Union - about) should have been a general election manifesto pledge, not a referendum. And yes, the same goes for Labour's referendum folly of 1975. Both these referendums were proxy wars fought because politicians were too concerned about party unity instead of what was best for the country.

[TaplowGreen]

Since none of them are in Government, nor are ever likely to be in the current climate, that's rather futile, so I'll ask the question again, since the subject is "Government changes".

I am genuinely interested in the difference you think a different individual could make.

The difference an individual can make is based on their political leaning and their party's ideology. So my answers were based on a change of government.

I'm happy to wait, while continuing to enjoy watching the Tories tear themselves apart. It's just a little disappointing that they dragged the whole country into their Eurosquabble. David Cameron was too spineless to face down the euroseptics (sic) in his party so used the referendum as means of fighting the battle by proxy. That was a terrible decision as borne out by the last two years. He stupidly believed a referendum would settle the matter and unite his party. Fool. We are a representative democracy. We elect politicians to lead, to make the great decisions of state on our behalf. Not hand that decision making back to the people and then weigh them down with propaganda and lies. Remaining in or leaving the EU^» (European Union - about) should have been a general election manifesto pledge, not a referendum. And yes, the same goes for Labour's referendum folly of 1975. Both these referendums were proxy wars fought because politicians were too concerned about party unity instead of what was best for the country.

Nice sidestep! 

Whilst Mr Corbyn remains as Leader (nominally) of the Labour Party however, I would recommend not holding your breath!

[grahame]

With the frequency of change of ministers (18 ministers in 30 years according to a source I trust, though I have got gone through the lists), and with ministers arriving at the department with limited knowledge of the detail of how things work there, I wonder that they can have any effect.   But these are typically people who are bright and / or driven, and they can start to make changes while at the department ... changes which may leave a legacy that lasts well beyond their tenure (and may be therefore be progressed in a rudderless way once they're gone).    How much of a change a minister can make in his or short tenure will depend not only on what needs to be done at the time, but also his / her drive, level of influence within the government, and whether government policy is directed towards a forthcoming election or towards other goals.

In my view, we would do well to have somewhat more permanence in the key ministers at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) - perhaps a doubling of the tenure - and to ensure that was done with ministers who have a real interest in the subject, and a skill and desire to apply that interest to deliver public and private transport improvements.   Yes, the names that come to my mind are Claire Perry and Andrew Adonis.

[martyjon]

At the end of the day its all down to, "its not what you know its who you know."

[grahame]

At the end of the day its all down to, "its not what you know its who you know."

Not all of it ... but an awful lot, yes.   And you can get to know a lot more people a lot better if you have longer in post.

[TaplowGreen]

With the frequency of change of ministers (18 ministers in 30 years according to a source I trust, though I have got gone through the lists), and with ministers arriving at the department with limited knowledge of the detail of how things work there, I wonder that they can have any effect.   But these are typically people who are bright and / or driven, and they can start to make changes while at the department ... changes which may leave a legacy that lasts well beyond their tenure (and may be therefore be progressed in a rudderless way once they're gone).    How much of a change a minister can make in his or short tenure will depend not only on what needs to be done at the time, but also his / her drive, level of influence within the government, and whether government policy is directed towards a forthcoming election or towards other goals.

In my view, we would do well to have somewhat more permanence in the key ministers at the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) - perhaps a doubling of the tenure - and to ensure that was done with ministers who have a real interest in the subject, and a skill and desire to apply that interest to deliver public and private transport improvements.   Yes, the names that come to my mind are Claire Perry and Andrew Adonis.

I don't know much about Claire Perry, never really heard much about her if I'm honest although I believe she's a Wiltshire MP^▸ (Member of Parliament)? Perhaps she'd be good for the Transwilts!

Adonis is no fool but he's hated by the current Left wing Labour leadership (which is probably a recommendation in itself!) so unless he can be persuaded to Cross the floor it's extremely unlikely. The Tories do respect him however hence his recent appointments.

Of course, the drawback with him, for those that rant about democracy, is that he's never been elected to anything, whether by referendum or other means! 🙂

[Red Squirrel]

Fool.

Danny Dyer used a better word...

Since none of them are in Government, nor are ever likely to be in the current climate, that's rather futile...

Am I wrong in thinking that the government can invite any member of either house to take a ministerial role? It may well be the case that 'in the current climate' the government would not seek to find the best person for the job, but if they had the country's best interests at heart (and I realise that is a party-sized 'if') then they could choose someone who cares about it and who was, I think, rather good at it - like the aforementioned Adonis.