Non-motoring > Next Defence Secretary	Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Lygonos	Replies: 49

Sun 9 Oct 11 16:47   Next Defence Secretary - Lygonos

Anyone think Liam Fox will survive as Defence Secretary? I can't see how he will - even if his actions turn out to be on the borderline, Cameron can't possibly be seen to condone what's been going on. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 16:55   Next Defence Secretary - R.P.

Wee Willie Hague ! Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 17:01   Next Defence Secretary - Cliff Pope

The moment a PM says he "has complete confidence" in someone it's the kiss of death, and means he's about to be sacked. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 18:23   Next Defence Secretary - mikeyb

Hope he hangs on - he's my local MP :-) I always figure that local issues may get more support when your local MP is in the cabinet Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 18:26   Next Defence Secretary - Lygonos

"I do accept that given Mr Werritty's defence-related business interests, my frequent contacts with him may have given an impression of wrongdoing, and may also have given third parties the misleading impression that Mr Werritty was an official adviser rather than simply a friend." Laughable. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 19:43   Next Defence Secretary - madf

After the expenses scandal, you would have thought.. Obviously Mr Fox, however, does not think. Wally. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 19:47   Next Defence Secretary - Alastairw

Mr Fox (I hate people who call themselves doctor when not practicing medics) should resign asap, if he has any morals. Mr Cameron is quite trigger when it come to sackings (see Boris Johnson from shodow cabinet, and others) Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:06   Next Defence Secretary - Lygonos

Alastair, he's still registered with the GMC (no. 2854160). The title applies even if he is no longer working similar to someone who has a 'proper' doctorate ie. PhD, MD, etc. However.... I wonder if any of his shenanigans would be of interest to the Council... I expect he'll be gone by tomorrow afternoon anyway. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:18   Next Defence Secretary - Old Navy

>> I expect he'll be gone by tomorrow afternoon anyway. >> But will he be another "rubber" politician and bounce back in a few months? Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:20   Next Defence Secretary - R.P.

I thought he was a GP before he went into Politics. In his defence he seems to have been the best Defence Minister the UK has had for quite a long time. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:21   Next Defence Secretary - MD

Does he 'bat' for the opposition? Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:28   Next Defence Secretary - R.P.

I don't think that Labour have a cricket team Martin, if you're asking whether he's gay he married quite recently according to his Biography. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 20:55   Next Defence Secretary - MD

Sometimes that is no guarantee Rob. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 21:01   Next Defence Secretary - mikeyb

>> I thought he was a GP before he went into Politics. In his defence he >> seems to have been the best Defence Minister the UK has had for quite a >> long time. >> He was a GP a couple of miles down the road from me before he changed direction Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 21:14   Next Defence Secretary - MD

>> He was a GP a couple of miles down the road from me before he >> changed direction >> There, I told you so!!!! (0:0) Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 21:22   Next Defence Secretary - R.P.

Well there's no evidence of it, and I've not seen it suggested elsewhere - so no need to speculate on here..! Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sun 9 Oct 11 21:33   Next Defence Secretary - MD

Only having a laugh....clearly not. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 21:48   Next Defence Secretary - Bromptonaut

I don't care what Fox gets up to in his own time but the dog's hearing something every time his 'close friend' is metioned Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:12   Next Defence Secretary - CGNorwich

"I've not seen it suggested elsewhere " I would suggest another look at the papers . There's an awful lot of nudge and wink references to "good friends" and the like in the nationals and plenty of blogs aren't so careful with their choice of words. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:25   Next Defence Secretary - sooty123

Wouldn't be the first time it was hinted at, not sure how accurate they are. Gordon Brown being gay was hinted at quite a bit. The real interest (to me) is who has leaked this story and why. He was making a decent job of it at the mod, think he made a few political enemies inside and outside the MoD in doing so. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:25   Next Defence Secretary - Avant

If Dr Fox goes, they ought to bring in someone who's actually been in the Services, e.g. Patrick Mercer, Desmond Swayne or Rory Stewart, but they won't. Politics doesn't work like that. In fairness this Cabinet is better than most in that some of them know something about their subject (Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith for example). I agree with Sooty: Dr F has been doing a good job and seems to have taken trouble to master his brief. A reprimand from the PM would be the best outcome: why should he have to go just because the Press make a meal of this issue in order to sell copies? Last edited by: Avant on Sun 9 Oct 11 at 23:28 Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:32   Next Defence Secretary - sooty123

Agree on the rest of your post, but I don't think you need to have served to be SoS def. In some ways it might be hinderence, they may well want to to refight (political) battles. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:33   Next Defence Secretary - Bromptonaut

Dark politics against a man whose stood up to the industry's gravy train? Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:35   Next Defence Secretary - sooty123

Possibly I was more thinking of the def chiefs/top CS at the mod and the treasury. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 11:23   Next Defence Secretary - Cliff Pope

>> Dark politics? >> It's not that dark. Putting a HofC logo on your business card and pretending to be an official adviser? If he wasn't Caucasian he'd have been arrested as a terrorist suspect and probably shot by mistake. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 9 Oct 11 23:36   Next Defence Secretary - Bromptonaut

>> In fairness this Cabinet is better than most in that some of them know something >> about their subject (Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith for example). Even as a diyed in the wool leftie I'd accept IDS has learned his brief but WT F does Gove know about education?? Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 9 Oct 11 at 23:37 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 11:27   Next Defence Secretary - helicopter

Dr Fox ..... Didn't he use to be on Capital Radio? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 12:33   Next Defence Secretary - Roger.

Here's the Daily Mash's satirical take on it! tinyurl.com/64dks4c Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 13:34   Next Defence Secretary - R.P.

Cameron seems to making a robust defence of his Minister. Including raking over Labour criminal mishandling of the Defence department when they were in power. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 13:44   Next Defence Secretary - madf

Attack may be the best form of defence but Fox appears to be digging a hole for himself by denying things susbsequently proven by photos. I don't care about his private life but to bring it into his political one - as he appears to have done - is the act of a numpty. Pity becasue as Defence Secretaru he appeared to be competent.. the first after a long line of duds... (anyone remember the last one.. A muppet?) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 10 Oct 11 22:39   Next Defence Secretary - Avant

You mean Bob the Builder - who almost certainly couldn't have built anything)? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 16:23   New Defence Secretary ???? - henry k

We will soon know Liam Fox quits as defence secretary. www.bbc.co.uk/news/w Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 18:08   New Defence Secretary is Hammond - henry k

Hammond has got the nod. Justine Greening is the new transport bod Last edited by: henry k on Fri 14 Oct 11 at 18:12 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 18:09   New Defence Secretary ???? - Duncan

Philip Hammond is the new defence secretary. My take on Liam Fox? Incredibly poor judgement. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 18:25   New Defence Secretary ???? - Mr. Ecs

Before they appoint any new minister, can't they vet them properly first. Skeletons etc. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 18:55   New Defence Secretary ???? - Manatee

The mind boggles really. Oliver Letwin chucking his correspondence in park litter bins? This man is a highly intelligent academic, an old Etonian and Cantabrigian. Does that not confer any common sense at all, or is he just so arrogant as to think he is untouchable? Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 19:55   New Defence Secretary ???? - Iffy

...Does that not confer any common sense at all?... No, he's a clever idiot, like so many others with a long list of 'qualifications'. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Fri 14 Oct 11 20:22   New Defence Secretary ???? - madf

Oliver Letwin is lucky the KGB don't have an agent in St James' park ready to bump him on the head to gain confidential documents.. Oh he threw them in the bin? To get rid of them? All lies. Documents were placed in the bin so the KGB could collect them:-) The behaviour of Mr Fox reminds me of the glee with which a number of Conservative MP Eurosceptics have been rejoicing about the imminent demise of the Euro.. Any sensible person would a> have waited till it did collapse and b> realised that the demise of the Euro would mean major problems for the UK.. They are as bad as their counterparts of the leftwing of the Labour Party who still think nationalisation is a good thing and that Labour is a socialist party.. Many politicians have a deficit of common sense and need a reality check in my view... Mr Fox has done his utmost to reinforce the prejudice - now well justified by his behaviour and that of many MPs - that they are only in it to make themselves and/or their friends rich. Pity: as I said before, he makes the previous 2-5 previous inhabitants of his post look the incompetents they undoubtedly were. Last edited by: madf on Fri 14 Oct 11 at 20:22 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 21:55   New Defence Secretary ???? - NortonES2

Re "Pity: as I said before, he makes the previous 2-5 previous inhabitants of his post look the incompetents they undoubtedly were." How does one know the competence of any incumbent? SFAIK, the only engagements we have been involved in, on the ground recently have been unforced. All fiascos, inadequately prepared, and underfunded. A good defence secretary might have said nay to foreign adventures we cannot afford, not of crucial import, and embarked upon for the greater glory of the PM of the time and the MoD. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 20:43   New Defence Secretary ???? - Zero

>> This man is a highly intelligent academic, an old Etonian and Cantabrigian. Does that not >> confer any common sense at all, or is he just so arrogant as to think >> he is untouchable? No, the stuff he threw away was probably rubbish. I bet there is not a shred of anything worth worrying about. The Mirror is a labour paper remember. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Fri 14 Oct 11 20:58   New Defence Secretary ???? - swiss tony

>> No, the stuff he threw away was probably rubbish. I bet there is not a >> shred of anything worth worrying about. >> >> The Mirror is a labour paper remember. >> Some of the letters were from the public. I am very careful to shred any correspondence before putting in my bin, and hope that others do that same with letters from me. I would NOT be happy if a letter of mine, to an MP was found, complete, in a public bin. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 21:09   New Defence Secretary ???? - Ted

I remember a telly interview a couple of elections ago. A serious interviewer, in the street, was in Letwyn's constituency asking opinions about the candidates. One woman, obviously very high tory and far back was asked what she thought of Letwyn. She just said one word...' Twit ! ' and walked away. Funny how that comes to my mind when I see him now. Ted Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 21:12   New Defence Secretary ???? - Bromptonaut

>> >> No, the stuff he threw away was probably rubbish. I bet there is not a >> shred of anything worth worrying about. While none of it was formally protectively marked some was sensitive. Stuff about constituents (or other private individuals) might raise issues under the Data Protection Act - the Information Commissioner is taking an interest. If one of Letwin's Civil Servants had left office waste in public bins he/she would have faced a 'focused interview' possibly followed by a disciplinary. Even drafting notes go in the burning sack not the waste bin by the desk. It's just too embarrassing when even inoccent stuff turns up in landfill!! Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 14 Oct 11 at 21:12 Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 14 Oct 11 21:53   New Defence Secretary ???? - Zero

has anyone seen the contents of the letters? The mirror is blowing it out of proportion. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Fri 14 Oct 11 22:03   New Defence Secretary ???? - Old Navy

>> If one of Letwin's Civil Servants had left office waste in public bins he/she would >> have faced a 'focused interview' possibly followed by a disciplinary. Even drafting notes go in >> the burning sack not the waste bin by the desk. It's just too embarrassing when >> even inoccent stuff turns up in landfill!! >> When I worked with classified information and equipment we had a visit from the House of Commons Defence Committee. Absolutely everything was locked away while they were around sensitive or not. I find it amazing that politicians do not seem to be subject to the Official Secrets Act, which can be applied to almost any government information. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 15 Oct 11 02:01   New Defence Secretary ???? - Cockle

>> While none of it was formally protectively marked some was sensitive. Stuff about constituents (or >> other private individuals) might raise issues under the Data Protection Act - the Information Commissioner >> is taking an interest. >> >> If one of Letwin's Civil Servants had left office waste in public bins he/she would >> have faced a 'focused interview' possibly followed by a disciplinary. Even drafting notes go in >> the burning sack not the waste bin by the desk. It's just too embarrassing when >> even inoccent stuff turns up in landfill!! >> Absolutely, SWMBO made exactly that point tonight when she saw it on the news. She works for a major High Street bank and would be instantly on a discipline hearing for such actions, as would I working for a multi-national. All of our waste has relevant disposal methods, none of which involve dumping in public bins. Apart from any confidentiality issues any waste has to be disposed of as trade waste and requires waste transfer documentation; to not comply risks prosecution for non compliance with the regulations. Oliver Letwin should be subject to the same red-tape that all of us mortals have to suffer, perhaps he'll think next time he votes something through; oh, look! there go a squadron of flying pigs....... Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 15 Oct 11 09:47   New Defence Secretary ???? - Bromptonaut

Plagiarising with pride: Fox actually resigned on Monday but he gave the letter to Letwin and it was only pulled out of the bin yeserday. (from Cyclechat!) Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 15 Oct 11 11:04   New Defence Secretary ???? - Manatee

>> Fox actually resigned on Monday but he gave the letter to Letwin and it was >> only pulled out of the bin yeserday. I'm waiting for the Apple and Blackberry servers to fall over at the same time. Headline: Apple and Blackberry crumble. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 16 Oct 11 11:37   New Defence Secretary ???? - mikeyb

Dont think this is the last we will be hearing over this www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15324686 I wonder if Fox jumped as he knows what else is going to come out of the woodwork...... Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 16 Oct 11 14:17   New Defence Secretary ???? - Roger.

tinyurl.com/6enuzsx Guardian confirms Mossad fears. (Re Reynard) Reply to this message | Report message