Sly Old Fox - Defence Secretary Quits

[MacksAviation]

http://news.sky.com/home/article/16089261

How long before someone suggests the Harriers come out of retirement

[KINROTATE]

So if Monster doesn't get the job, it will be some other muppet!

[Aquila]

Good riddance!

Lets hope the next one realises the importance of our Air Force, and isn't just another bean counter.

[hertsman]

I didn't think Fox was doing too badly given the almost impossible task he was lumped with.

The government's overarching objective has been to reduce the deficit to bring finances under control, and defence spending was in an absolute mess of the kind that cannot happen in private commerce because a company cannot survive such incompetence. Fox (and any successor) has to operate within that same overall parameter, so do not expect a change of Minister to have us all jumping for joy as they resurrect all our pet projects. It is not going to happen. A new hand at the helm might do some things differently, but that will just mean swapping one cutback for another.

I don't believe Fox enjoyed chopping our forces, but he had also started to make efforts to sharpen up our procurement practices, which have been abysmal under all ministers under all governments for far too long. If his eventual legacy is that these reforms are successful, that would indeed be a feather in his dented cap. However, his relationship with and the exact role of his 'special adviser' was becoming ever more questionable on any number of levels and he had to go, maybe with a fairly solid nudge from Cameron's elbow, but I would hope of his own conscience.

hertsman

[Tim Holden]

Good riddance. Sure he had a tough job but leaving an island nation without any maritime patrol, anti submarine or anti ship capability....... just stupid. At the very least he should of got an injunction to prevent BAe from breaking up the Nimrod MR4's forcing them to store them until a sensible solution could be found. Get rid of all the wasters at the MOD to save money. Our forces are so tiny we do not need all those armchair admirals.

[RichC]

Well, they can suggest it, but I guess it won't happen. Funny how everyone in the Government is regarded as a muppet. How many of us have had to run a business on a limited budget, let alone settling huge debts incurred by others!!. I always find it rather insulting that Ministers are referred to in this way. We want the Air Force, the Navy want more ships, the Army wants more men and equipment, well, lets therefore put income tax up and then we can buy what we want. Anybody fancy a 5p in the pound tax increase??. Thought not..........

Well, most actually look like muppets (Gordon Brown, Ed Milliband, Iain Duncan Smith, John Major et all) and half have muppet names like "Ed Balls". So that makes most of the Government "muppets" as said by KINROTATE
It's quite embarrassing to see heads of our country who haven't had a hair style in 20yrs, dress the same every day and talk nonsense. It's a muppet show.

Perhaps they might give the job to someone who has actually been in defence, like other countries do with their defence secretary, which in most cases actually has a defence background or intelligence background. Whereas every Government in this country seems to elect some halfwit every 5 minutes. Now our current one has just resigned because he took his friend who had no job with the government around to his important defence meetings, which to me is a national security issue. Again, muppet'ry at its best.

[GreenBat]

If my best mate followed me around everywhere whilst I was supposed to be working I wouldn't have had chance to resign.....I'd have been sacked!!!
Cameron and others must have noticed what was going on, I know my bosses would have known if my best mate publicly followed me around whilst I was working.
There may well be some honest, hard working MPs, but there are far to many dodgey ones for my liking

I vote for Beaker as next Defence Secretary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMHwIZzamK0&NR=1

Stuart.

[aitch9]

and the rest of the tories to follow

[RichC]

Is Paddy Ashdown the only minister who has had a proper military background?

[Unknown74]

So the Fox quits - only to be replaced by a Hamster. Doubt we'll see any difference Hammond was the guy who mangled the Coastguard.

[hertsman]

Perhaps they might give the job to someone who has actually been in defence....

That is not necessarily the way our government model works for any ministry. The specialists in each department are actually the civil servants whose job is to continue the task of government and their ministry in particular whichever shade of politics the government in power may be and whoever their Minister might be. I suggest that the most important critera for any minister include their political nous to fight their department's corner, a genuine desire to get the best for their department and the country. Of course this brings them into conflict with the requirements of other ministers who should also be trying to do the same thing.

From my own experience, I would also say that not every specialist I have seen would make the best manager of that specialism. I have known some very clever people who are best left doing what they do best, ie the nuts and bolts of their subject, but should never be let within a mile of any position of authority and decision making because that's not what they are good at. Doing and managing are different, and not everyone is good at both.

Of course I am sure there are equally many defence specialists who would make good defence ministers too, but whoever they are, they will have a tough time making ends meet just now.

I don't know much about Hammond, other than he has always seemed very cool under pressure when I've seen him interviewed. I hope he can do a good job, but I don't envy him the task.

hertsman

[ddodd000]

Report concludes Liam Fox breached ministerial code - BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15361610" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Allegations against Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP:Report by the Cabinet Secretary
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/d ... ns-fox.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Liberals have also had there problems today,
MP Hancock quits role over 'spy' affair - BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15371447" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Unknown74]

Good Riddance, will it be Letwin(Litterbin) next?

[ddodd000]

Do you mean David Cameron’s policy adviser.

Oliver Letwin apologises for dumping papers in park bin. - BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15301859" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[gonk]

I am just amazed at his speech,he had the gaul of trying to shift the blame on to the people that rumbled him.What else has he and his arm candy been up to,as for labour,yes the blairites cocked things up,but the banks and the miss use of the stock exchange is responsible for the financial crisis.

[gonk]

Jem i am afraid i disagree,the rot or the seeds for trouble started long before the blairites started,IT cannot be pinned of one side or the other,only the way politicians do business.Some foreign news networks have stated that the banks have had there hands out again for taxpayers money.