John Hutton joins the ranks of the rebels
Fraser Nelson 10:36am
So John Hutton is quitting as Defence Secretary - this was NOT in the script. Lord Mandeson said only an hour ago that "I believe you will find the entire Cabinet following the PM and nobody following James’s lead". But Hutton, an arch-Blairite who was made to distance himself from James Purnell's resignation last night, is on his way out.
This will be an agonosing wrench for Hutton, who loved defence so much that in his old job (Work & Pensions Secretary) he would finish early, head over to the National Archives at Kew and go and research his various defence projects: books, plays etc. He felt passionately about the importance of our involvement in Afghanistan, the need to be vigilant on Iran and he felt in a minority there. As a hawk, in a government that skimps on defence, he fought like a tiger for resources to go to Helmand - ie the 2,000 more troops. But he (and the military) were overruled by No10.
Hutton would have wanted to stay and defend defence, if you like, as best he could. The preservation of a muscular Iranian strategy was particularly important to him and he was genuinely worried that defence would suffer cuts under the Tories. But he was also close to Purnell - he was Purnell's boss at DWP - and they think along the same pro-market, pro-reform lines. I have not spoken to Hutton, nor anyone close to him. But I do know him fairly well and I would suspect that he saw Purnell acting on his beliefs and thought: "I can't let him do that alone". And he'd have seen the weasel words of others - Tessa Jowell, David Miliband - and thought that he could not join them. He was always unlikely to be re- elected. But he could have spent his final year of his political career as a Defence Secretary, a job he loves, or a backbencher. He has chosen the latter, out of principle.
It's strange that Purnell has been called a "careerist" by John Prescott on his blog today. Choosing the backbenches over education, as Purnell did, is the act of principle rather than careerism. What David Miliband is doing is careerism: supporting a Prime Minister that he knows, in his heart, should go. I suspect Hutton judged he would not forgive himself had he not acted when Purnell acted: it is time for those who believe in a pro-reform Labour Party to be counted. And so far, today, I can count only two.
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john miller
June 5th, 2009 10:46am Report this commentThe ex-Cabinet members are truly pathetic. They are leaving piecemeal so that nobody can pin the blame on any single one of them, or group them together as the cabal that brought down the PM.
A cabinet of sheep, straying because the dogs are at the vets being neutered.
Tiberius
June 5th, 2009 10:46am Report this commentI don't know anyone else, Fraser, who takes seriously anything Prescott says.
Silent Hunter
June 5th, 2009 10:46am Report this comment"...an agonosing wrench..."
Ouch!
That sounds quite painful.
But not as painful as the electorate having an interminable wait for the General Election that we want NOW!
Labour Matters
June 5th, 2009 10:52am Report this commentThanks for the comedy Nelson! With so little for Labour-types to laugh about today, you've managed to do it with this ill-informed garbage.
Andy Carpark
June 5th, 2009 10:52am Report this commentI have had dealings with John Hutton and by Cabinet standards, he is intelligent and decent. Before he was moved to Defence he had even sketched out an energy policy.
That one of Brown's Cabinet even acknowledged that the country stands in urgent need of an energy policy must be counted as a minor miracle. I hope he lives to fight another day.
strapworld
June 5th, 2009 10:53am Report this commentJohn Hutton was and is a very principled man. I do not like his politics but I certainly like and admire him.
I hope he now joins the Tories! with Purnell.
Andrew
June 5th, 2009 10:56am Report this commentWould certainly be interesting to establish whether principle was truly at the heart of Mr Hutton's decision.
Suspect that other assasins, by sheathing their dirks, are seeking to put off the inevitable date with the electorate that the PM's toppling would surely precipitate.
Don
June 5th, 2009 10:58am Report this commentNone of these people are any loss to the country at all. Next!
Marbury
June 5th, 2009 11:01am Report this commentBooks and plays? Huh?
Baghdad Blue
June 5th, 2009 11:03am Report this commentAs MP for Barrow-in -Furness he had a particular interest in Naval matters and the maritime defense industrial base. Can't imagine who is likely to get the defence portfolio.
Nicholas J. Rogers
June 5th, 2009 11:04am Report this commentHe should defect to the Conservatives if he's so pro-reform.
Mark C
June 5th, 2009 11:06am Report this commentBrown has ballsed up again. No surprises, but:
1) He has shown no faith in his Chancellor but been too weak to remove him.
2) He lost control of the timing last night and so now cannot use the reshuffle to distract attention from the looming disaster (for Labour) of the European results on Sunday night.
3) He was not expecting either Purnell or Hutton to go. He has dealt with Purnell by ditchnig his plan to move or sack Darling (and, possibly, David Milliband). Now, half way through, he has to cope with the loss of Hutton.
4) Nothing dramatic - no return by Reid or Blunkett. Sir Alan Sugar is not a heavyweight and has no real job. The electorate will not be fooled by this.
C Powell
June 5th, 2009 11:07am Report this commentApparently, he's also standing down as an MP as well. It'll be interesting to see what the euro and council elections show for that part of Cumbria.
JONNY
June 5th, 2009 11:09am Report this commentClassic piece of double-speak now the BBC News site:
"John Hutton is leaving government - although he is said to be remaining loyal to Mr Brown."
TrevorsDen
June 5th, 2009 11:10am Report this commentHutton was actually INTERESTED in defence - its a savage kick in the teeth for our troops. It a time of what is lets face it 'war' - the defence minister resigns. And on the eve of the bungled D-Day commemoration as well.
There is no point these people resigning unless they speak out.
David
June 5th, 2009 11:10am Report this commentThe reality is the John Hutton would have been almost certain to lose his seat, one that was marginal in 2005.
Stephen
June 5th, 2009 11:21am Report this commentWhy no mention of the fact that Hutton is quitting as an MP as well?
Phyl
June 5th, 2009 11:29am Report this commentWho voted for Alan Sugar? Come to that, who voted for Gordon Brown? Can't we all now, please, be given the chance to vote in a General Election.
J R Hartley
June 5th, 2009 12:31pm Report this commentHe was toast in Barrow-in-Furness anyway. B-I-F is likely to see a "protest" MP defending against an unpopular Academy being hoisted on the town. He was a poor MP - employing his son for a while !
David Lindsay
June 5th, 2009 5:43pm Report this commentJohn Hutton, next in line to quit as part of this campaign being co-ordinated from beyond the grave by Tony Blair, has instead been sacked, told not to bother trying to contest the next Election, and even subjected to the indignity of being put on television to say that he had been planning for months to stand down. Well down the Browns, Gordon and Nick.
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