Oh dear
David Blackburn 3:47pm
Chris Grayling hopes that General Sir Richard Dannatt's prospective ministerial appointment is not a "political gimmick" designed to boost Gordon Brown's profile. He said:
"I'm always suspicous of government's motives when it does things like this."
The poor man hasn't grasped that it's David Cameron who is wooing General Dannatt as a potential minister. Grayling has since laughed off the gaffe, but really. The fact that Emily Maitliss started the interview with: "General Dannatt is lined up to be a junior Defence Minister in a future CONSERVATIVE government," ought to have alerted Grayling that this was not attack-dog territory. Quite how Maitliss didn't collapse with laughter defeats me.
PS. Will Heaven and several Coffee Housers suggest that this episode says much about the Tories' communication and the dominance of Cameron's inner circle. I think that overstates it. Cameron spoke about Dannatt on TV prior to Grayling's gaffe, and General Dannatt was paraded all over The Sun yesterday. Something's clearly been brewing for a while.
Previous
Colin
October 7th, 2009 4:08pm Report this commentDo keep up...
Colin
October 7th, 2009 4:14pm Report this commentGrayling's knee jerk, boned headed, half witted, automatic, cynical, muppet like response to the question just goes to show that he's no different to knuckle-headed tw*ts like balls, mcbride and draper.
He's not up to running a ministry. Cameron should send him the way that he needs to send Gove - and soon.
Chris
October 7th, 2009 4:15pm Report this commentTime to bring back Jeremy Hanley, perhaps? Surely time to dispose of this waste of space.
DavidDP
October 7th, 2009 4:16pm Report this commentYes. Not the sharpest tool in the box, and it's leading Sky News bulletins.
He needs to be moved to a less demanding role. Shining shoes perhaps.
Fatbloke on tour
October 7th, 2009 4:17pm Report this commentThe wheels start to wobble a little more.
It will go down in history as the 2009 Tory Party "Dan Quayle" moment.
Tricky Dicky has been trailing his coat for 6 months now to get a job from Scratchy.
All now is dust and a nation rejoices.
The mentalist crusader can now finish his plans for the book signing tour.
Bring back DD, all is forgiven.
Yes Mickey Mouse has a Chris Grayling watch.
HJ
October 7th, 2009 4:19pm Report this commentI agree, it was a very clumsy gaffe by Grayling, but in fairness shouldn't the Tories have realised after the Lib Dem conference that they need to make the shadow cabinet ministers aware of big policy announcements. I think Cameron is very shrewd, but sometimes I wonder if his top team isn't too tight knit.
DavidDP
October 7th, 2009 4:23pm Report this commentAnyone got a translation matrix for Fatbloke?
All I got was that Gordon Brown is embarking on a book signing tour.
mac
October 7th, 2009 4:32pm Report this comment"It will go down in history as the 2009 Tory Party "Dan Quayle" moment."
Rather like Vadera's 'green shoots', or Harman's "knighted for services to banking', then?
Fatbloke on tour
October 7th, 2009 4:34pm Report this commentDDP
Public school I presume?
Always looking for a crib sheet.
DavidDP
October 7th, 2009 4:48pm Report this comment"Public school I presume?"
No, dear boy. I know it looks like it given I can write coherently, but, needless to say, I escaped the education system before Labour got their hands on it.
Dirty Euro
October 7th, 2009 4:49pm Report this commentLOL : General Dannatt more like General Gimmik. LOL
Vulture
October 7th, 2009 4:52pm Report this commentNow Fatters, dear - your envy slip is showing. Just because you didn't get a decent edukashun, don't get mad at those who did. I blame Ed Balls.
Don't cut your remedial classes in future either or I'll see you in my study after Prep for the thrashing you so richly deserve. Now run along and toast my cheese for supper, there's a good fag.
As for Grayling - I take back what I said yesty abt him being the best slaphead in Dave's team. Bring back Patrick Mercer - he actually knows something about military matters.
One Tonne Pun
October 7th, 2009 5:00pm Report this commentNo, it was deliberate - look at all the airplay it has received. A cunning maneouvre, bravo!
Fatbloke on tour
October 7th, 2009 5:17pm Report this commentManky scabby burd / Larkin Lover
Who are we today?
Professional historian?
Tricky Dicky's bum chum?
Poetry Critic?
Complete Fud?
I an still waiting on you "Winnie" homework?
Gallipoli / Gold Standard / Gandhi?
Next we move on to:
Sydney Street
Shropshire (HMS)
Singapore
Consequently cut the crap and get writing.
You have 45 minutes before the library closes.
As for your situation as being the most complete hypocrite in SpectatorLand, I will leave that for another time.
And yes, Chris Gayling has a Vulture watch.
Frank P
October 7th, 2009 5:41pm Report this commentAfter the parade of idiots who have been entrusted with the Home Office for the past twelve years, I would have thought that the country deserved a better candidate to oversee, policing, security and the emergency services generally, should the Tories seize power. Shooting from the hip is not one of the criteria for holding that office.
He doesn't look the part, he doesn't speak the part and he has now s**t and fallen back in it. What a Berkeley! he can't laugh it off; if he was not in the loop, why not?
Give Melanie Phillips a constituency and make her Home Secretary at the next election. She understands more about Home Affairs in the UK than all the current incumbents of the Westminster Gasworks put together. She would indeed make the Home Office 'fit for purpose.'
Blofeld's Cat
October 7th, 2009 5:47pm Report this commentFat chap - how wonderfully, stupidly, pointlessly incomprehensible.
But, golly, you can type your gibberish fast!
Vulture
October 7th, 2009 5:51pm Report this comment@ Fatberk
I think you will find that the phrase 'tricky Dicky's bum chum' contradicts your party's rules against homophobia.
I am going to report you to the Head Prefect of your Mandy Mandelson, who will probably send you to Matron Hattie Harperson. I would ask her to take a hairbrush to your fat, wobbling buttocks except that you would enjoy it too much.
Instead, I'll suggest that you write out 500 times: 'I must not write illiterate posts on Coffee House and let my homophobic prejudices slip'.
I know you haven't got a job to go to, but can't you go and sign on or whatever it is that you lower-class chappies do? You really are a tiresome and boring tit.
DavidDP
October 7th, 2009 6:06pm Report this comment"Give Melanie Phillips a constituency and make her Home Secretary at the next election"
Heavens no. She'd be bloody awful.
old fogey
October 7th, 2009 6:09pm Report this commentDoesn't FBoT offend against the house rules with his offensive,personalised, and now abusive contributions. His missives are pointless anyway--who is he going to convince, or even engage with if he just goes on a leftist rant.
paul marchant
October 7th, 2009 6:45pm Report this commentI quite agree with OF. Immature, abusive, ugly, vulgar and petty-minded rants should have no place in the comment section. They devalue and sully it. If they are within existing house rules then the latter need to be tightened.
Frank P
October 7th, 2009 7:24pm Report this commentpaul marchant
"the latter should be tightened"
Like your ass, buddy? This is a blog, not the feckin' parish magazine. I suggest you drop into the Devil's Kitchen - that should loosen you up a bit, if you don't faint with your apron over your head. Take some smelling salts with you, though, you may need them.
JONNY
October 7th, 2009 7:37pm Report this commentA bit of a stink bomb in Paradise
eh?
Tony Gee
October 7th, 2009 7:39pm Report this commentThe gaffe and the merits of the General are secondary to the hopeless planning and security for the release of this appointment - unfortunately rather Nulabouresque.
Maggie S
October 7th, 2009 8:29pm Report this commentT'was the late nights and the hair of the dog wot dun it !
Jane Holmes
October 7th, 2009 9:11pm Report this commentDavid Davis for Home Office!
TGF UKIP
October 7th, 2009 11:50pm Report this commentHands up all of those who think something like this would/could have happened at the New Labour Conference in 1996.
It just demonstrates how really useless the Mekon/CameronTories are at communications management. If slaphead Grayling had been of the Clique he would have known; he wasn't, so he didn't.
Let's not forget too that Grayling was the very personification of troughing greed with his multi M25 property flips. Quite clearly a budding Francis Maude in every way.
jaybs
October 8th, 2009 7:31am Report this commentChris seems such a nice genuine guy, but...first we had "The Wire" TV series Gaff with a comparison to an area of Manchester, a programme later he admitted he had never seen. Now we have the Sir Richard Dannart Gaff, add to that his most nervous performance in his speech at conference, it does concern!
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