Johnson story takes another turn
James Forsyth 11:37pm
Both The Mail and The Sun are running on their front pages that Alan Johnson’s wife is allegedly having an affair with his bodyguard. There are, though, other rumours referenced in other papers.
The Tory view this evening is that they now face a tactically harder fight but a strategically easier one. They fully expect Balls to snap at Osborne’s ankles more effectively than Johnson did. But they think that Balls’ previous on the economy and his oft-expressed views on a double dip and the Darling plan will help them overall.
One thing worth noting this evening is that Liam Byrne’s appointment to shadow Iain Duncan-Smith shows that Ed Miliband remains committed to offering broad support to IDS’s welfare reforms. While Yvette Cooper will be glad to move from Foreign Affairs, a brief that didn’t play to her strengths and didn’t excite her, to the Home Office brief.
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Christopher Bowring
January 20th, 2011 11:49pm Report this commentShadow Chancellors don't have bodyguards. What can they mean?
Old Slaughter
January 21st, 2011 12:01am Report this commentHa ha ha ha ha.
I suppose he has lost his job also. Good
tomdaylight
January 21st, 2011 12:04am Report this commentPerhaps Ed Miliband has brought Ed Balls in to keep the seat warm for a couple of years until he can realistically bring David Miliband back to the front line.
Clare, London
January 21st, 2011 12:07am Report this commentI presume it is the bodyguard he had when Home Secretary
duke valentino
January 21st, 2011 12:09am Report this commentYour right, but ex-home secretaries did have at one point.
Frank P
January 21st, 2011 1:12am Report this commentChristopher Bowring
They may be talking about the bodyguard (aka Protection Officer) he had when he was Home Secretary; Johnson lost his job and his bodyguard with the election, but the bodyguard felt he still had duties to perform in the Johnson household with the erection.
Oh dearie me!
El Sid
January 21st, 2011 1:56am Report this commentThe alleged affair is alleged to have started while Labour were still in power.
Let's hope he doesn't go postal....
Tom Pride
January 21st, 2011 2:09am Report this commentThe underlying reason behind the resignation is nothing compared to the allegation that Johnson was knifed (Guido). Cui bono? Can but hope that there is substance here. Decent guy humiliated by ambitious sh*t. It has the potential to resurrect the very best of the Blair / Brown feuding amongst the Brothers. Oh joy!
Stewart
January 21st, 2011 2:17am Report this commentIdea for a headline: "Labour's Johnson withdraws, Miliband Grabs Balls".
tb
January 21st, 2011 5:53am Report this commentA possible incompetent vs a proved incompetent (reverse that if you think Balls' legacy was a shiny beacon of excellence).
tb
January 21st, 2011 5:58am Report this commentAlso does Ed Balls still think he abolished Boom & Bust economic cycles, apart from this "Blip"?
DavidDP
January 21st, 2011 6:04am Report this commentYou've missed the bit about Ball's SPAD allegedly being the one who briefed the press.
Widmerpool
January 21st, 2011 7:00am Report this commentI seem to remember a similar fate befell Francis Urquart in Michael Dobbs "To play the King" Poor man;not only was his bodyguard bonking the fictional PM's wife but the bodyguard ended by shooting Francis Urquart!
Better watch your back Alan this time not just from Balls!
TrevorsDen
January 21st, 2011 7:56am Report this commentCorrect DavidP - Balls' man briefed the press. It does not matter who was playing away - AJ or his wife or who with.
The real story is that it was Balls who lifted the lid. Using a man's wife against him.
Always said that Balls was a nice bloke.
Grumpy Optimist
January 21st, 2011 8:39am Report this commentAnd the bodyguard is being investigated by a standards watchdog. Well that's all right then cos we all want standards don't we. I'm sure it will money well spent - investigators, lawyers, tribunals, placemen, indexed linked pensions, jobs for the boys, uman rights.
Give me strength.
TomTom
January 21st, 2011 9:01am Report this commentBetween the Met and ACPO they seem to be working through the entire scriot book of "Between The Lines".
michael
January 21st, 2011 9:09am Report this commentAll Labour's numerical weaponry, those too clever by half stealth lies, suddenly become relevant again. It may well be the Gordon-esque electorate brow beating that's harder to sort... Polish up your speccies though - its small print time.
Stepney
January 21st, 2011 9:18am Report this commentYvette Cooper's strengths?
Er...none exactly spring to mind.
(Apart from having a household income of £280,000 and then blowing £1200 of my money down at Waitrose every month. Until the Telegraph put an end to my largesse).
William
January 21st, 2011 9:47am Report this comment'Idea for a headline: "Labour's Johnson withdraws, Miliband Grabs Balls".'
Or
"Millibland has Cooper over a barrel"
Airey Belvoir
January 21st, 2011 10:37am Report this commentI'll bet that the Sundays will tell us that both Johnsons were playing away - but getting this story out first makes him seem to be the wronged party. All rather squalid, especially if Balls has a hand in leaking it.
Tiberius
January 21st, 2011 10:44am Report this commentGreat gags, guys, but when I saw Mr Neil try to explain the bodyguard connection last night, I thought Mrs J must have been involved with Kevin Costner. Thank heavens, I thought, that it wasn't Whitney Houston.
Victor Southern
January 21st, 2011 1:13pm Report this commentUnusual for a politician to resign to spend less time with his family.
Captain Christy
January 21st, 2011 1:21pm Report this commentI would normally feel sorry for him, but Johnson has been screwing us for his high salary for years on little or no talent. Now he has been screwed - or at least his wife has !
Edward McLaughlin
January 21st, 2011 3:30pm Report this commentI don't rate the man as a politician - in fact I cannot abide his ideological outlook - but can't see how gloating over something like this, makes anyone feel good. I wish him well and I hope he can soon get back on track with both his personal affairs and his working life.
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