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Where is Lord Malloch-Brown?

Thursday, 3rd January 2008

David Hughes asks an aposite question at Three Line Whip:

Where is the Minister for Africa when you need him? The post-election meltdown in Kenya is producing some of the most horrific scenes to emanate even from that sad continent. Gordon Brown and David Miliband have both been in action today, trying to exert the maximum diplomatic pressure on the Kenyan government to bring an end to the violence.
Yet from Lord Malloch-Brown, there is silence. The former number two at the United Nations was brought into the Foreign Office largely because of his expertise in African affairs. The Prime Minister even granted him the accolade of allowing him to attend Cabinet meetings, so highly - it seems - does he rate his abilities. Yet he has been nowhere to be seen or heard as this crisis unfolds.

Quite. And quite the worst ministerial appointment so far by Gordon Brown, which is saying something.

UPDATE: Please don't think that I actually regret his Lordship's absence from the fray. I only wish it were a permanent absence from public life.

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Joshua

January 3rd, 2008 12:45pm

He's still waiting for permission from György Schwartz before getting himself involved.

Austin Barry

January 3rd, 2008 1:01pm

Just about the last thing Kenya needs is the preposterous figure of Lord Malloch-Brown hoving into view in a cloud of pompous self-regard. Won't happen though as he seems to have been tutored in the McBroon school of timely disappearance.

Max Kaye

January 3rd, 2008 4:37pm

Lord Moloch-Brown (legendary) - a disappearing demon, worshiped by the idolatrous Israelites until he sold off their Golden Calf at a knock down price. All bluster and hot air. No claws (all bitten off by shiny, if useless, pearl-white teeth). Alleged to haunt governmental grace and favour apartments for which he is untitled.

Lee Jakeman

January 3rd, 2008 7:42pm

In answer to the question "Where is he?", has anyone checked to see if George Soros's yacht is currently moored in the Mediteranean somewhere? With an English guest aboard?

Alex R

January 6th, 2008 5:03pm

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/0601_chelsy_stuck_in_riot.shtml news of the world (last paragraph) confirms that Malloch-Brown has refused to cut short his holiday.