The Shadow Cabinet
There's some good people, Quentin Wilson, David Davis, Cameron himself possibly, but Fox needs no comment, Osborne I think is pretty hopeless (Ooh Estonia growing fast, let's have a flat tax!) and worst of all, Billy Hague returns as shadow foreign secretary. The advantage of this is presumably that he doesn't get to interfere in domestic matters. It now tends to be said that no leader had a chance in the 1997 parliament and he was thus unlucky. It is forgotten just what a terrible leader of the opposition he was -- in his choice of colleagues (look at his shadow chancellors), in his command over the party (ditto), but also in his policies. It is arguable that the 2001 election result was worse than the 1997 one given the almost total lack of movement in four years. There are reports that he will try to mend fences with the Bush Administration, a strange decision given its unpopularity in Britain and when even Republican Congressmen are heading the other direction, and he will go on the attack in Europe. This will enhance his post-politics career, for sure, but will hardly do much for his poor reputation in Britain. So what's left? That he is a good after-dinner speaker, but then again so is Tony Adams. Much like that other favourite of Tory constituencies, Michael Heseltine, he'd be better off sticking to that role.
posted by Matthew @ 12/08/2005 09:39:00 AM
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