John Reid turns on his own department, to cries of glee from those who do not look beyond the divisiveness at the heart of the New Labour project. A point worth telling, but not much more....although they are no longer blaming the Major government.
The Home Office was also described as "from time to time dysfunctional in the sense it doesn't work"
Who could be in a position to deliver such a savage indictment of 9 years of Labour administration?
[...and do Jack Straw, David Blunkett or Charles Clarke agree with the analysis?]
Step forward, home secretary John Reid.
I am nonplussed at the lack of a constitutional context for this savage attack. All of the Ministers mentioned were supposed to be responsible for their Department and accountable to Parliament for its actions. However, the continual plotting, leaks and internecine warfare make a mockery of ministerial responsibility through the Cabinet or recognising the Prime Minister as the final backstop for all mistakes. Clothed in an electoral dictatorship, this government falls prey to opportunists like Ried, who are unable to play the Tory card any longer and, therefore, turn on their own. Same rapsheet, different fallguys.
Can the Home Office survive?