Vaz on the rocks
Dear Geoff Hoon,
Nice try. Honestly, what a load of rubbish. I’ve heard some lame defences in my time but you really have taken the biscuit with your weak and flailing attempt to spare your party embarrassment over the note you sent to Keith Vaz. I wonder whether either of you will be packing your bags in the near future over this latest Labour scandal.
Quick recap. Keith Vaz, being the Labour Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, was a fairly influential figure in the 42-day detention vote. Originally, he opposed the government’s anti-terror plans but later offered his full backing. Apparently he made a speech during the debate which won over some backbench MPs and securing his backing was seen as essential by Brown. It has now emerged that you sent Keith a handwritten note the day after the final vote, saying: “Dear Keith…Just a quick note to thank you for all your help during the period leading up to last Wednesday’s vote. I wanted you to know how much I appreciated all your help. I trust that it will be appropriately rewarded!…With thanks and best wishes, Geoff.” So, let’s be clear about this – key Labour figure opposes government, discussions go on behind closed doors, key Labour figure changes his mind, evidence surfaces that key Labour figure was offered a ‘reward’ for changing his mind. Hmmm. According to the papers this morning, Keith was asked during the parliamentary debate whether he had been offered an honour for his support at the time, to which he replied: “No, it was certainly not offered … but I do not know; there is still time.”
Your office have now said: “We would deny very strongly the suggestion that he’s somehow been given something in return for his vote on 42 days. This is a private note between two old friends that included a light-hearted jokey remark. It’s obvious it was a joke.” Private? Certainly. Incriminating? Certainly. Light-hearted and jokey? Hardly. You cannot talk about ‘rewarding’ people in this context without at the very least arousing suspicion, bearing in mind that there are very very very few rewards I can think of that a government can bestow on individuals in return for their loyalty. It is interesting that you haven’t tried to explain what you did mean in the letter as your defence has consisted of nothing more than saying it was a bit of a laugh between mates.
Naturally, I would never suggest that the Labour Party are a bunch of crooked scum who are happy to bribe voters, other political parties and indeed their own MPs - because that would be wrong. All I was hoping for was that you might empathise with the public and admit that it looks a little dodgy, but even that is seemingly beyond you.
Yours sincerely,
A.Tory
Witanagemot Blogs
Turns out the bit in the Downing Street memo about intelligence being “fixed” prior to the invasion of Iraq was also a hilarious gag, and the September dossier was an elaborate stand-up routine.
I also heard that Labour donors play poker to see who gets first dibs on honours from the Queen.
All he need do is come out and say Mr Vaz will never get an honour for any reason.
Problem solved!
My scorn for Vaz is not a secret.
A cursory glance at his Wikipedia entry will reveal the many ways in which he has “distinguished” himself during his career. Best not to go there on a full stomach.
I am looking forward to their eviction. It will be like 1997
“I would never suggest that the Labour Party are a bunch of crooked scum who are happy to bribe voters, other political parties and indeed their own MPs – because that would be wrong.”
Only because it singles out one bunch of crooks from the general cesspit of villainy that is modern politics.
I think Bill’s suggestion is a good one. For all those who share Asquith and Bahtat’s contempt for Vaz and politicians in general, it would be very sensible for Gordon Brown to confirm that Vaz will never be given a knighthood or a similar honour under a Labour government.
Problem solved, situation defused.
Oh dear – but that would leave the suspicion that he had been refused a deserved knighthood because of low muck-raking by Cameroon.
I would have voted for 42 days if they offered me a lot of money! Or a knighthood… is that so wrong?
Errr, well, errr, yes? Principles, anyone?
Vaz is vain and vacuous. I’m sure there is an alliterative poem to be made of that.
Perhaps there could be a musical, in which charachters sing about what an utter **** he is.
It will be like 1997
And just like in 1997, your hopes will be quickly and brutally dashed on the rocks as the heir to Blair continues merrily down the one-world neo-liberal, neo-conservative, neo-whatever agenda.
But aye, it’ll be good to see these bastards vanquished.
Yes, it seems strange to me that people got so excited over Blair’s election. Naturally they wanted the old lot out, but did they really imagine he’d be any good?
I was too young at the time to have any views
But I think now we have learnt not to get overexcited, which is why there is little enthusiasm for Camoron.