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**Chris the Chees** · May 5, 2006, 12:41 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4975938.stm

Quote:

Charles Clarke has been sacked as home secretary in the biggest cabinet reshuffle of Tony Blair's career.

The prime minister is trying to regain momentum after one of the worst local election results in Labour's history.

Mr Clarke will be replaced by Defence Secretary John Reid. Margaret Beckett is the new foreign secretary, with Jack Straw becoming Commons leader.

John Prescott will stay as deputy prime minister but lose his department. Trade Secretary Alan Johnson gets education.

Labour came third in the overall share of the vote in local elections in England, losing control of 18 local authorities. The Tories were the biggest winners, gaining 274 extra councillors and 40% of the vote.

The results prompted Mr Blair to push ahead with a reshuffle originally planned for Monday.

Milton Bradley · May 5, 2006, 12:55 pm

Hmmm, are we seeing some damage control efforts similar to Mr. Bush's, hmmm, huh, hmmm?

**Pooeypants** · May 5, 2006, 01:49 pm

I still want to know what John Prescott does, honestly apart from guzzling gas and exercising his wand what does he do?

tinybear · May 5, 2006, 03:14 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Pooeypants

I still want to know what John Prescott does, honestly apart from guzzling gas and exercising his wand what does he do?

It's a wonder he wasn't sacked.

**Matt W** · May 5, 2006, 04:01 pm

Not really. Prescott didn't screw up his job....Clarke knowingly did.

G. Adams · May 6, 2006, 02:25 am

Clarke wasn't sacked for his cock-up of course, that just put him sacrifice most likely number 1, and with Labour losing over 300 council seats, they needed something to bigger to bury the bad news.

Prescott...talk about mass centralisation. His brief was gigantic. Must...resist...fat joke.... He didn't lose his job however because he has too much sway with the unionist side of the party. I say "unionist side", that means those in Labour who still romantically, desperately think they are anything but a tool of big business these days.

Scribbler1 · May 6, 2006, 08:43 am

Quote:

Quote by: Milton Bradley

Hmmm, are we seeing some damage control efforts similar to Mr. Bush's, hmmm, huh, hmmm?

It was just a matter of time. The U.K. will be forever linked to the U.S. on Iraq in history and when things go sour for Bush it follows that Blair will get the heat too. In the end a dead Brit and a dead Yank aren't that different.

Boetie · May 6, 2006, 09:55 am

Iran elected the nutjob currently in power, which clearly annoys Bush Jr and Blair

Palenstinians elected the Hamas, double that annoyance to Bush Jr and Blair

Spain in their last election elected a leader which of course annoys Bush Jr and Blair

Italy elected a person, whom I'm sure Bush Jr and Blair doesn't like.

Blair having to reshuffle. Bush Jr being made fun of that he did nothing more than shuffle the chairs on the Titanic or the Hindenburg if you choose.

Does someone see something going on here?

rcne · May 6, 2006, 10:03 am

The cabinet shuffles of Bush and Blair are convenient ways to focus attention away from other issues.
We the public are soooo.. gullible. Though as a tactic it works everytime doesn't it.

Scribbler1 · May 6, 2006, 02:23 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Boetie

Does someone see something going on here?

Beside the fact that Bush and Blair don't seem to be able to play well with others it looks like this just ain't their decade.

I like the way you summarized that.

Scribbler1 · May 6, 2006, 02:25 pm

Quote:

Quote by: rcne

The cabinet shuffles of Bush and Blair are convenient ways to focus attention away from other issues.
We the public are soooo.. gullible. Though as a tactic it works everytime doesn't it.

It's like a REALLY bad magician trying to misdirect the audience. You want to just slap the crap out of the audience members who fall for it.

jose · May 6, 2006, 02:40 pm

Mr Straw has been moved from the key post of foreign secretary to the much less high profile role of Leader of the House of Commons
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4979012.stm

dreamer · May 6, 2006, 03:34 pm

It seems that blair is going that way as well http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4979518.stm does anybody think it will be days or weeks i say days myself.

Arawn-ap-Hywel · May 6, 2006, 03:35 pm

Have new dark suits appeared for placing in a cabinet?

Do they offer innovation?

Will they do anything to improve the world or their country?

I doubt it very much

Arawn-ap-Hywel · May 6, 2006, 03:38 pm

Quote:

Quote by: dreamer

It seems that blair is going that way as well http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4979518.stm does anybody think it will be days or weeks i say days myself.

what with the end of term so close and summer holidays just around the corner ?
dream on dreamer lol

May 5, 2006, 01:49 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Pooeypants Neo Moderator Location: England Posts: 5,570	I still want to know what John Prescott does, honestly apart from guzzling gas and exercising his wand what does he do? War is Peace Freedom is Slavery Ignorance is strength Harness the power of Ingsoc, then you can capture someone killed the year before

May 5, 2006, 04:01 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Matt W Moderator Location: Reading, UK. Posts: 6,261	Not really. Prescott didn't screw up his job....Clarke knowingly did. I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered. -George Best, on being asked what he did with his footballing fortunes.

May 6, 2006, 02:25 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
G. Adams Fyrdman Location: Middlesbrough UK Posts: 4,152	Clarke wasn't sacked for his cock-up of course, that just put him sacrifice most likely number 1, and with Labour losing over 300 council seats, they needed something to bigger to bury the bad news. Prescott...talk about mass centralisation. His brief was gigantic. Must...resist...fat joke.... He didn't lose his job however because he has too much sway with the unionist side of the party. I say "unionist side", that means those in Labour who still romantically, desperately think they are anything but a tool of big business these days. Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill

May 6, 2006, 09:55 am	#8 (permalink) (top)
Boetie Hot Lava Posts: 1,227	Iran elected the nutjob currently in power, which clearly annoys Bush Jr and Blair Palenstinians elected the Hamas, double that annoyance to Bush Jr and Blair Spain in their last election elected a leader which of course annoys Bush Jr and Blair Italy elected a person, whom I'm sure Bush Jr and Blair doesn't like. Blair having to reshuffle. Bush Jr being made fun of that he did nothing more than shuffle the chairs on the Titanic or the Hindenburg if you choose. Does someone see something going on here? Last edited by Boetie; May 6, 2006 at 09:59 am.

May 6, 2006, 10:03 am	#9 (permalink) (top)
rcne Moderator/nobody Posts: 1,566	The cabinet shuffles of Bush and Blair are convenient ways to focus attention away from other issues. We the public are soooo.. gullible. Though as a tactic it works everytime doesn't it. Live Long and Prosper (Genetics and Capitalism)

May 5, 2006, 12:55 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Milton Bradley BANNED Location: Ohio Province, Rep. of Comerica Posts: 7,320	Hmmm, are we seeing some damage control efforts similar to Mr. Bush's, hmmm, huh, hmmm?

May 6, 2006, 02:40 pm	#12 (permalink) (top)
jose Volcanic Erupter Location: España Posts: 2,548	Mr Straw has been moved from the key post of foreign secretary to the much less high profile role of Leader of the House of Commons http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4979012.stm

May 6, 2006, 03:34 pm	#13 (permalink) (top)
dreamer Igneous Magma Posts: 674	It seems that blair is going that way as well http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4979518.stm does anybody think it will be days or weeks i say days myself.

May 6, 2006, 03:35 pm	#14 (permalink) (top)
Arawn-ap-Hywel Hot Lava Posts: 1,124	Have new dark suits appeared for placing in a cabinet? Do they offer innovation? Will they do anything to improve the world or their country? I doubt it very much