interestrateripoff Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/20...on-clarke-cable Frank Field has already floated the idea of politicians forming a national government to lead Britain out of the economic crisis. But now, on his blog, he has started to write about what he would like it to look like. Mega-crises sort the men out from the political boys. Michael Oakeshott in his famous lecture on political education drew distinction between practical and technical knowledge. He talks of how 'the boys might acquire the technical knowledge, but only the men would combine this with practical knowledge of affairs'. Over the past week I couldn't but recall Oakeshott's famous words. The economic crisis is just beginning. Maybe a few more people now are accepting, as I did at the beginning, that it would be surprising if the recession/slump becomes as severe as I fear that our political institutions will remain intact. I suggested there might have to be a national government. Three members of that national government are beginning to identify themselves. Vince Cable, obviously. Peter Mandelson, who is thriving in current circumstances and must be kicking himself at not having a seat in the Commons. And the return of Kenneth Clarke, who has been through this twice before will quickly emerge in the views of politicians (he's already there with voters) as one of those who might form this new government. Cable, Mandelson and Clarke. It sounds more like a board meeting of Britain in Europe to me. Other people like fantasy football. Field, I think, is playing fantasy politics. But we live in strange times and unprecedented things are happening, so I suppose you never know ... I suppose watching Mandy screw world leaders over would be amusing. Couldn't trust him though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphmalph Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Mandelson is going to make sure McDoomed is finished with in 6 months. Snake in the Grass has never been so true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mega Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Gordon has 6 months? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphmalph Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Gordon has 6 months?Mike Ok I was playing it safe, 3 maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umiapik Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Vince Cable, Kenneth Clarke and Peter Mandelson to run the country? Why not, they're all at least competent and they can hardly do any worse than the current lineup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Gordon has 6 months?Mike If you think about, he's damaged goods ("No more boom and bust", "A weak currency means a weak economy which means a weak government" and other disasters). If Labour remove him, they might have a bit of honeymoon with the public and a better shot at the next election. They just need to find a female Obama equivalent and get her elected in the next by-election. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest eight Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Vince Cable, Kenneth Clarke and Peter Mandelson to run the country? Why not, they're all at least competent and they can hardly do any worse than the current lineup! It shows what things have become when a dictatorship begins to look appealing. I agree with you, BTW..... eight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shao Kahn Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 If you think about, he's damaged goods ("No more boom and bust", "A weak currency means a weak economy which means a weak government" and other disasters). If Labour remove him, they might have a bit of honeymoon with the public and a better shot at the next election. They just need to find a female Obama equivalent and get her elected in the next by-election. Can anyone think who this might be? I have thought about it and can't think of anyone... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fishfinger Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Vince Cable, Kenneth Clarke and Peter Mandelson to run the country? Why not, they're all at least competent and they can hardly do any worse than the current lineup! Ahhhhhhhhhhh I get it. Trash the pound to get parity with the Euro. Mandy will go begging to Europe with Ken Clarke's backing to take us into the Euro :angry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wires 74 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 All very interesting -Whilst Field is hardly a typical Labour MP perhaps he`s one of those `men in dark suits` who can help machinate the current mob away from the handle of power... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tbatst2000 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hmmm, national government = no vote for the plebs (i.e. us) on who gets to try and dig us out of this hole. Sounds effing dire. The one bright spot on horizon right now is the day, sometime in the next two years, when I get to see Broon and his crew of shysters voted out of office. Field is weirdo anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spook321 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hmmm, national government = no vote for the plebs (i.e. us) on who gets to try and dig us out of this hole. Sounds effing dire. The one bright spot on horizon right now is the day, sometime in the next two years, when I get to see Broon and his crew of shysters voted out of office. Field is weirdo anyway. Mandelson, sod that, I'm emigrating for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrashedOutAndBurned Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Why not? It's not like you can get anyone elected who isn't from the big three parties anyway. It costs a huge amount of money we don't have to run elections that could be spent on Northern Rock bonuses or ID cards. Yes, a technocracy would be much better with the best-of-the-best running our lives, people like Mandleson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bogbrush Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 The worst thing I've ever heard Frank Field say. Undemocratic, totally unlike him. His hatred of Brown is clouding his thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezer466 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Frank Field is from the old left wing of the party. If he is advocating a National Unity Government then we really must be well and truly fecked........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilltop Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Frank has begun making perversity a political philosophy. I suspect that he believes he is the best Secretary of State we never had, all because he fell out with Blair. I remember that he used to strongly oppose the removal of exchange controls. If you oppose everything, sometime you will be proven right. He is very good at pointing to deficiencies and contradictions in detailed policies. He should leave the bigger picture alone. Good person, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinsdale Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/20...on-clarke-cableI suppose watching Mandy screw world leaders over would be amusing. Couldn't trust him though. Frank was doing well until he recommended Mandy - the turd in the punchbowl. Mandleslime is Britain's modern day Goebbels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mattsta1964 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Frank was doing well until he recommended Mandy - the turd in the punchbowl. Mandleslime is Britain's modern day Goebbels. Agreed A thouroughly repellent creature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MississippiJohnHurt Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Can anyone think who this might be? I have thought about it and can't think of anyone... Hazel Blears? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patfig Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 AgreedA thouroughly repellent creature and a knob jockey allegedly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sillybear2 Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Brown will never face an election, if he can get away with a formal coup to form a 'national government' of his chosing he'll do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Injin Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Brown will never face an election, if he can get away with a formal coup to form a 'national government' of his chosing he'll do it. Yep. it's a general rule with leaders that if you don't vote them in, you don't get to vote them out either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MississippiJohnHurt Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Yep. it's a general rule with leaders that if you don't vote them in, you don't get to vote them out either. Brown has neither the influence nor the wherewithal for any of that malarkey. Mandelson, on the other hand..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newbie Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Hazel Blears? Not Dianne Abbott? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MississippiJohnHurt Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 Not Dianne Abbott? Thinking about it, they're flush with candidates - Caroline Flint also has that transcendent style about her which suggests she could transform British politics. (I would shag her though) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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