The PM and his Home Secretary look increasingly beleaguered, says our Downing Street insider
|
 |
|
|
|
Watching Tony Blair squirm at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday was not a pleasant experience if you were a Labour MP or John Reid. For once, David Cameron scored a direct hit with his line of questioning.
The Tory leader spotted Blair's weakness on the proposal, raised by Reid at the weekend, that the Home Office be split into two separate departments. Cameron rightly pointed out that it was not Blair but the man on his left - Gordon Brown - who would have the final say.
And the problem for Blair and Reid is that the Chancellor may be disinclined to fund two new departments from the wreck of the Home Office. He will not want to be bounced into supporting such a decision on the hoof, particularly one that is politically expedient for Reid.
|
|
 |
|
|
A cynic might take the view that should Brown veto Reid's plan it will give the beleaguered Home Secretary a get-out clause when Brown takes over at Number 10. Reid could leave the government claiming that he had been prevented from making the radical reforms necessary to sort out law and order.
Reid realises that his chances of remaining in post after Blair's exit diminish by the day. Particularly as the tabloids now smell blood on the issue of over-crowded prisons. ('John Reid's brain is missing' - today's Sun.)
On the basis of the last 24 hours, if Brown does say no now, Reid can hardly count on the support of the PM making any difference. Blair's rumoured climbdown on exemption for the Catholic church on gay adoption, because of Cabinet and backbench opposition, is yet another indicator that he has exhausted his political clout.
The PM and his Home Secretary are running out of friends fast. And running out of time to save their reputations. 
FIRST POSTED JANUARY 22, 2007
|
