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Heydon Prowse has discovered that the UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) was involved in the selling of millions of pounds of fake bomb detectors to foreign governments. Military personnel demonstrated dud products to gullible buyers. Heydon says the full story will be on Newsnight tonight…
Money is moving on who is set to replace Andy Coulson. Current press secretary Gabby Bertin has just gone favourite. The internal promotion would be a safe option. Does someone in Downing Street know something?
After growth flat-lining and Labour going ten points ahead in one poll there is a distinct wobble being felt around Westminster about the cuts. The usually unflappable Speccie have today drawn in their breath about the NHS:
“Barack Obama may have been right to push healthcare reforms, but may nonetheless suffer for the timing and way he did it. The same may be the case for David Cameron.”
While Ben Brogan is quick to point out that Ed Balls is hurting Osborne and:
“…just because Mr Balls is wrong does not guarantee that Mr Osborne is right”
The keep calm and carry on coming from Downing Street is falling on increasingly deaf ears. The coalition are losing their lead in the blame game too. Guido is a little confused at how a £100m sale of some trees has become such a big story in comparison to the much larger swings Osborne has taken with his axe. Maybe it’s the imagery of literally cutting trees, or perhaps this is being allowed to flare up as a distraction for the more radical measures.
After last night’s documentary Guido has been doing some digging around the Oxford days of our ruling elite. With a little help from a studious co-conspirator, some of the clippings from the 80s editions of the Cherwell make for a fascinating read. There is no doubt that the star of last night’s Posh and Posher had to be “man of the people” Jacob Rees Mogg. It seems he hasn’t changed much from his dreamy spires days:
Guido will save the notorious tales of a certain “Eight minute Eddie” for another day.
Margaret Thatcher said in 1977….
“People from my sort of background needed Grammar schools to compete with children from privileged homes like Shirley Williams and Anthony Wedgwood Benn.”
Brillo’s “Posh and Posher: Why Public School Boys Run Britain“ documentary broadcast last night made a powerful case that the dominance of British politics by the privately educated and the products of Oxbridge results from the abolition of grammar schools.
The ability of those from modest backgrounds to progress on merit has been undermined by a failing state education system. The ending of the grammar school system means that bright children from modest backgrounds don’t have a well-trodden route to follow to the top, hence the dominance of politics once again by the privileged.
Old friend of the blog Gary Elsby made an appearance, blaming the selection of Tristram Hunt rather than him as the local Labour Party candidate on Peter Mandelson. Others may beg to differ…
