Jacqui Smith 1 - Phil Woolas 0
After his troubles in the last few days, first with the and then his , the Immigration Minister Phil Woolas, a keen fan, was delighted to discover that an important meeting of G8 home affairs ministers is scheduled to take place on Thursday of next week in Rome.
The Italian capital, very conveniently, is where United are due to play Barcelona in the European Cup final the night before.
Bad news for Mr Woolas however, the G8 meeting is so important that Britain is being represented by , the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Secretary, and there's no need for two ministers.
I doubt, however if Ms Smith will be attending the game. She is an fan.
I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
Comment number 1.
At 19th May 2009, JunkkMale wrote:Is football the last vestige of the terminally doomed pol?
And those who 'follow' them?
Because it has been an interesting time to see true leadership brought to the fore these last few days.
With the last vestiges of Parliament's credibility excavating out the barrel base, dribbling across into the gutter and now halfway to China, I have noticed, by his absence at least, Grinning Gordon seems reluctant to be seen in the House.
By all accounts, even when he has to be in there it's more a duck and run deal.
However, we have been treated to the smile at all manner of hugely relevant events, from the opening of fetes (Ok, I made that one up) to pouncing on on scrappage buyers (hopefully not disappointed Ford or Honda ones as, surprise, the scheme hasn't been properly thought through).
Then there was the big one, as the towering intellect in a safety zone sandwich between Messrs Rooney and Beckham.
At no point have I heard it mentioned, much less asked of him, whether actually running the country from the driving seat might be a bit of a plan?
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Comment number 2.
At 19th May 2009, stanilic wrote:If you are like me and cannot understand how grown-ups can get so passionate about 23 men running around a field after an inflated bladder as well as experiencing a run-in with the said Woolas, whose surly attitude is the best argument for emigration I can think of, you will appreciate that intellect is not a strong suite with the current government.
It is quite proper then to ask if intellect is a factor with any government as even Two-Brains Willets seems a bit dull from time to time.
I suppose the harsh reality these days is that no intelligent person seeks to become a politician so we have to put up with the products of the B-stream.
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Comment number 3.
At 19th May 2009, threnodio wrote:He will probably flip his second home to a Rome hotel for the night.
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