David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Monday 23 June, 2008

Minister of the Year

Europe Minister Jim Murphy has rightly and deservedly been named Minister of the Year, voted so in one of the annual competitions by his fellow Parliamentarians.  His embrace of the daunting European brief, and especially his command of detail, his good humour towards friends and foes, and his ability to get by on limited sleep and not noticeably healthy diet, more than merited the award.  I think secretly he began to enjoy the cut and thrust after 14 days on the floor of the House of Commons...

Posted at 14:59 23 June 2008 by David Miliband  |  Comments[7]

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Ah, the European brief. So, David. Public support apparently wnet towards implementing the longer internment period anywhere in the world. Public support is for a referendum on Europe. When will Gordon be announcing the referendum?

Posted by Jeremy Poynton on June 23, 2008 at 03:26 PM BST #

Rewarding pushing through the Lisbon Treaty in contravention of clear and overwhelming public opinion just re-confirms how out of touch our political leaders now are. I don't doubt Mr Murphy is good humoured or dedicated. I'm sure he's a thoroughly nice bloke to boot. But I can't remotely celebrate such further degradation of our democracy, and that in many other European countries, which is the only possible outcome of his recent activities. I just hope the award will in some way make up for quite possibly a decade in opposition for his party.

Posted by Mike Hanlon on June 23, 2008 at 05:21 PM BST #

Jim who? For doing...?

Posted by Paul Everest on June 23, 2008 at 05:47 PM BST #

The very fact that there is a "Minister of the Year" when was this first recognised? and that you think that we might care shows how incredibly out of touch politicians are with those who vote them into power and pay their wages. Try and visit planet earth occasionally, David.

Posted by Paul Buddery on June 24, 2008 at 01:04 PM BST #

What? No Andy Burnham?

Posted by David Mclellan on June 24, 2008 at 03:18 PM BST #

In fairness, Mr Buddery, stamping on what is clearly a short and good natured sort of comment from the Foreign Secretary doesn't seem the best way to inspire politicians to 'get in touch' with the electorate!

Posted by Francis J.L. Osborn on June 25, 2008 at 06:57 AM BST #

I don't think politicians should need inspiring to get in touch with the electorate, Francis. Isn't it part of their job since they are public servants or used to be anyway? I stand by my assertion that talking about something which is certainly of no interest to me, and I suspect the majority, shows that the minister is out of touch, especially as a significant number of people believe the Minister of the Year has, far from working hard in their interest, been working hard to betray them.

Posted by Paul Buddery on June 27, 2008 at 01:17 AM BST #

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