You will probably be aware of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s uncomfortable ride at yesterday’s Police Federation annual conference.
Ms Smith was accused of a breach of faith for refusing to honour the police pay deal – something that would’ve cost the Government £30 million, a significant amount less than the £2.7 billion it committed itself to last week in an attempt to buy its way out of the 10p tax row.
However, what must’ve shocked the Home Secretary most was the sheer lack of respect shown to her in a room filled with 1,000 police officers. Police Federation Chair Jan Berry taunted her over her admission that she’d taken cannabis at university. “Your recent crimes have been more serious for the serious fraud office than the drug squad,” said Ms Berry.
And, whilst praising Jacqui Smith for having the guts to attend the conference, she added: “I am sure ... you [feel] like reaching for a stab proof vest and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves.”
Then, after praising Children’s Secretary Ed Balls for accepting the independent recommendation on teachers’ pay (and praise is not something Ed Balls receives too often), Ms Berry continued: “So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ pay deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us. Home Secretary, what is it Mr Balls has but you do not?”
Ouch!
Senior Cabinet Ministers are traditionally treated with respect at conferences such as this, no matter who the post holder is. Delegates may not always agree with what is being said, but it’s rare for them to bite back so openly.
The incident is further proof, not that it’s needed, that the so-called “tipping point” in the life of this Labour Government has been reached.
It would be a surprise if this balance is not tilted significantly further against Ministers in general and Gordon Brown in particular by events in Crewe and Nantwich this evening.
Ms Smith was accused of a breach of faith for refusing to honour the police pay deal – something that would’ve cost the Government £30 million, a significant amount less than the £2.7 billion it committed itself to last week in an attempt to buy its way out of the 10p tax row.
However, what must’ve shocked the Home Secretary most was the sheer lack of respect shown to her in a room filled with 1,000 police officers. Police Federation Chair Jan Berry taunted her over her admission that she’d taken cannabis at university. “Your recent crimes have been more serious for the serious fraud office than the drug squad,” said Ms Berry.
And, whilst praising Jacqui Smith for having the guts to attend the conference, she added: “I am sure ... you [feel] like reaching for a stab proof vest and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves.”
Then, after praising Children’s Secretary Ed Balls for accepting the independent recommendation on teachers’ pay (and praise is not something Ed Balls receives too often), Ms Berry continued: “So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ pay deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us. Home Secretary, what is it Mr Balls has but you do not?”
Ouch!
Senior Cabinet Ministers are traditionally treated with respect at conferences such as this, no matter who the post holder is. Delegates may not always agree with what is being said, but it’s rare for them to bite back so openly.
The incident is further proof, not that it’s needed, that the so-called “tipping point” in the life of this Labour Government has been reached.
It would be a surprise if this balance is not tilted significantly further against Ministers in general and Gordon Brown in particular by events in Crewe and Nantwich this evening.
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