Defence & Scotland?

[TonkaEngO]

Since the announcement of the new cabinet I've been looking for an explanation of the Defence & Scotland tag that Des B has got. No other ministers have a Health & Wales etc so why Defence & Scotland?

[sitigeltfel]

The fact that they think one minister can handle these two posts shows the governments commitment to Defence.

[An Teallach]

This is already the subject of a very erudite and politically incisive discussion here:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=282030

and here

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=281924

[Archimedes]

In answer to the question (an answer which is rather dull, but...)

1. Scottish Sec has very little to do these days, other than uphold the constitutional convention that maintains the union (in essence, to ensure Scotland doesn't create its own foreign or defence policies). Most of old Scottish Office function is under the auspices of the Scottish executive & parliament

2. Sec of State For Scotland therefore can't really be justified as a separate cabinet post. Same applies to Wales, and - one imagines - will apply to Northern Ireland in due course. Therefore, job amalgamated with another post. Was previously with transport under Alistair Darling.

3. Convention suggests that the Scottish Sec should be an MP for a Scottish constituency.

4. If Scottish job is to be combined with another cabinet post, there are four people eligible in the new cabinet.

a) GB - not a likely role - PM, First Lord of Treasury and Scottish Sec.

b) Alistair Darling - As Chancellor of Exchequer, having another department under his control would be a potential conflict of interest when it came to departmental funding allocations in the spending round

c) Douglas Alexander - DIFD has been rejigged, so giving him the Scottish Secretary job would involve him reorganising a department he's just taken over and trying to run another one. Brown will probably have been advised by Cabinet Secretary that giving Alexander two departments in these circumstances would be unwise.

d) Swiss Des - Big job at MoD, but is experienced (sort of) at the department and the department hasn't been rejigged by the new PM. Browne therefore gets Scotland almost by default, since of the four Scottish cabinet ministers he's the only one who can realistically be expected to do the job.

There is possibly a debate to be had about whether there should be a full cabinet post for 'Devolved Government Oversight' combining Wales, Scotland and NI or whether or not it should be a No.10 job - PM is the PM for the UK, and could appoint someone at minister of state level (non cabinet, but attending cabinet meetings as required) within the Cabinet Office, but that would be an ecumenical matter as Father Jack would put it, rather than a mil aircrew forum one...

[Melchett01]

Archimedes,

Yes it is rather dull, but as has been pointed out, gives a very good indication of priorities under Brooone.

I did think that with the increasingly devolved nature of government in the UK it would have ideally sat within the Constituional Affiars portfolio, with a Secretary of State in charge and Ministers of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. However, there is no longer a Constitutional Affairs portfolio - I can only assume that it comes under "Justice" (ironic if it did - I have no idea how the West Lothian Q can be described as just!).

However, there is actually a sub-cabinet Scotland Office and a Welsh Office, although Northern Ireland has its own Cabinet level Sec of State. So, surely it would be practical to have some sort of constituional affairs type post if there is enough work for a Ministerial level appointment? The fact there is a separate Minister for the West Midlands (WTF?!) along with the fact that the Sec of State dealing with rural affairs is a twiglet munching veggy (the farmers are seriously unimpressed with that one!) should give you and idea of how Broone is playing things. Not sure who should be more hacked off - those in Defence or the Scots!

Other than a handful of names, I'd be shocked if you could find anyone who is capable of rattling off a list of all the latest Cabinet appointments. It's not so much of appointing cow-towing yes men, more terrified of the clunking fist yes men. Divide conquer and settle down for as long as possible at No 10.

[vecvechookattack]

I'm rather pleased that DB has been appointed Min of S.....it may help win a couple of contracts for Rosyth rather than Devonport.

[Sunk at Narvik]

Why "Swiss Des"?

[An Teallach]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/fastshow/characters/swiss_toni.shtml

[Sunk at Narvik]

Ah- thanks. I must get out more:O

[WE Branch Fanatic]

With reference to the delays to the Future Carrier (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=221116)(and aircraft) and the stitch up of the RN (loss of the Sea Jet (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=98152) and much else):

Naval procurement is very much like making love to a beautiful women. First, you screw her. Then you promise to make a commitment if you can screw her again. Then, you keep on screwing her with promises of commitment........

[Legalapproach]

Because within a couple of years, when not in Iraq or Afghanistan, the shrinking UK forces will all be stationed in Scotland allowing the treasury to sell off lots of valuable land further south.:E

[buoy15]

Legal
Is that a couple of years or a couple of decades?