New Defence Secretary

[Pontius Navigator]

Doctor Reid Vicky and I predict it will go very well.

[vicky10]

Doctorate's

They give Doctorate's away nowadays do they?
This is not a slight to those who have worked hard for their's

[BEagle]

Born in Scotland in May 1947, John Reid went to school at Coatbridge. He read History at Stirling University, staying to take a Doctorate in Economic History.

Seems a good bloke for the job - even if he is one of Phoney Tony's...

[Southern Scottie]

Ref John Reid's announcements, remember these are written by professional spinners, not by him. Me...cynical...?

[vicky10]

Met Dr Ried Today

On the face of it he actually came across as a straight to the point bloke. A rent acrowd was invited to attend at 10:30 this morning around a 150 all ranks cup a tea in one hand, shortbread biscuit in the other. Not much chance of glad handing amazing. He was asked a couple of questions fro one group and one overheard the reply from Dr Ried ' GIVE ME A BLOODY CHANCE IVE ONLY BEEN IN THE JOB A WEEK BUT I WILL GET BACK TO YOU' By the way whats your name

[Zoom]

pr00ne
You're a barrister, not a Barrister - unless you think that you're a very important barrister. Nit-picking maybe, but these things have to be said.

[Scud-U-Like]

Surely 'Barrister' is correct. Barrister-at-Law (a member of the Bar). Not sure it warrants a bitch though...

[Navaleye]

I'll give John Reid the benefit of the doubt and see what he actually delivers. Nothing will happen overnight but he does seem to have a real interest in the subject. As for the conservatives, I would go starboard 35, steer a course of 090 at full ahead.

[tablet_eraser]

Given that Reid's comments were spoken to a journalist, not written in a statement, I'd say that the cynical claim that they were "written by spin-doctors" does the man a disservice.

[Gainesy]

Doesn't mean he did not learn and practice some answers to fairly obvious Qs either. Spin doctors train them to do so.