A fine old row broke out over an unpublished book, Off Whitehall, by Mr Derek Scott, a former economics adviser to Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister. It detailed arguments between Mr Blair and Mr Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer. A spokesman for the Chancellor called it ‘deliberate peddling of lies’ and did not exculpate 10 Downing Street. Another book, Blair, by Mr Anthony Seldon, has Mr Brown shouting at Mr Blair, ‘When are you going to move off and give me a date?’ and ‘I want the job now!’ Mr David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, demanded that Humberside Police Authority suspend the chief constable, Mr David Westwood, because a report by Sir Michael Bichard on the murder of the two girls at Soham had blamed Humberside police for ‘systematic and corporate failings’; but Mr Kevin Wells, the father of one of the murdered girls, said that for Mr Westwood’s career to be ended would be a ‘travesty’, and the police authority defied Mr Blunkett, who then went to law. Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney-General, said in speeches in England and France, ‘We in the UK have been unable to accept that the US military tribunals proposed for those detained at Guantanamo offer sufficient guarantee of a fair trial.’ The US Supreme Court ruled that four Britons and other foreigners held at Guantanamo Bay had the right of access to US courts, under Magna Carta and the common law principle of habeas corpus, since America had jurisdiction over the base in Cuba. Mr Stuart Rose, the chief executive of Marks & Spencer, wrangled publicly with agents of Mr Philip Green, who wants to take over the company; Mr Rose was also asked to explain why he bought 100,000 M&S shares just before Mr Green’s takeover bid. Rail, Maritime and Transport Union workers on the London Underground went on strike for 24 hours.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in