Unpublicised, David Cameron has been conducting some unusual job interviews in Downing Street. In hour-long, one-to-one, informal conversations with each candidate, he is looking for the next head of our armed forces. The man he chooses will replace Sir Jock Stirrup as Chief of the Defence Staff. So far, the Prime Minister has seen the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and the Vice-Chief of the General Staff, General Nick Houghton. This week, he will see the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir David Richards. This way of doing things is unprecedented in peacetime. What normally happens is that the outgoing CDS and the Defence Secretary find the right successor and submit his name to the Prime Minister. You can see why Mr Cameron wants to find out more about the candidates himself. He is new to the job, has just removed Sir Jock and is not on the best of terms with his own Defence Secretary, Liam Fox. But there is a danger that, by using this method, he will select the most pliable and congenial candidate, rather than the one who can best lead the armed forces. In recent years the top brass have not dared tell politicians unwelcome truths. The Cameron interview process is likely to discourage such truth-telling once again.
Another man who is changing the rules of appointment is the Speaker, John Bercow. For 40 years, it has been customary for the Rector of St Margaret’s, Westminster and the Speaker’s chaplain to be the same person. It makes sense, because of the importance of St Margaret’s in the life of Parliament. A committee to appoint the new one was set up by Westminster Abbey (of which St Margaret’s is a part). The committee, including, I gather, Mr Speaker’s representative, Robert Key MP, chose Canon Andrew Tremlett for the job.
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