British Democracy Forum - View Single Post - Foreign Secretary tells europhile minister Hoon to shut up

Britannist · 01-11-2006, 05:37 PM

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett (the anti-nuclear leftist who started off as a eurosceptic but went silent on ‘europe’ when the pro-EU fool Kinnock became Labour Party leader) stopped europhile Geoffrey Hoon from answering questions in the House of Commons on ‘europe’ on Monday of this week. She went on to deal with europe questions in the House of Commons herself with Hoon having to sit next to her in silence.

The Times claims ‘Europe’ minister Hoon and Beckett had a furious face-to-face row. It said Hoon regards the issue of ‘europe’ as his own.

The newspaper also reported that Beckett “unusually suggested to Hoon that he stay away from europe questions altogether.” He is alleged to have snapped back “You can’t stop me from attending.” Beckett is then said to have retorted sharply “I can’t physically stop you.”

Hoon was demoted from the Blair Labour cabinet in May 2006 (after poor local election results from Labour). The Times says that Hoon has the right to attend cabinet although he is not a member of it. In other words, he can go to meetings if you wants to – but has to keep quiet. Which is more or less what Beckett appears to expect of him from now on as regards deliberations on ‘europe’ when it comes up for debate in Parliament.

Blair wanted to make Hoon Constitutional Affairs Secretary in the May cabinet ‘reshuffle’ The Times said.

A ‘source’ told the Times that advising the Prime Minister on the EU Constitution is in Hoon’s job description. The newspaper said that its ‘source’ was “bemused” at the thought of Beckett challenging Hoon’s “right” in this area.

Source of report on alleged Beckett-Hoon row: page 2, The Times, 1.11.2006.

01-11-2006, 05:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Foreign Secretary tells europhile minister Hoon to shut up Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett (the anti-nuclear leftist who started off as a eurosceptic but went silent on ‘europe’ when the pro-EU fool Kinnock became Labour Party leader) stopped europhile Geoffrey Hoon from answering questions in the House of Commons on ‘europe’ on Monday of this week. She went on to deal with europe questions in the House of Commons herself with Hoon having to sit next to her in silence. The Times claims ‘Europe’ minister Hoon and Beckett had a furious face-to-face row. It said Hoon regards the issue of ‘europe’ as his own. The newspaper also reported that Beckett “unusually suggested to Hoon that he stay away from europe questions altogether.” He is alleged to have snapped back “You can’t stop me from attending.” Beckett is then said to have retorted sharply “I can’t physically stop you.” Hoon was demoted from the Blair Labour cabinet in May 2006 (after poor local election results from Labour). The Times says that Hoon has the right to attend cabinet although he is not a member of it. In other words, he can go to meetings if you wants to – but has to keep quiet. Which is more or less what Beckett appears to expect of him from now on as regards deliberations on ‘europe’ when it comes up for debate in Parliament. Blair wanted to make Hoon Constitutional Affairs Secretary in the May cabinet ‘reshuffle’ The Times said. A ‘source’ told the Times that advising the Prime Minister on the EU Constitution is in Hoon’s job description. The newspaper said that its ‘source’ was “bemused” at the thought of Beckett challenging Hoon’s “right” in this area. Source of report on alleged Beckett-Hoon row: page 2, The Times, 1.11.2006.