The one that got away
With Peter Hain expected to pack his bags next week, we imagined that his successor would be more bland. And then along came the Lord Ashdown story, putting the Secretary of State's job at the centre of a political maelstrom over in Westminster. But the Lib Dem peer turned Gordon Brown down, aware that to say yes would have caused mayhem amongst Lib Dem ranks.
A few immediate thoughts - we have all assumed Peter Hain would be moved in the re-shuffle, but this confirms it. Whichever Labour politician gets offered the job will now be dogged by the knowledge that he or she wasn't Gordon's first choice.
If the future Prime Minister is dangling the keys to Hillsborough under people's noses, it also presumably means that he hasn't decided at this stage to merge the NIO with the Scottish and Welsh offices. So it looks like it will exist as a separate entity at least until the transfer of policing and justice powers is completed. So maybe Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd, who today put out a statement arguing that scrapping the NIO could release millions for frontline services, will have to wait a little longer.
If Lord Ashdown had taken the job, of course, he would probably have had to abandon his role as Chair of the Strategic Parades Review. Would this have concerned Gordon Brown? Or did the future PM even know Lord Ashdown was doing the job?
By the way I didn't get to blog on yesterday's joint appearance by Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness in front of the snappily named Committee for the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister. After a creaky start in which the First Minister read out a text full of incomprehensible civil service speak, the questions and answers were quite interesting and the body language between the two principals extremely relaxed.
Yesterday's news headlines concerned topics like Captain Nairac, the appointment of a Victims Commissioner and the alarming trend in teenage suicides. But given the Rathlin theme we have been developing in recent times, it's worth recording that Ian Paisley is optimistic about funding for a new ferry service from Ballycastle to Scotland and Martin McGuinness offered to be a "co-captain". The First Minister wasn't convinced that the Deputy First would be able to steer around Rathlin.
On this topic 91Èȱ¬ Newsline is broadcasting live tonight and this lunchtime from Rathlin - the first live TV broadcasts from the island. No truth to the rumours that Robert the Bruce's original spider will be making a special guest appearance.
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I noticed today on Snowmail (Channel 4 News) Jon Snow has apologised for missspelling the word 'daliah' yesterday, He said "You must have wondered who all these 'delias' were that Gordon Brown was slaughtering. I only know of one and she's in charge of Norwich City FC".
I wasn't going to point out that you and Jon Snow may have something in common - might I refer you to your little 'typo' of the word 'separate'?
Once again this shows how "mentally challenged" the likes of Gordon Brown and co are. The person due to run the country cant even get this right. If he doesnt trust someone in his own party who does he trust. The first priority Gordon Brown should be is to address the matters that are affecting the Bristish people. Tax. Health, Education and Jobs