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Harman steps up in Commons, and trips over Sir Fred
Paul Waugh4 Mar 2009
Harriet Harman's leadership ambitions were ridiculed by the Tories today as she blundered again over banker Sir Fred Goodwin.
Standing in for Gordon Brown at Prime Minister's Questions, Labour's Deputy Leader claimed that the former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive had been given a knighthood only because of charity work and not for "services to banking".
But within minutes her office was forced to correct the record, admitting that Sir Fred had indeed been given his award for his banking expertise.
Ms Harman was also forced to retract her claim made at the weekend that legislation could be drafted to deny Sir Fred his £700,000-a-year pension.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague attacked her for Labour's failure to deliver help on the economy but also joked mercilessly about speculation she could replace Mr Brown.
Ms Harman, who has outflanked fellow Cabinet ministers in calling for tough action on Sir Fred's pension, was asked during the Commons clash just why the banker had been given a knighthood by Labour.
She replied: "I think Sir Fred was nominated for a knighthood because of his services for the Prince's Trust. I understand it was not in recognition of his services to banking."
But her account was at odds with the official record of the award made for the Queen's birthday honours in 2004 which said that he was knighted "for services to banking".
Within an hour, her office said: "The Leader of the House is happy to correct what she said at Prime Minister's Questions today regarding Sir Fred Goodwin's knighthood.
"It was, in fact, the case that he received his honour for services to banking."
Mr Hague also accused Cabinet ministers of "manoeuvring for the leadership" and listed a string of promised help which had failed to materialise, from aid for those worried about mortgages to business loans.
He told Ms Harman: "Why don't you step in? When Chamberlain lost his party's confidence, Churchill stepped forward. When Eden crossed the Atlantic exhausted, Supermac came forward.
"While the Prime Minister is away will you step in and make sure these schemes are actually implemented now?" Ms Harman replied: "While you focus on political gossip, we focus on fighting for Britain's future."
On Sunday Ms Harman used a TV interview to say Sir Fred should not be "counting on" getting the £703,000-a-year pension.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable ridiculed the "eccentric proposal for Harriet's Law" but said the Government should use existing legislation to strip Sir Fred of his pension on the grounds of being a "negligent employee".
Reader views (14)
Inept.
And to think if anything happened to Brown, that is what we'd get running the country.
Will the last person to leave Britain please switch off the lights!
- Tangomike, Kensington, London, 04/03/2009 23:45
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Harman hasn't got what it takes to be PM and her friends should be telling her not to waste her time but get on with her 6 jobs.
- Dhanraj, basildon, 04/03/2009 21:35
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Has Mrs Harman/Dromey actually got a job in government or does she just sit in the corner ?"
You don't seem to like women very much, David. Why is that ?
Counselling is cheaper than ecver these days
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 04/03/2009 18:41
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Nu-Labour. All sound bites, absence of any discernible intellectual engagement, no attention to detail, nothing properly thought through, politically correct tosh with populist witterings [sometimes contradictory], but, most worrying, no crusading values or vision for our country. This lot can't get us out of this mess. They're the cause of our problems, so can't be the solution. God help us.
- Ron Oldham, Bournemouth, 04/03/2009 18:27
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Has Mrs Harman/Dromey actually got a job in government or does she just sit in the corner saying wahtever comes into her head, no matter how silly or wrong it is?
How much will she get as a pension, and when can we claim it back? Don't count on getting it Harriet!
- David H, a, 04/03/2009 18:13
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Great speech Gordon. You proved you are a real world statesman today for sure. Forget Harriet harman. You will be PM for many years to come.
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 04/03/2009 18:09
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What is she FOR ?
- Peter Haldane, London, 04/03/2009 17:52
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Why would anyone would want to bother voting for the political correct labour party ever again after non stop shambles from day one in power ?
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 04/03/2009 17:35
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sir fred the shred was knighted because it suited government agenda at the time, as is with most hon ours.
aka Mandy's elevation to garner his services to Gordy and give him access to the legislative machine.
as for m/s Harman you wouldn't trust her to get a shopping list right, or exhibit a modicum of self control and common sense. sure the women is away with the fairies and
wouldn't know reality if it came up and bit her.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 04/03/2009 17:27
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et tu bruti.
- George, france, 04/03/2009 17:08
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I hope Harriet succeds Gordon as Labour Leader (I gather she's currently the bookies favourite). It should ensure that Labour is unelectable for the next 15 or so years!!
- Malcolm, London, 04/03/2009 16:51
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Fred was knighted for "services to banking". He holds no banking qualification and has presided over the destruction of a previously good bank. What would they have given him if he'd been successful?
- Neil M., london uk,, 04/03/2009 16:21
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Out of Brown's frying pan into Harman's fire-what next.
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK, 04/03/2009 15:55
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Gordon Brown runs the Government not Harman, so it doesn't really matter what she says
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 04/03/2009 15:49
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