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Minister Andy Burnham leaves his ‘restricted’ papers on train
Benedict Moore-Bridger21 Apr 2009
CULTURE Secretary Andy Burnham has apologised for leaving a briefcase containing confidential documents on a train.
The blunder triggered a security alert at Euston station yesterday after the documents were found by a passenger and handed in to police.
The documents, believed to be Cabinet papers marked “restricted”, were in a briefcase which the Minister had left by mistake. A spokesman for the Culture Secretary said there would now be a review of security procedures in the department, adding: “Andy deeply regrets this breach and realises it is wholly unacceptable.”
British Transport Police said: “We have recovered an item of lost property and will be re-uniting it with its owner.”
Reader views (17)
What possible documents in this guy's possession be "restricted" ? Who cares ?
Is he fit to be in government ? And in the Cabinet ??!!
It is like saying the Jowell woman's papers are secret !
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 21/04/2009 21:29
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Paul, GB.... I totally agree with you and thanks for giving me a laugh in this sad times.
Well at least he had a briefcase. The next obvious thing is to put a chip in the case so that it can be recovered by way of a GPS system. Since security is supposed to be at the top of this governments list its surprising nothing has been done like this already.
- Tony Islander, Herts, 21/04/2009 16:18
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The UK ruling elite: the best education, the highest salaries and benefits... and some of the most incompetent fools on the planet.
Rule, Britannia!
- Trunk, US, 21/04/2009 16:02
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"The papers weren't top secret" we're told, but surely the relevant point is that it would be all the same if they were ! This government continually displays an outrageous level of incompetency and dishonesty.
- Aliruadh, lairg, 21/04/2009 15:38
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I hope he doesn't lose his receipts for his expenses, otherwise he will be thousands of pounds out of pocket which would be more of a disaster for a cabinet minister than losing cabinet documents. Instead of suggesting ID badges for law abiding citizens Jacqui Smith might think about having printed labels for all ministers to wear when using public transport - saying "I am a cabinet minister - can you please check that I have got my brief case with me when I leave this train".
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 21/04/2009 13:52
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CHAIN THE BLOODY BOX TO YOU.....flipping idiot...this country seems to breed brainless people. Well next time leave your credit cards on the Train!
- Paul, GB, 21/04/2009 13:42
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IDIOT!!
- Dc, Ealing, London, 21/04/2009 13:28
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A review of security procedures? Wasn't this meant to have happened two years ago when briefcases and laptops were found in trains and cabs across London, and lets not forget the security procedure review that was meant to have happened after the Government lost millions of peoples private data on CD's. I guess they lost the papers that were meant to inform the new procedures and have carried on bumbling along as normal...
- Ag, London Village, 21/04/2009 13:17
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Next time it will be a Minister who has left a complete file of DNA matches in the back of a taxi.
I would NOT trust this Labour Government as far as I could throw the lot of them - and I am severely disabled!
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 21/04/2009 13:08
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How difficult is it to check you've all your belongings with you when you disembark from a train or bus or taxi?! Lucky for him the papers weren't marked 'top secret'. This man should be sacked for being so negligent.
- Isabel, Woking, 21/04/2009 13:00
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If they were marked restricted they can't be that important. The classifications are - unclassified, restricted, confidential, top secret, plus other restrictions. Unless he had the Lions Team listed I don't think it can have been that important as he is "culture" minister isn't he so he won't have been trusted with anything important to this government.
- Sylvia, MARKET HARBOROUGH, 21/04/2009 12:19
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I doubt that the Culture Secretary had much of note that was a threat to national security: the touring schedule for the Russian ballet? details of the next Dr Who episode? the names of the Lions squad to tour South Africa?
If Darling is looking to save a few quid in tomorrow's budget, he could start with the CMS department: £3bn in 2007 and doubtless a lot more in 2008.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 21/04/2009 12:11
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Perhaps now is the time to fit ALL Ministers and Civil Servants with briefcases that are TIED to the wrist. Try leaving your arm behind. (Laptops as well!!)
- Simon, Kingsbridge, UK, 21/04/2009 11:37
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Why has he not been sacked? I seem to recall that other ministers guilty of the same thing were.....
- Francesca Quine, London, UK, 21/04/2009 11:30
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So when Bob Quick committed the same mistake, he fell on his sword and was gone the same day.
No chance a Govt minister doing the same thing is there?
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 21/04/2009 11:26
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But his wallet full of his receipts to be claimed back were safe in his pocket. Few, lucky for us eh?!
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 21/04/2009 10:50
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Was it his expenses claim?
- Jim, London, 21/04/2009 10:46
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