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BREAKING NEWS: John Hutton is to stand down
5 Jun 2009
Defence Secretary John Hutton is to stand down from the Government for "family reasons" after approaching the Prime Minister some time ago, a parliamentary source said today.
Mr Hutton was one of Tony Blair's closest allies, and was known to have private reservations about Mr Brown becoming leader.
However, he has been loyal since becoming a surprise inclusion in Mr Brown's first Cabinet in 2007. He was moved to defence last October.
The Prime Minister's supporters do not now expect Mr Hutton to be a vocal critic from the backbenches.
It is reported that Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward will take over as Defence Secretary.
Reader views (8)
MP's have variously spouted that they are leaving their post or resigning as an MP at the next General Election because:
1. For family reasons.
2. For health reasons.
They want to return to "grassroots" politics (like BLEARS - who has done a vanishing act since she landed in Salford, hypocrite she is!).
Jackboot Straw said that he was "not very good at accountancy".
Others spouted that they had made "inadvertent claims" on taxpayer's cash.
ONE HYPOCRITE AFTER ANOTHER MOUTHING SPIN AND WAFFLE.
EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY - THAT IS WHAT MP's FORGET.
JOE PUBLIC WILL NEVER FORGET THE WAY THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR A RIDE BY UNSCRUPULOUS MP's.
GORMLESS BROWN CAN SHUFFLE THE WOMBLES AROUND ALL HE LIKES.
MP's HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY.
GORMLESS BROWN IS JUST HANGING ON SO HE CAN LEG IT WITH HIS £2.1MILLION PENSION POT INTACT.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe, Lancaster, 05/06/2009 12:12
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Actually, the country doesn't give a twopenny toss who is Prime Minister or in or out of the Cabinet - they've completely given up on British politics. Many's the time, when walking down the street, I've heard people say, 'Mickey Mouse could do better at running the country. And he's also honest!' A frisson of anticipation runs down my spine. Would it be possible to have Mickey Mouse instead of the greedy incompetents we have now? Is God an Englishman, after all?
- John Problem, Hackney UK, 05/06/2009 12:04
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The position of Def Sec should be much higher in the Cabinet. Some Def Secs and Deputies have been pretty poor. Examples such as the Vector vehicle disaster should have been avoided. However its all about jockeying for power and politics interfere far too much in decision making.Def Secs should be fighting their corner with the Treasury for more money as the Def budget always seems to be first to be cut. An easy target?
- Jim, London, 05/06/2009 11:55
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Alan Sugar ??????
enterprise czar ? What does that mean?
Brown thinks that he is doing something clever because Sugar's TV show attracts viewers.
Who will be next ? Ferguson ?
All the ministers ( who are not resigning ) parrot the same old phrase :
"Brown is the biggest man for the job." "Brown has enormous economic understanding and experience."
Brown's financial understanding was nil from day one in 1997. He ignored all advice from experienced civil servants and look what has happened.
Now Lord Mandy says that the plotting should stop; LOL what a joke from him. What a laugh that Brown who plotted against Blair for years and hid his budget details like a spoiled, insecure school-boy is getting the same treatment.
Never mind about the recent swarms of butterflies - when I look out of the window all I see are chickens
- Sally70, Bedford, 05/06/2009 11:45
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Come back Val - your party needs you
- Sally70, Bedford, 05/06/2009 11:28
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This is one of the problems with an administration being in office for so long and it has to be questioned had Blair or another been leader would these people have left?
If this is the best what are the rest like?
Teflon Tony had many problems but facing up to trouble was something he did not fear and is something we require from a leader. Brown simply does not know what he is doing otherwise Lord Mandy would still not be appearing on TV at every given moment making people feel unwell. Brown has surrounded himself with people unfit to hold the posts they do and it has changed Brown as a person. But Brown has brought this on to himself we needs strong people in cabinet, I doubt labour has any untainted people left catch 22 Gordy.
- Gary, Brentwood 1, 05/06/2009 11:19
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That's odd, because it is well-known that Hutton regarded Defence as his dream job and loved it and was fairly well thought of by the Military Top Brass.
- Michael, london, 05/06/2009 11:13
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Rats and sinking ships?
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 05/06/2009 11:08
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