Ken Clarke, Tosh, Letters,
Ken Clarke
Ken Clarke is a keen luddite. When the former chancellor was an MP he refused to use a mobile phone (his office told me that he owned one but "keeps it turned off in case people ring"). So it is unsurprising to hear that he has not embraced online shopping. Indeed, Clarke, 79, may think Ocado is a Latin first-person verb.
A friend tells me, however, that his neighbours in Nottingham were keen to help and told him over the fence that they had secured an online delivery slot. Were there any essentials that they could get for him?
"Oh that's kind," replied Clarke. "I would love a bottle of brandy, a bottle of calvados and six boxes of cigars."
Ken Clarke is a keen luddite. When the former chancellor was an MP he refused to use a mobile phone (his office told me that he owned one but "keeps it turned off in case people ring"). So it is unsurprising to hear that he has not embraced online shopping. Indeed, Clarke, 79, may think Ocado is a Latin first-person verb.
A friend tells me, however, that his neighbours in Nottingham were keen to help and told him over the fence that they had secured an online delivery slot. Were there any essentials that they could get for him?
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A Cuban Cigarette, Thomas Stuart Smith (1813-1869)
Photo Credit: The Sterling Smith Art Gallery & Museum
[CC BY-NC-ND]
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"Oh that's kind," replied Clarke. "I would love a bottle of brandy, a bottle of calvados and six boxes of cigars."
(The Times, 2020)
Good on you, Ken. Top man!
Tosh
I think you'll agree that that is pretty ripe tosh and convinces me that I'm really quite happy to pay in tenners for the time being.
(Jonathan Bouquet, The Observer, 2020)
Letters
Few, if any, health secretaries come from medical backgrounds. Lack of first-hand experience of their remit is the rule rather than the exception for secretaries of state; this combined with ideological bias, makes them vulnerable to the loudest and most persuasive lobbyists, and thus more likely to make poor policy decisions. There are endless examples of these ministers alienating their workforce (Michael Gove as education secretary achieved this within days of being appointed).
Surely it is time that a sine qua non qualification for becoming secretary of state is to have spent a significant period working in that field? This, combined with good management and leadership, would encourage confidence in the workforce, and, crucially, the quality of policymaking would be much improved.
(Max Fishel, Bromley, Greater London. The Observer, 2020)
Much common sense here. And why can't these secretaries of state stay in their posts for the duration of Parliament rather than being transferred to another post after a year or so? Unless of course they're not up to the job.
Good on you, Ken. Top man!
Tosh
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| Brown and Blue, 1974 Alan Michael Green. Photo Credit: Senate House, University of London [CC BY-NC-SA] |
…"Personalisation will take the user experience of payment solutions to the next level, with artificial intelligence and big data the key drivers … making it possible to build a unique user journey for each consumer."
I think you'll agree that that is pretty ripe tosh and convinces me that I'm really quite happy to pay in tenners for the time being.
(Jonathan Bouquet, The Observer, 2020)
Letters
Few, if any, health secretaries come from medical backgrounds. Lack of first-hand experience of their remit is the rule rather than the exception for secretaries of state; this combined with ideological bias, makes them vulnerable to the loudest and most persuasive lobbyists, and thus more likely to make poor policy decisions. There are endless examples of these ministers alienating their workforce (Michael Gove as education secretary achieved this within days of being appointed).
Surely it is time that a sine qua non qualification for becoming secretary of state is to have spent a significant period working in that field? This, combined with good management and leadership, would encourage confidence in the workforce, and, crucially, the quality of policymaking would be much improved.
(Max Fishel, Bromley, Greater London. The Observer, 2020)
Much common sense here. And why can't these secretaries of state stay in their posts for the duration of Parliament rather than being transferred to another post after a year or so? Unless of course they're not up to the job.
It's well known that under the current restrictions Snow White has had to furlough two of her dwarves because of the "rule of six". Can it be confirmed that Dopey and Sleepy have joined their counterparts in Boris Johnson's cabinet?
(DJ Browning, Altringham, Greater Manchester, The Guardian, 2020)
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