Name that minister

Iain Dale is running a rather cheeky competition to name the most incompetent Labour minister. As his comments section demonstrates, there’s no shortage of candidates.

The question is will things get better when Gordon take over? The stereotype of the Brownites has them down as competent if colourless Roundheads—think Alistair Darling, Douglas Alexander—in contrast to the Blairite Cavaliers. But when you think back through the really spectacular muck-ups by this government a fair few have been perpetrated by Brownites: Foot and mouth? Nick Brown. Iran hostage crisis? Des Browne. Home information packs? Yvette Cooper, as Benedict Brogan has chronicled. So, the idea that Brown will usher in an era of boring but effective government seems rather misplaced.