Andrew Webster

Thursday

Andrew Webster

The benefits of ministerial continuity 

From our UK edition

So, Jacqui Smith has admitted that there is more luck than skill involved in being Home Secretary. Here is what she told Total Politics Magazine: 'I think we should have been better trained. I think there should have been more induction,' 'When I became Home Secretary, I'd never run a major organisation. I hope I did a good job but if I did it was more by luck than by any kind of development of those skills.' This raises the bigger issue of whether ministers are actually qualified for their jobs. It’s an issue which cropped up during Ken Clarke’s speech yesterday. In the Q&A session afterwards, a businessman pleaded with him to stay in the job long enough to ensure some sort of continuity.

Friday

Andrew Webster

Whom do you trust more?

From our UK edition

So, a ComRes poll for the Daily Politics has Cameron leading Brown on the issue of which party leader would be more honest about spending cuts. It echoes a poll that we conducted a few days ago; the results of which we figured we’d share with CoffeeHousers, before our work experience at the Speccie comes to an end. Basically, we hit the streets of London (avoiding Westminster and all the party hacks), and asked around 350 people: “Who do you trust more, Gordon Brown or David Cameron?” Sure, it may not be as scientific as a YouGov or ComRes poll, but the results are still striking. Cameron polled a comfortable 62.5 percent, while Brown only managed a lacklustre 37.5 percent. A massive victory for Dave, then? Well, yes – in one respect.