Quicker than Downing Street was spinning, the Prime Minister has appointed a new chief whip. Sir George Young, an honourable veteran in his seventies of governments as far back as Thatcher, twice defeated in his quest to become Speaker by odd ball candidates and recently retired from the cabinet in the reshuffle, is back.
Several people were mentioned by commentators as suitable and likely appointments to sort out an ill disciplined Tory party in the Commons, growing restive at continuing government confusion. Sir George’s name did not feature. Perhaps that is because in style, manner and ambition he is the opposite of everything alleged to make the choice of the disastrous Mitchell ideal. Perhaps that is why the increasingly beleaguered Cameron chose him.
No sooner had the poor man done so and settled in his Chequers country retreat to watch the Ten O’clock News, than he learns that his Chancellor, yes the Chancellor of the Exchequer in charge of the nation’s money, is embroiled in a controversy about travelling on a Virgin train, yes Virgin of the franchise crisis, in first class on a second class ticket.
Oh dear! Time for bed perhaps. In the morning things will look better.
One hopes.