He Still Has His Old Black Beret

Martin Kelly writes:

Tony McNulty is a famous New Labour mediocrity. On 1st March 2006, I called for his sacking from the post of Minister for Immigration over his obstinate refusal to state the truth that mass immigration had depressed wages. It is not recorded whether he ever suggested following both the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chief Economist of the Institute for Personnel Development down Peckham High Street shouting 'Take your pick'.

Yet on June 9 2006, in a move worthy of Gogol which entirely rewrote the concept of 'conflict of interest', his wife was appointed Chief Inspector of Schools for England and Wales. It is almost beyond the bounds of possibility to believe that no suitable alternative candidate could have been found. Presumably Chief Inspectors of Schools are appointed and not proclaimed; but even if they were, it would have been proper for Mrs. McNulty to have excused herself on account of her close connection to a member of the government. Her appointment might have been perfectly proper. Sickly nippers might rise from their beds in Great Ormond Street as soon as Mrs. McNulty's shadow passes; she might even cast out devils with a rebuke - yet her appointment did not give the appearance of propriety.

But who cares about that when you're building a new Britain?

I do not feel comfortable having someone so publicly thuggish as McNulty having power over me. If political parties are indeed gangs, he gives every impression of being a capable mid-ranking capo, with the Immigration Service and the police just rackets to be run. That's the impression he gives me, anyway.

McNulty is no stranger to racketeers and thugs. He used to stand with his collecting bucket outside London's Catholic churches and argue with the old Irish ladies who regarded him as absolutely disgraceful for doing such a thing.

Collecting funds, that is.

For a terrorist organisation.

Which was, at the time, bombing London.

London, then the seat of a Labour Government.