Published: July 8th 2010 - at 12:26 am

Rising hostility between No. 10 and the MOD


by Sunny Hundal    

This blog post by James Kirkup at the Telegraph may be an interest indicator of things to come:

On the front page of several newspapers today (including this one) was the news that British troops will leave Sangin. Dr Fox has just confirmed this to the Commons, but his thunder was clearly stolen since everyone already knew what he was going to say and had done since last night.

I think it’s safe to say that senior folk at the MoD were far from happy that their story leaked last night. And who are they blaming for all this? That’s right, their chums over the road at No 10.

In less than three months, the Coalition government has reached a point where there is a general atmosphere of suspicion and distrust between No 10 and the MoD. In other words, not everything has changed since Labour’s day…

What’s interesting is that Liam Fox was repeatedly touted as a man deeply respected at the MOD, and knowledgeable on defence policy.

And yet within weeks he was slapped down quite publicly for making “racist comments”.

And followed a string of embarrassing leaks to the press over plans.

Is it time to put Liam Fox on the re-shuffle watch list?


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About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Gaf the Horse

I wouldn’t like to bet between Fox and Gove who will go first. I was at a school governors meeting the other night and the vitriol with which Gove’s name was uttered by all present, governors and teachers alike, was fascinating to watch.

Are Liam Fox’s ill judged comments now to be known hence forth as his ”racist comments”?

Gaf the Horse, your comment reminds me how the SWP used to use this photo of Margaret Thatcher’s original cabanet, and one by one, crossed out the faces untill only Thatcher was left – and then she was gone too.
http://images.newstatesman.com/articles/2009/1050/20090226_0809maggie-cabinet_vw.jpg

I used to find that SWP crowing so dreary. I hope it’s not started all over again.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Rising hostility between No. 10 & MOD http://bit.ly/8Ybni9

  2. B Latif

    RT @libcon: Rising #hostility between #No. 10 & #MOD http://bit.ly/8Ybni9

  3. Rising hostility between No. 10 and the MOD | Liberal Conspiracy : Best Mod . com

    [...] In less than three months, the Coalition government has reached a point where there is a general atmosphere of suspicion and distrust between No 10 and the MoD . In other words, not everything has changed since Labour’s day… … More here: Rising hostility between No. 10 and the MOD | Liberal Conspiracy [...]

  4. Alex Holland

    RT @libcon Rising hostility between No. 10 & Ministry of Defence http://bit.ly/8Ybni9

  5. Alex Holland

    @libcon Liam Fox for reshuffle list over MOD rift? http://bit.ly/8Ybni9 << add duff Security Minister to that list too http://bit.ly/dcd72G





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