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Budget Resolutions and Economic Situation

Well, there is no point in the hon. Gentleman sneering at the man who was Cabinet Secretary in the Government whom he has supported for the past 10 years. The former Cabinet Secretary said of the Chancellor that"““he has a very cynical view of mankind””." On Wednesday, we got the proof. No wonder the thinking half of the Labour party is searching for someone—anyone!—who can stop the Chancellor. Whom are their hopes pinned on? Sadly, they are no longer pinned on the Education Secretary. He had his moment in the sun at the time of the last party conference, but now he has retired to the calmer waters of the Deputy Leader contest. The party’s hopes are, of course, pinned on the young Environment Secretary, who speaks to us on Monday. From the very top of the party, they want him to run. The Environment Secretary admitted recently in a newspaper interview that his friends call him ““Brains”” after the character in ““Thunderbirds””. Let me just say that, as he sits on Tracy island, he is leaving it a little late to launch his international rescue of the Labour party.