Shadow Chancellor Not Up To The Job

109 replies

Chil1234 · 11/01/2011 14:43

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/8249198/Alan-Johnson-struggles-over-National-Insurance-rates-on-live-television.html Johnson Confusion

You'd think, as the Shadow Chancellor, Alan Johnson would be up to speed on something as basic as employers' NI contributions. His stage persona of 'honest bloke who knows nothing about economics' is wearing very thin already and not reflecting well on Miliband's judgement. Cooper and Balls must be seething.

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inkyfingers · 12/01/2011 17:06

Gutted that David Milliband didn't get the leadership. Labour is sunk while Ed is leader. David was the one person the Tories hoped would not win. They were laughing when Ed got the job - says it all.

LadyBlaBlah · 11/01/2011 18:16

I think Ed Balls is wasted, as is Yvette Cooper, David Milliband (toys. pram), Andy Burnham. Any of those should have louder voices. Alan Johnson is a good guy so people will forgive him, but yes, too many own goals from him to carry on much longer in that role. Good intentions, but deary dear.

Harriet is much much better than Ed at PMQs too.....in fact I think Ed's stare is starting to piss me off.

claig · 11/01/2011 17:29

Didn't I hear something about Miliband urging people not to strike the other day? Don't you think Miliband knows what he is doing by appointing Johnson? Doesn't Miliband play on the Tory team?

Original poster

Chil1234 · 11/01/2011 17:08

It's not just the one gaffe, according to that article. The Chancellor position is your big-gun general when it comes to Opposition politics and - especially at the moment when it should be like shooting ducks in a barrel - he's supposed to be out there making his leader look good with brilliant alternative financial strategies. I'm not disappointed (because I've no time for Labour) I'm just staggered at how badly Milliband is wasting chance after chance.

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LadyBlaBlah · 11/01/2011 16:59

It was quite a bad gaffe

huddspur · 11/01/2011 16:50

The decision to have Johnson as shadow chancellor is a strange one. Ed Miliband must have been worried if he'd given it to Ed Balls or Yvette Cooper they'd have tried and run the show and overshadowed him but Johnson does appear out of his depth.

LadyBlaBlah · 11/01/2011 16:36

Never mind the shadow chancellor not being up to the job, what about the chancellor

claig · 11/01/2011 16:21

'His stage persona of 'honest bloke who knows nothing about economics' is wearing very thin'

I always thought his stage persona was for real. It doesn't surprise me. They were talking of Johnson being the leader at one time. That would have been a laugh. I think Miliband wanted Osborne to have an easy ride, and that is what he has got with Johnson across the dispatch box.

Original poster

Chil1234 · 11/01/2011 14:44

Johnson Confusion

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