Alan Johnson

[Hopkirk]

Why's he going?

[buildersmate]

Allegedly inadequate brain horsepower for the job - rather like 2 Jags Prescott.

[DTCwordfan]

Is it a case of 2 Shags Prescott again........?

[modeller]

This is what happens when idealism is faced by realism. There are some jobs you can learn on the job but shadow chancellor isn't one of them. This is happening with the Liberals every day they are having to face reality . A J is OK as a backbencher but he hasn't the educational and intellctual background to be a cabinet minister. Prescott was the same and ran into same problems as A J .

[sandyRoe]

He was Home Secretary for almost a year. Do you need to be educated at Eton and Oxford to be a minister?

[DTCwordfan]

The former no, a decent University with a solid course helps.......and, in his case as Chancellor, it does really help to have had exposure in economics, finance or tax.

[naomi24]

I think he's embarrassed to be associated with the Labour Party. ;o)

[sandyRoe]

He has a leftish background, so you may be right, Naomi.
I can think of two PM's who didn't have the benefit of a Uni education. Jim Callaghan and some chap called Churchill.

[sandyRoe]

3. The unforgettable John Major.

[jb190281]

His wife been having an affair apparently

[e.crespo]

Is this the answer? http://order-order.com/

[BertiWooster]

I wish the tories would go , taking their bag carriers , the liberal democrats with them

[craft1948]

So you want Labour back do you Berti?

[Ankou]

perhaps because his wife was having an affair with the copper assigned to their protection detail ? or he was.

[jake-the-peg]

Fascinating to see this thread evolve as the news broke.

Cynicism - "bet he's up to his eyes in it"

to salacious delight "marrige in difficulty he must be having an affair"

to silence as they discover his wife seems to have been having an affair and can't then bring themselves to offer sympathy and respect for putting his marrige before his career

Quite revealing

[netibiza]

His wife allegedly has been having an affair with his bodyguard.

[kinell]

your wifes got dodgy knees...

you are not clued up on your job...

a serial failure so time to enjoy your pension

it happens and it aint headline worthy news

[naomi24]

Jake, we know how sympathetic you'd be if he was a Tory.

[sandyRoe]

This seems fairly tame as scandals go. Whatever happened to the Lib Dem who was so worried about losing his hair that he paid rent boys to defecate on his head?
When I started to go bald I just took to wearing a cloth cap.

[Davethedog]

Well it appears he is going because his wife was having an affair with his protection officer.

Poor sod, never mind most on here knew the REAL reason.

[jake-the-peg]

I think that's a bit unfairly cynical Naomi - I always admired how Cecil Parkinson (If your memory goes back that far) handled the press over the scandal of his affair with Sara Keays.

He opened up his garage when it started to rain for the journalists doorstepping him and sent down some bottles of scotch with a message saying - basically - I'm not coming out but make yourselves comfortable waiting for nothing to happen!

That's class!