Accountability and the empty chair – Yes Minister, we want you!
Snowblog-Thursday 14 Apr 2016
We did ask the Foreign Office for a Minister to respond, but no one was available; we did ask the Home Office for someone to respond but no one was available; we did ask the Department of Health for a Minister to respond, but no one was available; we did ask the Education Department for a Minister…we did ask, we did ask, we did ask.
But no one was available; no one was available; no one was…Argggghhhh!
“No Minister Available” is currently one of the most readily used phrases in Government.
A few weeks back I tweeted that I hadn’t interviewed Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health for three years. He came on the next night. It proved to be no precedent. Even the striking junior doctors have got in on the act; last night for the assembled press outside the Department of Health, they produced a chair with Mr Hunt’s name on it. It remained and remains empty.
We've asked to intv a Minister from Home Office, DFID or FCO on Syrian refugees.
Just been told none available #wato
