Clearing the air

Hazel Blears has apparently been gently persuaded by a concerned No 10 to issue a clarification of her piece in this morning’s Observer, which, to the untrained eye, appeared a tad critical of the Government’s performance under the leadership of Gordon Brown.  Here’s a selection of highlights:

“Labour ministers have a collective responsibility for the government’s lamentable failure to get our message across. All too often we announce new strategies or five-year plans, or launch new documents – often with colossal price tags attached – that are received by the public with incredulity at best and, at worst, with hostility. Whatever the problems of the recession, the answer is not more government documents or big speeches.”

“I’m not against new media. YouTube if you want to. But it’s no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre.”

“We approached the Gurkha issue purely rationally and were mown down by a wave of emotion in support of these brave, loyal fighters. We put ourselves on the wrong side of the British sense of fair play, and no political party can stay there for long without dire consequences.”

Now Hazel has put out a statement protesting that any criticism of her good friend Gordon was the furthest thing from her mind:

“Any suggestion that I intended what I wrote as criticism of him or his leadership is completely wrong.

“I fully support the collective decisions we take as a government. My article simply calls for the Labour Party to hit the streets campaigning against the Tories in the forthcoming local and European elections.”

Ah yes, of course.  Now it’s all clear.

But why, Hazel, the arch reference to YouTube?  Bit of a coincidence, really, given that the entire web, to say nothing of the House of Commons, has been cracking up over Gordon’s dabble with “the important medium of communication”. 

And why the echoes of the famous Thatcher soundbite?  Not, surely, trying to create one of your own?

Anyway, it’s good to have that little misunderstanding cleared up, and I’m quite sure Gordon harbours no ill-will. 

And, of course, Hazel  has herself been known to YouTube a bit when she wants to: