Embryo climbdown delay - was this Geoff Hoon's first mistake?

Gordon Brown will take much of the flak for leaving the u-turn over a free vote on legal changes for embryo and fertility research. But should Geoff Hoon really be shouldering the blame as government Chief Whip?

"Friends" of Alan Johnson certainly think so, and are saying as much in private as we report. Certainly many MPs think Brown Central should have seen this coming much earlier, and it was handled in the worst posssible way by making it as though the Prime Minister had caved in to the Catholic Church.

Which he probably did.

Comments

[Chuck Unsworth]

Johnson and Hoon thoroughly deserve each other. If it comes down to warfare between the two my money's on Hoon. Johnson's a vicious little git but doesn't have the stamina or slugging power of Hoon. Either way, I'll enjoy the spectacle - if it happens.

Brown is (nominally) in charge and should have been briefed as to the business schedule. If he didn't object or comment then ain't that just tough.