Has Labour lost its new General Secretary?
Oh dear. Labour Home are reporting problems with the party's new General Secretary, David Pitt-Watson, appointed last month.
At best, his arrival has been delayed, at least until after the party conference in September. At worst, he may never arrive. The Labour Party spokesman has issued a noticeably cautious statement:
David Pitt-Watson has not resigned. He has been voted for as the General Secretary of the Labour Party, he is making arrangements to move from his existing employment and this is taking some time to resolve."
If the Labour Party wanted to dampen down speculation he may not be coming at all, why say he hasn't resigned?
LabourHome say: "Various high-level sources are giving out conflicting information - some suggesting that this is simply a complication with the new General Secretary's start date - others asserting the start date delay is a ruse to defer the resignation story until after the May 1st elections. Also in circulation are questions about how much was paid to the recruitment consultancy firm that was contracted by the party to find Pitt-Watson in the first place.
"Pitt-Watson was considered to be Gordon Brown's choice for GS over Mike Griffiths, Political Officer at Amicus Unite, and the recruitment process was surrounded by rumours of NEC members being personally lobbied by the PM and the usual whispers of safe parliamentary seats being offered in return for supporting Pitt-Watson. Rather than restart the selection process again, it is believed that Brownites are considering formalising the position of Acting General Secretary Chris Lennie."
No. As a call to the Labour Party will confirm.
Posted by: Guido Fawkes | 7 Apr 2008 15:48:32
Asked if there is any chance he wont come at all, the Labour Party say "He hasn't resigned". Not the most optimistic of statements...
Posted by: Sam Coates | 7 Apr 2008 15:58:27
My apologies. It appears I have been spun.
Posted by: Guido Fawkes | 7 Apr 2008 16:29:33
Not lost, just mislaid. Please do be Earnest about these comedies.
Posted by: David Heigham | 9 Apr 2008 12:11:12
Rearrange these well known words:
rats; ship; sinking
Posted by: James | 9 Apr 2008 13:57:54