Wanted: a useful idiot
I think it was Lenin who first coined the phrase "a useful idiot" to describe people who naively thought of themselves as an ally when in fact they were being cynically manipulated.
Before the election the Conservatives told us that Hertford & Storford's Tory MP Mark Prisk would be appointed as the minister for Cornwall. That might still happen, although David Cameron now has the additional option of chosing from any of the six Cornwall MPs - Conservative or Liberal Democrat.
It must be sorely tempting to appoint someone whose voice can be safely ignored at Westminster, yet who can be blamed for whatever might go wrong. With public spending cuts now expected to be sharper, deeper and quicker than they might have been, the minister for Cornwall should not expect to win too many popularity contests.
Nominations, please.
I'm ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Devon’s Graham Smith, blogging on news, views and some fresh insights into West Country life, particularly the way government works locally and nationally.
Comment number 1.
At 13th May 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 2.
At 13th May 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:Whose 'useful idiot' are you, Mr Smith?
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Comment number 3.
At 14th May 2010, AccurateChronometer wrote:The other reader of Mr Smith's blatantly and tiresomely Anglo-Imperialist Kernow-marginalisationist politically prejudiced publicly funded ´óÏó´«Ã½ 'blog' here can find more interesting and better informed discussion on the important subject of who will be appointed the Minister For Cornwall in line with David Cameron's pre-election declared intentions here:
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