Joy Johnson: Does hapless Hoon know there’s a war on?
When Donald Rumsfeld, George Bush and Tony Blair unleashed “shock and awe” on Baghdad Geoff Hoon asked: “Has the war started?” Despite being Defence Secretary, he was out of the loop. As far as Blair was concerned, when it came to decision-making, Hoon was unnecessary. His unfailing support for the Iraq war meant he had only to follow orders. Now, once again, Hoon doesn’t seem to realise there is a war on – Labour against the Tories. Ever since the election that wasn’t in the autumn of 2007, the political and media class has damned Gordon Browb’s premiership. Just months earlier, his coronation had been widely acclaimed. Sadly, with the label of “ditherer” now firmly attached to him, he has become vulnerable to attacks on his leadership. In itself, such criticism is not new. Anthony Eden was long regarded as heir apparent to Winston Churchill, yet doubts over his leadership skills soon surfaced. Margaret Thatcher’s style of conviction government brooked few internal dissenters, but tha
