Paul Boateng becomes Cabinet minister

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The very worst thing about royal celebrations is the way they always give those who define "Britain" or "England" in pure white 1950s terms a good excuse to crawl from under the woodwork. Interestingly enough, Paul Boateng has just been appointed as Britain's first black Cabinet minister.

Even if it's merely a coincidence, it's a piece of good timing from the government to appoint him a few days before the golden jubilee, sort of sticking two fingers up at those who will exploit it and (almost certainly) strengthen leftist opposition to the monarchy in the process.

― Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

In other news, one of my former Ministers Alastair Darling is now in the hotseat for Transport, suceeding Byers. Good luck!

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Reshuffle. I wuv that pic! How Cabinet works in practice! Only Tony says anything anyway.

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Would have preferred Diane Abbot but still good news. I gather Darling is a Brownie but anyone know where he stands on the euro?

― stevo, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

boateng is abt as "left" as the queen mum, tho!!

― mark s, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought Boateng's move to cabinet was to coincide with the repeats of The Day Today

BOATENG: Herman the Tosser is not someone who's invaded my own particular consciousness, although he has clearly invaded yours and is a concern.

― Dom Passantino, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

dom i was just about to do *exactly* that.

"i'm talikng *bang* ... i'm talking guns..."

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I saw Paul Boatang in M&S at Brent Cross a few months ago!

― jel --, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ha but that is NOT THE POINT in these circumstances Mark - the point is that when I went onto usenet politics (a hard-right infestation) there were the usual outraged and sarcastic postings re. Boateng, ergo the right people have been pissed off

― Robin Carmody, Wednesday, 29 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Another connection (conspiratorial or not) between Boateng's appointment and the imminent jubilee, might be as an attempt to absorb or preempt criticism, and hence shore up the hegemony. That is, if the establishment can present the jubilee as a celebration of continuity in diversity, if you like, it becomes more difficult (actually, probably just less obiously pressing) to oppose it.

― Ellie, Thursday, 30 May 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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Paul Boateng becomes Cabinet minister - auspicious timing?