POLITICS: Milburn's dirty secret
Shock horror exclusive
That old leftie, Richard Wilson (I refer, of course, to the comedic actor, not the former Head of the Civil Service) would probably have enjoyed browsing in Alan Milburn's infamous bookshop, "Days of Hope", back in the 1980s. It is fitting therefore that, amongst the few of us who are still interested in such matters, a collective cry of "I don't believe it!" followed the erstwhile Health Secretary's explanation that he was resigning to spend more time with his family.
An incorrigible Blairite to the last, Mr Milburn put on a splendid show of getting his rebuttal in first. It even succeeded in softening this hard old heart, to the extent that my initial eagerness to anticipate that coming weekend's News of the World subsided somewhat. While it does indeed now seem that there is neither scandal nor political falling out (as opposed to political fallout) behind the resignation, I am still unconvinced that there are not wider calculations involved in the Darlington MP's retreat northwards.
Ever since Sir Norman Fowler first patented the idea, politicians who resign on the grounds of wanting to spend more time with the family have left themselves open to ridicule, particularly if, in cases such as Sir Norman's, they quickly seek to return to the front bench. In this supposedly more sophisticated New Labour age, therefore, one would expect departing ministers - especially those with a reputation for high ambition - to have thought long and hard before satisfying themselves that it is safe to use the old chestnut.
The best guarantee, obviously, is that it is true. In Mr Milburn's case this presently seems plausible. However, out there on the political horizon, new opportunities may be coming into focus to provide him in due course with a way of modifying his ambitions, without it looking as though he was being disingenuous back in June 2003.
Milburn may have concluded that he cannot beat Gordon Brown to the Labour leadership, whatever some of the commentators say, and that, by the time Brown himself moves on, he (Milburn) will be too old to succeed. Well, life's a bitch for ambitious politicians, isn't it? But wait! What are those plans in John Prescott's intray? Hmm, a North East Regional Assembly. And what will a North East Regional Assembly need? Mais oui, wey aye, of course, a First Minister!
No Gordon Brown standing in Wor Alan's way there; only Stephen Byers and a bunch of dismal council leaders. Sounds more of a foregone conclusion than Newcastle United v Hartlepool.
It's not exactly Downing Street, but that's the point: it's a very long way from SW1. So Milburn gets to strut his stuff as the big cheese in this Geordie Ruritania by day and can still get home to the kids in his Northumbrian version of Chequers in time to watch The Simpsons every evening. Ambition satisfied; honour maintained. Clever, huh?
Well, Blairingly clever, in fact. The word is that, while the regional contrivance that is the "North West" remains the most unlikely of the three pilot areas for Prescott's plans to meet with success (for one thing, we Cumbrians will certainly be taking a "No, No, No" approach to rule from Manchester), the North East, previously the region most likely to vote for an Assembly, is going cool on the idea, as it becomes ever more intent on giving one of its local MPs in particular a bloody nose wherever possible.
According to the official version of events, that MP had one of the biggest shocks of his premiership last week, as he was hauled from his family dinner to be told out of the blue that he was losing a friend and ally for the most straightforward of reasons. Big softies that we all are at ERO, we would love to believe that Alan Milburn's life story is a simple romance, the poignant tale of a modern-day Edward who gave it all up for the woman he loved.
Things, however, very rarely are that simple in the world of New Labour. Beyond doubt is the fact that Blair will now have a powerful and willing advocate on North East turf - and one, at that, with newfound human appeal - to try and ensure that the Assembly referendum goes his way. Milburn's return home may prove to have been not merely a clever ruse for the former Health Secretary, but also one for his boss.
Adrian Muldrew is ERO's political editor
Adrian Muldrew, June 17, 2003 09:06 PM