Bill of Bollocks

Just as the Blair government in its early days was keen to demonstrate its cool modernity, to say nothing of its republican instincts, by revamping many of the institutions of government (though only provided it was to its electoral advantage: hence reform of the House of Lords and Scottish and Welsh devolution but not even an attempt so much as to acknowledge let alone to address the West Lothian question), so the Bottler, frantic to demonstrate his 'vision', now proposes a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities. The increasingly poodle-like Jack Straw explains it here.

Please stand by for chaos. It will not work. It will be botched. It will be badly thought through and badly implemented. And it will cost a fortune.

For a direct parallel, consider the changes to the electoral rules in Scotland. Though clearly intended to be rigged in Labour's favour, they no less clearly backfired. The result was that almost 150,000 Scots were effectively disenfranchised and Labour lost its majority in what it had complacently regarded as a permanent fiefdom.

For a combination of incompetence and dishonesty, and all at staggering cost, it takes some beating. Except that now we will see an even larger fiasco.

What a hoot.