Austin (on) Powers

Austin Mitchell meets Tory Bear? Surely not!

The long-serving Labour MP Austin Mitchell has issues with Ed Miliband's appointments to the Shadow Cabinet, including Alan Johnson as shadow chancellor. He starts well enough, and I can understand and agree with both these sentiments...

"The PLP dealt you a poor hand in the Shadow Cabinet shower. No reason for turning a problem into a disaster."

 Then he goes a bit egocentric...

"You should have consulted me."

Why him, of all people? He continues a little later with...

"There’s now more talent on the backbenches – me, Blunkett, Hain, Darling, Woodward, and Straw."

Note who is first in that list: "me"!

Oh well, I'm sure he's only trying to be helpful to the new Dear Leader!