Men of Straw

Talking of Leeds, where I was at the weekend, I noted the board in the student’s union where the names of the past presidents are noted and their year of service. Naturally, I looked for Jack Straw, the most famous of these. Somewhat depressingly his year, 1969 has a nasty scratched out blank next to it.

I can’t say I’ve been as keen on Jack of late as once I was. No longer the fiery rebel of yore, he seems to be determined that none of the senior women will get past him and that Harriet Harman won’t get much credit for beating him to the deputy leadership of the Labour Party. See Andrew Rawnsley in this week’s Observer.

‘There is a growing sense around Westminster and Whitehall that the great offices of state in the cabinet are not punching at their proper weight. Jacqui Smith has yet to deliver a big speech about the philosophy and values that guide her approach to her critical responsibilities. She allowed herself to be muscled out of the Home Secretary’s slot in the Queen’s Speech debates by Jack Straw. The wily Jack is manoeuvring himself into the position of deputy Prime Minister in all but title. We are still waiting for Alistair Darling to give the definitive statement of his approach to the economy. David Miliband, who does have the capacity to make speeches of a large scope, has been packed off round the world.’

But I don’t think it’s big or clever to remove the one big name that the country has heard of and deface a board in the process. Neither should a student body attempt to hide its history. So damned predictable. I expect I’d have done the same.