Punch Up In Nanny's Nursery

Oh dear, all is not well in Nanny's nursery.

Nanny's little elves and sprites have had something of a falling out amongst themselves.

It seems that Fungus Clarke and Nanny's Smooth Talking Bar Steward John Despot are annoyed at the £90M fund being given to Louise Casey, Nanny's so called "anti yob" adviser and "respect co-ordinator".

Those of you with long memories may recall that Ms Casey got herself in hot water, a while ago, for saying that it would be best if ministers et al came to work pissed. See "Anti Binge Drinking Policy is Bollocks" for more details.

Anyhoo, Blairy Poppins is annoyed at the lack of enthusiasm for her initiative shown by Fungus and Despot. These naughty boys have been trying to block Nanny from funding the campaign.

Tut tut!

Expressions of free will are simply not allowed, didn't you know that boys?

Blairy has sided with Casey against Fungus, when Casey criticised "evidence-based" policy built on statistics. Blairy recently told Fungus, at a private meeting, that he needed "a sense of conviction" about the antisocial behaviour agenda.

In other words, Nanny is saying that beliefs matter more than facts.

Well, that's certainly one way to make up policy!

Unfortunately it is not the right way.

Blairy then went on to write to David Miliband, Despot's deputy who tried to block funding, saying:

"I am grateful for what you have been doing so far with Louise and her 'respect' team

I am firmly of the view, though, that the 'respect' programme of work will not be able to function and deliver results without clear and dedicated funds from the relevant departments, particularly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, where a major tranche of this works falls."

In other words, what Blairy says goes!

Cabinet collective responsibility has been banned.