Having had a most indulgent Easter, I feel suitably enthused to award another of my prestigious "Prat of The Week" Awards.This week it goes to Nanny's armed forces minister, Des Browne. Des has had something of a bumpy ride over the past few weeks, and has managed to massively mismanage the situation in spectacular fashion.
Firstly, 15 service personnel were kidnapped by the Iranians and publicly paraded to the world's media, capitulating and apologising for their alleged "transgressions".
Quite how it is that their support ship and support helicopter did not provide them with support, warn them of the approach of the Iranians and then protect them is beyond me.
May we expect Nanny to provide us with a public explanation of this shameful debacle?
May we fark!
Then, as if the humiliation were not bad enough, Degsey allowed these 15 people to sell their stories to the media.
The fact that up until now people serving in the armed forces have been forbidden from selling their stories, unless they were recounting a tale of spectacular heroism (I don't think our 15 can claim that), seems to have escaped Degsey.
It also seemed to have escaped his notice that our guys are getting shot at and killed on a regular basis in Iraq, and that selling stories is highly offensive to those on active duty and their families.
However, Degsey was not finished in digging an early grave for himself, he has now banned serving personnel from selling their stories. Two of the 15 have already done so, but the remaining 13 will not be able to.
Is this man a prat, or what?
Feel free to drop him a note browned@parliament.uk
