‘King of clangers’ Tory minister Oliver Letwin put in charge of Britain’s Brexit negotiations
Brexit backers fear the worst from the gaffe prone politician who devised the poll tax
DAVID Cameron was panned for today putting the veteran “King of Clangers” in charge of Brexit negotiations.
Hapless Oliver Letwin’s appointment as head of a special ‘Brexit Unit’ was dismissed as a “bad joke” – not only because of his love of the EU, but his dire record.
The Tory who famously devised the Poll Tax – and called for it to be tested on the Scots - will lead cross-Whitehall liaison and talks with bodies outside Government.
And Brexit backers fear the worst after a career marked by gaffes.
While the Cabinet Office Minister is seen as a good negotiator and fixer by No.10, Mr Letwin’s record is marked by humiliation.
In late 2011 he was snapped dumping key official papers and constituent’s letters in a bin in St James’s Park near his Whitehall office.
Just months before he tried to stop Boris Johnson pushing for new airports across the UK saying: “We don’t want more people from Sheffield flying away on cheap airports.”
At the time, No.10 rode to his defence, insisting that Mr Letwin’s comments were misinterpreted. But he has a history of putting his foot well and truly in his mouth.
With the Tories desperately trying to make ground against Tony Blair in 2001, helpful Mr Letwin said the Conservatives would make £20 billion of spending cuts.
Just last year it emerged in 1985 that he discouraged Maggie Thatcher to encourage black entrepreneurs, saying they would set up the “disco and drug trade”.
And then there’s THAT confidence trick. In 2002, Mr Letwin opened the door to two men at 5.15am who claimed their car had broken down. One was allowed to use the toilet upstairs while his friend chatted to the dressing gown-clad MP at his door.
The thief reappeared holding Mr Letwin’s wallet – and ran back out of the open door.
Mr Letwin said: “The main said he was desperate to use the toilet and I am the sort of person I suppose who lets people use the toilet when they say they are desperate to use one.”
Recent events suggest the misjudgement is still there.
In 2013, he was one of the Tory negotiators who discussed Lord Leveson’s media clampdown over pizza in the company of the Hacked Off pressure group. And when people wondered which Ministers had signed off a £3 million loan to Kids Company a week before it collapsed, it was little surprise when one of the names turned out to be Mr Letwin.
Speaking today, Tory Brexit backbencher Philip Davies stormed: “The idea of putting someone in favour of remaining in the EU in charge of the leading the negotiations is a joke and a bad one at that.”
“I’m not sure of what basis he picked, was it a contest for the least suitable person?
“I’m not sure he could negotiate his way out of a paper bag.”