Big point with a small car

Dec 9 2009 By Jon Walker

FORMER Cabinet Office Minister Tom Watson (Lab West Bromwich East) famously drove a Mini as his official vehicle, rejecting the more luxurious cars used by his colleagues.

But it seems the civil servants responsible for organising the cars weren’t too keen on the idea.

Mr Watson told the Commons: “I am the only minister in history to argue with the head of the Government car service for a smaller car rather than a larger one. I wanted one made in Britain.”

He’s taken to challenging Tories to promise they will do the same if they win the election and become ministers themselves.

Quite right too, although it does sound a little as if Mr Watson is already conceding Labour will lose.

* BOOKIES are taking bets on the words and phrases Chancellor Alistair Darling will use in today’s pre-budget speech on the state of the economy.

The favourites are “climate change” and “Afghanistan”. But you can get odds of 50-1 on him saying “merry Christmas”.