Wales@Westminster weblog

It's Wales@Westminster weblog, BBC Wales' Parliamentary correspondent David Cornock's diary on political life. It's a two-way process though, so add your comments too.

Thursday 22 January

Opposition views
posted by David | 1425 GMT |
Peter Hain has finally ridden to the aid of embattled Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, but could it be too late?

The Commons leader and Welsh Secretary made headlines last Sunday when he failed to defend Mr Hoon vigorously during an interview on Sky TV.

That inevitably generated the sort of headlines that prompt ministers to "clarify" their remarks, but the damage was done.

Much of the media assumed Downing Street had put Mr Hain up to it, and that Mr Hoon was being lined up as a fall-guy once the Hutton report is published next week.

Today, Mr Hain told MPs that Mr Hoon is doing "an outstanding job" and is "a very valued Cabinet colleague of mine".

Former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke has a less friendly analysis. He said Mr Hoon "seems like a man at the end of the plank looking back at the cutlasses, wondering when he is going to be asked to jump".

We should find out within days which analysis is more durable.