After earlier briefing that the new Chief Whip would not be announced until tomorrow, Downing Street has just named Sir George Young as Andrew Mitchell’s replacement. Since Young left the cabinet in last month’s reshuffle (he had served as Leader of the House since 2010), one advantage of his appointment is that Cameron will be not be required to make any further ministerial changes.
Nicknamed the “Bicycling Baronet” for his love of cycling, one hopes that Young, an Old Etonian, treats “the plebs” with more respect than his predecessor. He would be advised not to repeat his infamous quip that “the homeless are what you step over when you come out of the opera.”
Incidentally, just to add to the sense that there is some divine curse on this government, Young, along with his children, once appeared with Jimmy Savile on a British Rail poster promoting the transport of bicycles by rail. The promo below still features on his website.
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