CONDUCT OF THE HONOURABLE MEMBER FOR HARTLEPOOL

That this House notes responsibility of the honourable Member for Hartlepool for the Labour Election Campaign HQ, and the Campaign HQ's responsibility for the failed attempt to rig the result of the BBC Today Programme "Personality of the Year" poll; understands his lack of confidence in the ability of the Leader of the Labour Party to win the poll on his own merit and his recognition of the need to rig the poll; observes his incompetence in failing to succeed in his campaign to rig the poll, or even to place his Leader amongst the qualifying six; condemns his employment of senior civil servants in a party political capacity despite Labour's untrue allegations of political misuse of civil servants by the Government; notes the betrayal of subordinates by disclaiming responsibility for their actions; doubts his control over the organisation, highlighted by his denial of any foreknowledge of the Audience Participation Unit's scheme; and considers that this catalogue of events in taking responsibility for a small organisation throws into doubt his suitability to head any Department of State.