In all the fuss over the return of Peter Mandelson to the Cabinet, many people may have overlooked another interesting ministerial appointment. Journalist Sion Simon, who has written for the News of the World, Daily Express, the Spectator and many other titles, has been appointed parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills – in short, skills minister.
While obviously welcoming news that a journalist has his foot on the first rung of the ministerial ladder, Axegrinder feels duty bound to remind readers of Simon’s real claim to fame, namely his extraordinary spoof David Cameron video from 2006. Pretending to be the Tory leader, Simon donned a baseball cap and offered people one of his children and the opportunity to sleep with his wife.
We will also be fascinated to see what hairstyle junior minister Simon will be sporting from now on. Will he stick with the current ‘chunky geography teacher’ style, revert to the ‘just released from captivity’ look or boldly revisit 2006’s unforgettable ‘rebellious sixth-former’ style. We can hardly wait.
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