What is this Government doing?

who is studying English, Media, and General Studies A-Levels at Oakbank School

After reading the articles and watching the recent headlines about the behaviour of Labour MP Mr Robin Cook, I believe that it is about time that the Prime Minister did something to prevent the abysmal behaviour of those in his cabinet.

The main thing I don't understand is why Tony Blair can continue to back up those who have made a fool of the government and a fool of themselves.

The one weapon which the Labour Government used against the Conservatives in the General Election was the allegations of sleaze.

Back then Labour were expressing their view that the Conservatives were incompetent and involved in too much sleaze.

The only thing I can suggest is that Tony Blair and company are not much good at taking their own advice and incorporating it into themselves.

Fine, everybody makes mistakes, but Mr Cook didn't make just one mistake, he produced a long line of deceit towards his wife, his fellow MPs, his Prime Minister and the people of the United Kingdom, those who voted this Labour Government in to power. I wonder how many people are regretting that decision now.

Sleaze was the main reason why the Conservatives were voted out of Parliament. It is this very topic that the present Government believed was an inappropriate way to run a country, and I have no doubts that some of the general public will now be wondering why they listened to the 'squeaky clean' Labour Government who have now proved to be nothing more but hypocritical.

I can understand Tony Blair wanting to protect and hush-up the personal and private issues regarding members of his Cabinet, but the fact is that the public need to know what goes on behind the scenes of those who are making vital decisions everyday for the good of the country.

My belief is that if they are incapable of organising their own lives properly, how can they have a say and a hand in running our country?

There could also be a certain degree of understanding in Mr Blair's reasons for backing up his failures below him if the situations of sleaze were occurring as often as years without recession. But the Robin Cook issue is the latest in a long line of disgraceful incidents which has seen respect for the Government deteriorate.

For example, the Peter Mandelson- Geoffrey Robinson issue.

How Mr Blair can take a man like Mr Mandelson seriously is beyond me.

When Mr Mandelson resigned, the Prime Minister seemed to have nothing but praise for his former Trade Secretary, and seemed oblivious to the fact that Mr Mandelson had let Mr Blair and the rest of the entire Government down after accepting a loan from Mr Robinson.

Mr Mandelson later admitted deceiving his friend Mr Gordon Brown to help Tony Blair with party leadership. This is yet another example of how incompetent the Labour Government is.

This comment may seem a little harsh, but look at the truth about those who are entrusted with huge responsibility, people like Robin Cook and Peter Mandelson, who give a bad name to the country.

Those who permit and allow people below them to label England badly should also be looked at, like the Prime Minister, who just seems to accept the behaviour of those underneath him.

Look at the facts and I am sure you will see that the Government is simply not good enough to run the country.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.