On the subject of names, heated debate continues to surround the nickname of Charles Clarke and his new cronies.
A letter last week pointed out Clarke’s resemblance to the Evil Hood, villain of the Thunderbirds puppet series. He reminds us that David Miliband, the wunderkind schools minister, also sports a Thunderbirds nickname: “Brains”, after the puppet boffin scientist. Is there a theme here? Dare we cast Margaret Hodge, minister for further and higher education, as Lady Penelope? And permanent secretary David Normington as faithful retainer Parker?
